Animation journal: hoi an

Hoi An is like a special, warm and subtle fragrance that anyone who has ever smelled will remember it forever. The impression of Hoi An in the eyes of each person may be very different, but it can be said that the architecture and people in Hoi An have played a significant part in building and keeping the impression on first-time visitors.

HOI AN IS THE BIGGEST SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR SUN WOLF'S ARTISTS WHEN BUILDING THE WORLD IN THE ANIMATED SHORT “LINH”.

A digital painting inspired by Hoi An.

DIVERSE ARCHITECTURE AND KEEPING HISTORICAL MARKS

Speaking of Hoi An, we immediately think of the combination of "ancient and old". Hoi An wears an ancient and quiet appearance thanks to the architecture built ages ago which was considered to be from the sixteenth century according to some documents.

From then to the end of the nineteenth century, Hoi An was known as the busiest commercial center in Southeast Asia and an important stop for Chinese and Japanese merchant ships. Especially, during the Trinh - Nguyen war, the Nguyen Lords allowed and encouraged Chinese and Japanese merchants to get married, have children, and set up businesses in Hoi An. Up to now, most of the large and beautiful assembly halls that still exist in Hoi An are imbued with Chinese signatures. Some documents also showed that many old houses and assembly halls were dismantled from the homeland of the Minh Huong Chinese people and transported by ship to be reassembled in Hoi An.

Besides the Chinese, Japanese merchants also left their marks in Hoi An through architecture, although only a few decorative details now remain. Legend has it that Cau Pagoda is a work built by a Japanese merchant in the middle of the sixteenth century, but through many restorations, the distinctive architectural features were gradually lost.

Moreover, before becoming a prosperous trading port, Hoi An was originally Đại Chiêm Hải Khẩu - a port of the Kingdom of Champa.

From the historical vestiges, we can see that the architecture in Hoi An is very diverse and long-standing, and is a combination of the architecture of the Cham, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese. Experiencing a long process of formation and significant changes in history, fortunately Hoi An still preserves almost intact the architectural complex of an ancient trading port, so that today our descendants can still admire that quiet, old beauty.

Our working progress during the making of the film

DISTINCTIVE HOUSE ARCHITECTURE

After hundreds of years of living and sharing cultural values ​​with the Cham, Chinese and Japanese people, we inherit Hoi An with a diverse architectural complex, including 1360 monuments and landscapes, such as ancient houses, temples, pagodas, god shrines, ancient wells, bridges, assembly halls, and special ancient tombs.

Research has shown that there is a combined architecture of the ancient Vietnamese and other ethnic groups that used to live in Hoi An. Firstly, the house frames were formed by the association of trusses as the bearing base. There are three basic types of trusses, including the “chồng rường” truss (seen in most of the assembly halls, ancestral temples, and ancient temples of the Chinese living in Hoi An); “kẻ truyền" connecting truss (typical for the architecture of the ancient Vietnamese) and “bằng kèo” connecting truss (usually used in residential architecture in South China and North Vietnam).

Besides the architecture of the house base, the tile roof is also a special feature of houses in Hoi An. There are two types of roof tiles commonly used, namely tube tiles and yin and yang tiles.

In addition, the "door eye" is also an important architectural element of a house in Hoi An. Door eyes are often used to decorate the main door, back door, front gate, and back gate in old houses. Researches show that there are about 14 different types of door eyes with various shapes such as polar shape, tiger shape, bat shape, thọ (longevity) letter shape, carp fish shape, etc. Although the door eyes were originated from the culture and beliefs of the ethnic groups that used to live in Hoi An, up to now, there has not been any research with enough grounds to fully confirm its meaning in the cultural and spiritual life of Hoi An people in particular and Vietnamese people in general.

Thus, we can mention the typical architecture of Hoi An houses such as truss structures, tile roofs, and symmetrical features which are basically architecture with many characteristics of Central Vietnam combined with signature decorations of the Chinese and Japanese who used to live in Hoi An. Since then, we have had such an ancient, rustic, and special Hoi An.

Another idea that combines tradition and modernity.

PEOPLE OF HOI AN

Hoi An was famous as the most prosperous trading port in Southeast Asia, so the wholesale trade has probably become an integral part of the people here. Whether it's a bowl of “cao lầu” noodles in a restaurant or a cup of tea on the roadside, we have the chance to experience the rich flavor, subtle taste of the countryside, and the warmth of the sellers. Besides the old houses, people with street vendors are also considered a "heritage", because the street vendors have made a unique feature for Hoi An, as well as the simplicity and kindness of the locals. This combo is what attracts tourists. Hoi An is not too crowded, or bustling, but cozy enough to make a person who has visited this place wish to return. Coming to Hoi An, we find simple joys in eating and listening to the stories of the vendors.

A design depicting the characters in Linh World.

In the past, Hoi An also had artisans who crafted lanterns and silk fabrics. They were "soul" creators of the city because Hoi An would not be complete without lanterns, tailored boutiques, as well as the people who always carry the responsibility of keeping the ancient jobs and retaining the classic features of Hoi An in a world that is constantly integrating and developing.

HOI AN IS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL LADY - AN ENDLESS INSPIRATION FOR WRITERS, POETS, PAINTERS AND MUSICIANS. THE ARTISTS OF RED CAT MOTION HAVE BROUGHT A PART OF HOI AN INTO THEIR WORKS AND BUILD A DREAMY, MYSTERIOUS WORLD, EXPRESSED THROUGH THE SHORT ANIMATED FILM “LINH". WE HOPE THIS MOVIE WILL LEAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE IMPRESSION TO THE VIEWERS, JUST LIKE HOW poet CHE LAN VIEN REMEMBERED HOI AN AS A LINGERING FRAGRANCE…

Animation journal

Yen Tam

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Leo DINH