Hoi An, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation
Hoi An, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation
Hoi An, formally Hội An, formerly known as Fai-Fo or Faifoo, is a city with a population of approximately 120,000 in Vietnam's Quảng Nam Province and is noted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Along with the Cu Lao Cham archipelago, it is part of the Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, designated in 2009.
Old Town Hoi An, the city's historic district, is recognized as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century, its buildings and street plan reflecting a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. Prominent in the city's old town, is its covered "Japanese Bridge", dating to the 16th-17th century.
The early history of Hoi An is that of the Cham. Between the 7th and 10th centuries, the Cham (people of Champa) controlled the strategic spice trade and with this came tremendous wealth.
In 1471 Emperor Lê Thánh Tông of Đại Việt annexed Champa and Hoi An became a Vietnamese city, also the capital of province Quảng Nam. Since 1570, Southern Vietnam had been under control of powerful Nguyễn clan, established by governor Nguyễn Hoàng. The Nguyễn lords were far more interested in commercial activity than the Trịnh lords who ruled the north. As a result, Hội An flourished as a trading port and became the most important trade port on the South China sea.
Hoi An's importance waned sharply at the end of the 18th century because of the collapse of Nguyễn rule (thanks to the Tây Sơn Rebellion - which was opposed to foreign trade). Today, the town is a tourist attraction because of its history, traditional architecture, and crafts such as textiles and ceramics. Many bars, hotels, and resorts have been constructed both in Hoi An and the surrounding area. The port mouth and boats are still used for both fishing and tourism.
The Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation is one of the most beautiful assembly halls in Hoi An. The assembly hall created by the contribution of Chinese people of Hoi An is a magnificent, majestic architecture, decorated with sophisticated patterns and this contributes to enrich the architecture of the Old town.
According to Chinese history, in 1649, the Qing Dynasty destroyed the Ming Dynasty. The generals of the Ming did not tame the new dynasty. They wanted to restore the Ming and failed. Therefore, many of them brought their families down to Southeast Asia, including Hoi An Town. They have asked King Nguyen at that time to allow them to have the settlements in Hoi An and they established Minh Huong Village. The immigrants were from 5 states: Chaozhou, Guangdong, Fujian, Hainan, Haka. Because Chinese and Vietnamese communities wanted to unite together to trade, they established an Assembly Hall to help the Chinese here to trade the goods easily.
Built in 1697, this Assembly Hall was constructed by the original Chinese community from Fujian Province from 1697 and was built entirely with wooden structures. From 1757, this place was rebuilt with brick and tile roof until today.
The gate is decorated with porcelain tiles, the upper is curved with Yin yang curved roof. In the middle of the gate, 4 red Chinese letters state "Phuc Kien Assembly Hall". The two circles beside are Sun and Moon symbols, which symbolize the heavens and the earth, the harmony of Yin and Yang in the universe.
There are 3 walkways of “male son the left, female on the right” style, 3 walkways mean “heaven, terrain, human”. The door in the middle is very rarely opened, it only opens on big holidays because if the middle gate opens, the bad atmosphere will go inside.
(sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BB%99i_An and vietnamdiscovery.com/hoi-an/attractions/assembly-hall-of-...)
Hoi An, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation
Hoi An, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation
Hoi An, formally Hội An, formerly known as Fai-Fo or Faifoo, is a city with a population of approximately 120,000 in Vietnam's Quảng Nam Province and is noted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Along with the Cu Lao Cham archipelago, it is part of the Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, designated in 2009.
Old Town Hoi An, the city's historic district, is recognized as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century, its buildings and street plan reflecting a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. Prominent in the city's old town, is its covered "Japanese Bridge", dating to the 16th-17th century.
The early history of Hoi An is that of the Cham. Between the 7th and 10th centuries, the Cham (people of Champa) controlled the strategic spice trade and with this came tremendous wealth.
In 1471 Emperor Lê Thánh Tông of Đại Việt annexed Champa and Hoi An became a Vietnamese city, also the capital of province Quảng Nam. Since 1570, Southern Vietnam had been under control of powerful Nguyễn clan, established by governor Nguyễn Hoàng. The Nguyễn lords were far more interested in commercial activity than the Trịnh lords who ruled the north. As a result, Hội An flourished as a trading port and became the most important trade port on the South China sea.
Hoi An's importance waned sharply at the end of the 18th century because of the collapse of Nguyễn rule (thanks to the Tây Sơn Rebellion - which was opposed to foreign trade). Today, the town is a tourist attraction because of its history, traditional architecture, and crafts such as textiles and ceramics. Many bars, hotels, and resorts have been constructed both in Hoi An and the surrounding area. The port mouth and boats are still used for both fishing and tourism.
The Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation is one of the most beautiful assembly halls in Hoi An. The assembly hall created by the contribution of Chinese people of Hoi An is a magnificent, majestic architecture, decorated with sophisticated patterns and this contributes to enrich the architecture of the Old town.
According to Chinese history, in 1649, the Qing Dynasty destroyed the Ming Dynasty. The generals of the Ming did not tame the new dynasty. They wanted to restore the Ming and failed. Therefore, many of them brought their families down to Southeast Asia, including Hoi An Town. They have asked King Nguyen at that time to allow them to have the settlements in Hoi An and they established Minh Huong Village. The immigrants were from 5 states: Chaozhou, Guangdong, Fujian, Hainan, Haka. Because Chinese and Vietnamese communities wanted to unite together to trade, they established an Assembly Hall to help the Chinese here to trade the goods easily.
Built in 1697, this Assembly Hall was constructed by the original Chinese community from Fujian Province from 1697 and was built entirely with wooden structures. From 1757, this place was rebuilt with brick and tile roof until today.
The gate is decorated with porcelain tiles, the upper is curved with Yin yang curved roof. In the middle of the gate, 4 red Chinese letters state "Phuc Kien Assembly Hall". The two circles beside are Sun and Moon symbols, which symbolize the heavens and the earth, the harmony of Yin and Yang in the universe.
There are 3 walkways of “male son the left, female on the right” style, 3 walkways mean “heaven, terrain, human”. The door in the middle is very rarely opened, it only opens on big holidays because if the middle gate opens, the bad atmosphere will go inside.
(sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BB%99i_An and vietnamdiscovery.com/hoi-an/attractions/assembly-hall-of-...)