A family of scholars and writers
The ancient church of the Nguyen Tuong clan - Heritage within heritage.
(HNMCT) - As a relatively new tourist destination in Hoi An (Quang Nam), opening its doors to visitors in mid-2013, the Nguyen Tuong Ancestral Church truly attracts tourists with its rich history and distinctive architecture.
Hà Nội Mới•23/04/2026The ancient Nguyen Tuong family church was built in 1806, originally the residence of Mr. Nguyen Tuong Van, an official under Emperor Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty, who was promoted to Minister of War in the first year of Emperor Minh Mang's reign (1820). Mr. Nguyen Tuong Van's original name was Nguyen Van Van. The story of how the word "Tuong" replaced "Van" is legendary. It is said that in the early 19th century, while accompanying Emperor Gia Long – the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty – Mr. Nguyen Van Van passed by a mountain in Hoa Vang (now part of Da Nang city). He found it beautiful and inquired about its name, learning it was Phuoc Tuong Mountain. The Emperor, hearing the name was auspicious and that it contained the word "Phuoc" (meaning "blessing" in his own name, Nguyen Phuc Anh, also known as Nguyen Phuoc Anh), bestowed the remaining "Tuong" upon Mr. Nguyen Van Van, making him Nguyen Tuong Van. This story of the Emperor bestowing the name reflects the close relationship, the special respect, and the trust that Emperor Gia Long placed in Mr. Nguyen Tuong Van. From then on, all of Mr. Van's descendants changed their names and adopted names containing the word "Tuong" - considering it a source of pride and honor. The Nguyen Tuong Van family settled in Quang Nam, creating the Nguyen Tuong branch that exists to this day...
The Nguyen Tuong clan of Quang Nam province is renowned as a scholarly lineage. The eldest son of Nguyen Tuong Van was Nguyen Tuong Vinh (a high-ranking official in the imperial examinations) and Nguyen Tuong Pho (a high-ranking official in the imperial examinations in Dinh Tuong), while the second son was Nguyen Tuong Pho, a Doctor of Philosophy who served as the head of education in Quang Nam and Hai Duong during the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri. Many subsequent generations achieved high academic success and held official positions. Notably, the ninth generation of the Nguyen Tuong clan, at the beginning of the 20th century, became famous with the names: Nguyen Tuong Tam (also known as the writer Nhat Linh), Nguyen Tuong Lan (also known as the writer Thach Lam), and Nguyen Tuong Long (also known as the writer Hoang Dao) – the founding and key figures of the Tu Luc Van Doan literary group. They laid the foundation for modern Vietnamese literature, with classic works representative of their time. Furthermore, Thach Lam and Nhat Linh were also authors of many valuable paintings, having a significant influence on Vietnamese art.
In addition, the Nguyen Tuong clan church, also known as the "Great Lord's Mansion," partly reflects the respect of the past for a family of scholars and literati.
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The unique architectural heritage of Hoi An
Nestled in a small alley right next to the Japanese Bridge, the ancient Nguyen Tuong family church is not easily recognizable. Outwardly, the building has a humble, simple appearance with a three-bay, two-wing structure and a depth of five spans. Overall, the church has the structure and construction of a Hue -style house, but its roof is covered with yin-yang tiles – a typical material of Hoi An ancient town.
The building has undergone two renovations over 200 years. The first was in 1909, and the second in 2005. It can be said that 200 years is a long time, associated with the origins of a prestigious family lineage. The Nguyen Tuong family ancestral temple still preserves royal decrees from the reigns of Emperors Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, and Thanh Thai... These are testaments to the contributions of this family to the country. The temple also houses many ancient artifacts and books preserved by generations. In particular, it preserves the ten-article village charter of Cam Pho village, considered the first Vietnamese village charter in Hoi An. This document, written in Chinese characters and compiled by the scholar Nguyen Tuong Tiep in the late 19th century, holds significant historical and cultural value. Currently, the Nguyen Tuong family ancestral temple is maintained, cared for, and preserved by generations of descendants who live there.
Despite being over 200 years old and having undergone two restorations, the current architecture of the building still shows its ancient and distinctive character. The wooden frame system was carved with exquisite detail and high aesthetic value by artisans from Kim Bong carpentry village (Hoi An). A distinctive feature of the building is the variation in its structural system. Accordingly, the main structural system in the middle bay – the roof apex – is a relatively simple "interlocking beam - supporting pillar" style, but towards the front, as it moves towards the outer bays, it mimics the "stacked beam - supporting pillar" and "curtain" style. The second bay from the outside, with its "stacked beam - supporting pillar" truss system, emphasizes a front hall space full of aesthetics and emotion. Continuing outwards is a "curtain" style side truss along with an extremely sophisticated "crab shell ceiling". The worship space is enclosed in the three central bays and the middle bay, "enclosed" by wood to create a sense of separation and solemnity. Surrounding the worship space on all four sides is a fairly large living area. The building features a four-sided, sloping roof with a relatively high apex in the central span. In the rear half, the structural system is simpler, similar to the central span, creating an airy and light atmosphere...
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According to Mr. Nguyen Tuong Hung, a 12th-generation descendant of the family, along with preserving the architectural heritage of the building, the family is collaborating with the Hoi An Heritage Management and Preservation Center to collect, systematize, and translate historically valuable Han Nom texts, currently about 80% complete. Mr. Dang Hung Tung, the son-in-law, a teacher and tour guide at the Nguyen Tuong Ancestral Temple, said: The family and clan have been working with the government to develop the Nguyen Tuong Ancestral Temple into a tourist attraction and a cultural center and community library for the residents of Hoi An ancient town.
In 2008, the Nguyen Tuong clan church was classified as a provincial-level historical, cultural, and architectural heritage site. It truly is a heritage within a heritage, a place where history, culture, and architecture intertwine, preserving the material and spiritual values of our ancestors.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nha-tho-co-toc-nguyen-tuong-di-san-trong-long-di-san-516624.html
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