Ngoc Son's ancient houses: Sculptural masterpieces in an old village by the Lam River
Huy Thu•22/06/2025 19:16
With a long history, the century-old ancient houses in Ngoc Son commune, Thanh Chuong district, are still preserved in a relatively intact state by the residents. A special feature of these houses is the unique and intricate carvings on their wooden frames.
In the ancient village of Ngoc Son, one house has stood firm for 106 years. Five generations of a single family have grown up and lived under its roof. Over time, although many have sought to buy it at a high price, its owner has adamantly refused to sell.This is not just a house, but a living "treasure," preserving the soul and the sculptural masterpieces of a once-famous carpentry village. The story of this "unsellable century-old treasure" is about the house of Mr. Le Dinh Vi's family in Thach Son hamlet. Mr. Vi recounts that the house was built 106 years ago by his own grandfather, the scholar Tuynh. "This is a memento from our ancestors, from the whole family; we would not sell it for any amount of money," Mr. Vi affirmed.What makes the house priceless lies not only in its five-generation history but also in its unique architectural details, where every piece of wood seems to "tell a story." From the sides of the porch eaves, images of dragons and stylized flowers are carved with softness and grace. The robust high-relief carving technique bears the distinctive mark of Nguyen Dynasty-era sculpture.Touring the house, visitors will be overwhelmed by a space of exquisite sculpture: from the door frames to the trusses, traditional motifs are found everywhere, such as coiled dragons, bamboo transforming into dragons, tiger face motifs, and dancing phoenixes.Mr. Vi shares: "The density of carvings on the wooden frame is quite thick, conveying many humanistic messages about life. Being born and raised in this ancient house, even now I do not fully understand the meaning and symbolism of all the sculptural themes expressed by our ancestors."The houses in Ngoc Son, including Mr. Vi's, are designed in a "four-pillar" style with 3 compartments, 4 trusses, and 16 columns, roofed with yin-yang tiles. A unique feature is the two "hidden pillars" (pillars that do not touch the ground but are supported by a wooden pedestal) in the central compartment to create an open space.The pedestals of these two hidden pillars are also intricately carved and decorated, showcasing the talent of the old Ngoc Son village craftsmen.It is known that in the old Ngoc Son village, residents were prosperous, and many pursued education and achieved success. Women and girls were diligent in farming rice and corn, and industrious in raising silkworms for weaving silk. Men and boys were skilled at plowing and adept at carpentry. The village's carpentry craft was famous not only within the region and district but also across the province, as the saying goes: "Sawyers from Nghi Loc, carpenters from Ngoc Son."Mr. Vi's house is not the only one; Ngoc Son village has other ancient houses with profound historical value. For instance, the house where Mr. Nguyen Van Huy (94 years old) currently lives was built in 1876 during the reign of King Tu Duc. An inscription in classical Chinese characters is still clearly visible on the roof truss: "Bính Tí niên tạo tác, quý xuân nguyệt lạc thành" (Made in the year of Binh Ti [1876], completed in the last month of spring).Over more than a century, to adapt to modern life, residents have raised the foundations and re-roofed the houses, but the wooden frame—the "soul" of the house—has been preserved almost entirely intact. The central compartment remains the most solemn place, used for the ancestral altar and for receiving guests. The inner compartments are used for sleeping. The time-worn wooden doors of the "upper latticework, lower panel" style are still opened and closed daily.Compared to many other places, the ancient houses of Ngoc Son possess a very distinct character. It is the fusion of folk residential architecture with the exquisite art of royal sculpture, demonstrating the masterful skills of a renowned carpentry village on the banks of the Lam River. It is these stories of family and craft that have transformed the houses from inanimate objects into living, captivating, and proud heritage.The front of the ancient house belonging to Mr. Le Dinh Vi's family. Video: Huy Thu
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