Unique ancient wooden houses
According to the village elders, this place used to be a high, fertile land. Whenever the Red River dike broke, people from neighboring areas ran to Cao Da village to avoid the flood and wait for the water to recede. Because it is adjacent to the Chau River, there is also a boat dock here, a place for trade throughout the region. The remaining ancient wooden houses are the clearest evidence of this land.
The ancient wooden houses in Cao Da all have their own beauty, bearing the mark of each group of craftsmen in the village. Typically, the 5-room, 2-wing house of Mr. Tran Cao Cham's family located in the middle of the village is considered the most intact and beautiful among the ancient wooden houses in the village. The wooden beams supporting the porch of the house are all carved with soft, vivid embossed patterns by the talented hands of ancient craftsmen. Inside the house, the decorative details are still intact, all painted with vermilion and gilded, from the altar, the large inscription, the parallel sentences, to the ancient painting "Heroes meet". The rafters, the wooden wall separating the room between the 3 outer rooms and the 2 inner rooms are also carved with extremely sophisticated embossed patterns... During the meeting and discussion, Mr. Tran Cao Cham, the owner of the house, shared: The house was built in the early 20th century, and is now more than 100 years old, built by his grandfather himself. He was the leader of a group of craftsmen in the village who went everywhere to build wooden houses. When building his house, he devoted all his talent and passion to the project. The family considers the house as a treasure left by their ancestors, always preserving it for their descendants, both now and in the future.
Along with the ancient wooden house, the Cao Da communal house was also made entirely of wood from the 18th century, and is still almost intact. The Cao Da communal house was built very uniquely by 6 groups of workers corresponding to 6 clans of the village. When starting construction, the villagers elected a group leader responsible for design and technical supervision. The group leader assigned each group of workers a part of the project to do and competed to see which group of workers could complete it quickly, beautifully, and accurately. The work done by the 6 groups of workers, when finished, was assembled into a communal house with unique features that are rarely found anywhere else. The wooden beams and rafters were all carved with the four sacred animals in a sophisticated and vivid way. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, an officer of the Department of Culture and Society of Nhan Ha commune, the unique feature of the ancient wooden communal house is the pride of every villager. Along with the communal house, the ancient houses in Cao Da have also been preserved and maintained by the government and the people.
Directions for effective economic exploitation of ancient wooden houses
The complex of ancient wooden houses in Cao Da village has great cultural value, leaving the mark of a fertile land. At the same time, it shows the precious capital of traditional carpentry here. Today, these values have been and are being effectively protected and exploited.
In developing small-scale handicrafts, Nhan Ha commune has identified carpentry as one of the directions that brings in the main production value, contributing to the goal of achieving a total value of more than 1,900 billion VND by 2030. Along with that, exploiting and promoting the economic value of the ancient wooden house complex of Cao Da village is also identified as a new direction for Cao Da people. According to Mr. Ngo Van Quang, Vice Chairman of Nhan Ha Commune People's Committee: In the development direction of the commune in the new period, it is considering connecting and exploiting eco-tourism and experiences along the Tran Temple route ( Nam Dinh ward); weaving village; memorial house of writer and martyr Nam Cao (Nam Ly commune), to Cao Da village with the ancient wooden house complex...
However, at present, many ancient wooden houses in Cao Da are over 100 years old, and have deteriorated over time, while many households do not have the economic conditions to repair them. Some houses have not been carefully preserved, and some structures have been added, affecting the original integrity and beauty... Therefore, to preserve and promote cultural and economic values, the support of local authorities and functional agencies is needed. The exploitation and promotion of cultural resources and tourism development must have the attention of local authorities and businesses; the cooperation of the community; and especially, the efforts of each citizen.
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/phat-huy-gia-tri-kinh-te-tu-quan-the-nha-go-co-cao-da-842919.htm
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