Tan Ky, an over 283-year-old ancient house, in Hoi An (Quang Nam) is preserving a large number of priceless antiques in the Vietnamese-Chinese-Japanese architectural style.
The Tan Ky ancient house, covering an area of about 500m2, is located on Nguyen Thai Hoc street in the centre of Hoi An ancient town. It was built in 1741 by the famous carpenters from Kim Bong carpentry village in Hoi An.
The house uniquely blends Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architectural styles, with intricate wooden pillars and decorations. It was honoured with the National Cultural and Historical Site certificate and was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1990.
The Tan Ky ancient house was built in the traditional tube-house style from wood, Bat Trang brick, and stone which makes it cool in summer and warm in winter.
The house has preserved nearly all of its ancient architectural and cultural values. In particular, it is considered a "living museum," holding a treasure of precious antiques safeguarded through seven generations.
A central courtyard of the house provides light and features an ancient well with fresh water.
The jackfruit wood ceiling in the living room creates spaciousness, and intricate wood panels adorn the house.
The bedroom has an antique carved bed, and a 250-year-old mother-of-pearl inlaid table set stands in the living room.
Ancient tables, chairs, and hundreds of priceless artefacts fill the house, including 16th-century ceramics, bronze irons, and antique teapots.
Every item is a valuable relic, with the prized Confucius cup preserved in Tan Ky Ancient House.
Translated by H.Thu