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April 2011
The
number of “Nha Ruong”, once among the architectural trademarks of the formal
imperial capital of Hue, is
dwindling as the years go by.
Besides Hue, Nha
Ruong – hand made traditional wooden houses – can also be found in other
central provinces such as Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Quang Binh and even
Vietnam’s southwestern region.
But they are still very
much associated with the old imperial capital.
Defining a style of
living that is the essence of Hue, Nha
Ruong is believed to have first appeared between 300 an 400 years ago. They
have been part of the city’s culture for centuries, and in the past were used
as home by both local residents and royalty.
There are a few reasons
why this may be the case. Most native Hue residents have roots in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa, as their ancestors were believed
to have migrated to the central region in the 14th and 15th centuries. The late Professor Tu Chi, concluded that the cuisine of native Hue
residents contain strong similarities to those from the ancient Muong ethnic
people.
According to historical
documents, Nha Ruong in Hue are not
just wooden houses. They are a complex structure that also include a Nha Vuon (
Garden House); another integral part of distinctive Hue culture. Nha Ruong Hue
are often situated on the spacious piece of land, studded with decorative
fences or rows of neatly cut Chinese tea trees. Most householders prefer more
space for the garden.
One may wonder why Nha
Ruong Hue must always feature a garden?
Many Nha Ruong have a
sloping tile roof, to cope with the rainy season, which is actually four roofs,
made of double tile or other types. The tiles are placed tightly, helping the
house retain its structural integrity.
Nha Ruong are
constructed based on eatern philosophies, which holds that all things originate
from a single source and expand in all directions, this is why before
constructing a Nha Ruong, the owner must first determine the center point,
which establishes the location of other parts of the house and their direction.
Vietnam is undergoing
fast-paced development and Hue is no
exception. With such development and rapid urbanization, Nha Ruong and Nha Vuon
Hue are on the verge of disappearing. More efforts must be made to preserve
these precious elements of Hue culture.
Keywords: Nha Ruong,
Hue culture, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Nha Vuon Hue, native
Hue, northern Vietnam, style of living, historical documents, traditional
wooden houses, central provinces
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