The construction and restoration of communal houses in the Quang region during historical periods

Abstract

By applying the approach to historical science, with inscriptions and investigative documents of the École Francaise d'Extrême-Orient (E.F.E.O) before 1945 as well as the authors’ writings in recent years as main historical sources, the article studies the stages of foundation, construction, and restoration of communal houses in Quảng region (Quảng Nam - Đà Nẵng) during historical periods. Accordingly, by mid-17th century at the latest, communal houses appeared on this land. At first, there were a few communal houses since the Vietnamese immigrants were working hard to make a living in the new land. By the end of the Nguyen Dynasty, they almost appeared in all villages as the land of origin. However, from after 1945 until the late 1980s, in the context of many severe upheavals in Vietnam, Quảng Nam communal houses were not only rarely restored or renovated but also drastically damaged. Nevertheless, since from the 1990s of the last century , especially in the past two decades, Quang Nam communal houses have been paid much attention from both local people and the local government. Many lost communal houses have now been rebuilt and hundreds of communal houses have been restored.