The steps leading up to the gươl (traditional house) of the Cơ Tu people in the west of Da Nang city are carved with images of ferocious beasts, from tigers, leopards, elephants, and mountain goats to pythons and monitor lizards… These symbols of power are erected and placed right in the center of the traditional house as a way of expressing the Cơ Tu people's philosophical message about life to the community.
The alleyway leads directly into the village.
The similarities among the ethnic minority communities living in the Truong Son mountain range are clearly evident in the architecture of the Co Tu people's gươl houses, the Ve people's ang houses, or the longhouses of the Co people. These architectural structures are considered traditional village houses that preserve the stories of the community, serving as a first "gateway" before entering the architectural space of the highland village.
Gươl (communal houses) are usually erected in a high, airy location in the center of the village. The size of the gươl depends on the scale and status of the village, with distinctive architectural carvings and patterns that recreate the rich communal life.
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According to artisan Bhriu Nga from Aliêng Ravăh village (Sông Kôn commune), in the architectural culture of the Cơ Tu people, the gươl (traditional communal house) is considered the soul of the village. The intricate carvings and patterns on the wooden frame convey many stories of the villagers. These stories might depict a hunting expedition, a new rice harvest celebration, or an image of a Cơ Tu mother sitting by the fire, or young women competing to pound rice…
In particular, many communal houses (gươl) depict images of tigers, leopards, or pythons – sacred animals symbolizing strength and authority within the Cơ Tu village community. “In the past, visitors to the village would usually enter the communal house first. It was the common house, the first entrance to a Cơ Tu village. The more elaborate and impressive the architecture of the communal house, the more it reflected the power of the villagers. Therefore, women and children, especially pregnant women, rarely visited the communal house,” said Mr. Bhriu Nga.
The Co Tu people often place animal skulls on wooden posts under the roof of their communal house (gươl). After the communal meat meal, the village elders place the skulls on the roof, along the wooden frame, creating a rather unique image. This also explains why young people and pregnant women dare not go to the gươl, as it offends the belief that the spirits of fierce animals still reside in these skulls.
Elder Y Kông, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Giang district (old), believes that the Co Tu communal house vividly reflects the cultural and spiritual life of the community, with its architecture and artistic patterns vividly depicted. The architecture of the communal house is the overall story of the village, connecting people and deities through unique imagery.
Enhancing the community
The Pơrning village communal house (Tây Giang commune) is a vibrant living space and is considered one of the most beautiful mountain-style structures in the western part of Da Nang city. Unlike some other communal houses, the architecture of the Pơrning communal house is "painted" using a combination of visual arts, painting, and weaving. This demonstrates the profound skill of the artisans in the Cơ Tu village in the center of the former Lăng commune, contributing to the beautification of this provincial-level cultural village.
In Pơrning, the gươl (communal house) is not only a community living space but also contains many unique and diverse cultural values, with visual arts ranging from sculpture and painting to the colors and patterns reflected in the thatched roofs and bamboo walls. Anyone who has ever set foot inside a gươl can imagine a miniature community sketched out through the sculptures and carvings.
Artisan Clâu Nhấp, a close friend of the late village elder and Hero of the People's Armed Forces Clâu Nâm, recounted that when Clâu Nâm was alive, the interior of the communal house (gươl) was often chosen to receive distinguished guests. At one point, dozens of artisans formed weaving groups, teaching each other the techniques of incorporating patterns into each woven product. Even more interestingly, the female artisans even created and wove their own mats and pillows with exquisite and unique patterns.
Many of the walls of the gươl and moong houses are woven from bamboo and rattan in zigzag and square patterns, with a style similar to the patterns embroidered or woven on brocade fabrics.
The Co Tu people are very creative; they know how to incorporate patterns and architecture into their visual arts, evoking fresh colors and adding a distinctive touch to the village houses.
“In the communal house (gươl), the Cơ Tu people also carve human figures, even figures of ca'bhây. These are masks of evil spirits, often placed in front of the village communal house, signifying the warding off of evil spirits. The Cơ Tu people believe that all sacred objects have souls. If the soul is good, it gives birth to a god; if the soul is not good, it gives birth to an evil spirit…” – Elder Clâu Nhấp shared.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/trong-guol-khac-hoa-chuyen-lang-3305550.html
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