Door eyes in Hoi An

Door eyes

Manuel Buemberger comes from Austria. He is really attracted to and interested in the two door eyes of the ancient houses and other architectural works in Hoi An.

He thinks that door eyes are a symbol of the gnome. However, they cannot be found in Innsbruck, the most charming tourist attraction in Austria, where he is living, nor anywhere else he has visited.

The door eyes in Hoi An are elaborately carved, while the old houses in Hoi An are decorated in the motif of Eastern philosophy.

In addition to the door eyes in the Hoi An ancient quarter, Manuel is especially impressed by the door frames made in the form of bars above and a wooden plank without slots below.

Doorways, according to Manuel, are a good place to zoom out and observe the movement on the street. Through the doorway, one can feel the warmth, airiness, and calmness of the house.

In the romantic and quiet space of Hoi An, the doorway creates an ideal space for everyone to make sense of local people's hearts and lives.

Reportedly, Hoianians believe that human beings and all things have eyes. So they decorate their houses with “two door eyes” to protect them from risks.

Door eyes are attached to the main door of a house. They are considered magic eyes, keeping the house safe and comfortable. Door eyes are not only decorative things but also a spiritual element of the Eastern people.

It may be said that the door eyes are the intact soul of Hoi An, an ancient town.

Belief in worshipping the door god

The door eyes are believed to keep the house and those living in it safer and healthier.

It is remarkable that the door eyes in Hoi An are only found in Chinese civil, architectural, and religious relics. They are said to originate from the belief in worshipping the gnome.

Worshipping the gnome is a folk belief of the Chinese in Hoi An.

In the era of international integration, the door eyes still accompanying over 1,400 relics need to be preserved. They are the unique beauty of the religious culture in Hoi An.