Unique fire prevention methods of ancient people in Nuoc Man

The once bustling Nuoc Man trading port

According to historical documents, in the 18th century, Nuoc Man was a bustling port city located on Thi Nai lagoon, Tuy Phuoc district, Quy Nhon prefecture (now Tuy Phuoc Bac commune, Gia Lai province). Along with Thanh Ha (Hue) and Hoi An (now Da Nang city), Nuoc Man was considered one of the three major river port cities of Dang Trong.

Not only was it the domestic trade center of Quy Nhon and the Central Highlands, Nuoc Man port was also a bustling international trade gateway. Many researchers believe that, during its prosperous period, Nuoc Man played the role of an important trade gateway of Southeast Asia.

Western priest Pierre Poivre once wrote in his memoirs: "Nuoc Man is a good, safe trading port, frequented by many merchants."

Độc lạ cách phòng cháy của người xưa ở Nước Mặn - Ảnh 1. — Every year, the government and people organize the Saltwater Urban Festival.

Not only famous for its trade, Nuoc Man is also considered one of the cradles of the formation of the national language. According to Professor Phan Huy Le (1934 - 2018), President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, the national language in its embryonic state was first born in three centers: Nuoc Man, Hoi An and Dinh Chiem, of which Nuoc Man was somewhat earlier.

Unique fire prevention methods

In the dry season, the dry climate combined with the South wind (a typical summer wind in the eastern region of Gia Lai , carrying heat like fire) makes the risk of fire always lurking on every roof. To cope, Nuoc Man residents have come up with a simple yet strangely special way to prevent fire.

In 1618, the Inspector Tran Duc Hoa built in Nuoc Man a spacious wooden house for Western priests to reside and a church for preaching. In the book researching the National Language - from Nuoc Man to Lang Song (many authors), the notes of priest Cristoforo Borri are quoted as follows:

"In July 1618, Father Cristoforo Borri arrived in Nuoc Man, right in the season of the South wind. To protect the church from fire, the governor ordered all the houses in the same direction of the wind as the church to take down their roofs for a period of 2 months. And the number of houses with their roofs bare was so great that it could occupy an area of at least 2 miles. Everyone strictly complied because of the honor and respect they had for the governor."

According to researcher Nguyen Thanh Quang (in Gia Lai), the notes of priest Cristoforo Borri accurately reflected the reality at that time.

Độc lạ cách phòng cháy của người xưa ở Nước Mặn - Ảnh 2. — A large number of people attended the Saltwater Urban Festival.

It can be seen that the fire prevention method of Nuoc Man residents at that time was both creative and had a strong sense of community. They did not have modern fire-fighting tools, nor fire-proof materials, so they chose to remove the roof, temporarily sacrificing comfort to protect the whole village. When the south wind season passed, everyone re-roofed their houses as before.

That unique way of fire prevention left an indelible impression on the memory of a Western priest and still surprises posterity today.

The mark remains forever

The sea changes, after hundreds of years, the port of Nuoc Man was filled up and disappeared, but in historical memory, this place still appears as a dynamic, creative and affectionate land.

Every year, at the beginning of the second lunar month, the government and people organize the Nuoc Man urban festival (also known as the Ba Pagoda festival) to commemorate the ancestors who created the bustling Nuoc Man trading port. In 2023, this festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Độc lạ cách phòng cháy của người xưa ở Nước Mặn - Ảnh 3. — After hundreds of years, Nuoc Man port was filled up, becoming a residential area, now in An Hoa village, Tuy Phuoc Bac commune, Gia Lai province.

Mr. Vo Cu Anh (84 years old, in An Hoa village, Tuy Phuoc Bac commune) confirmed that the people of Nuoc Man used to remove thatched roofs to prevent fires and added: "The South wind (also known as Lao wind) is terrible, and at that time, all the houses were thatched and had earthen walls, so fires often broke out. Later, people also dug tunnels to prevent big fires, so they would have a place to take shelter. At the mouth of the tunnel, every house had a pile of sand to put out the fire."

According to Mr. Vo Cu Anh, in addition to the above fire prevention solutions, Nuoc Man residents also dug 3 water reservoirs (to fight fires) and worship the Fire God to pray for peace, prevent and extinguish disasters caused by fire...

The story of removing the roof to prevent fire seems strange but reflects the spirit of solidarity, discipline and valuable community awareness of the ancient Nuoc Man people.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doc-la-cach-phong-chay-cua-nguoi-xua-o-nuoc-man-185251013104322572.htm