Famed covered bridge refurbished in central ancient town

In this stage, over 40 local families that lived around the site would be relocated so that the authorities could start work to improve the environment of Chua Cau, said Le Van Giang, Chairman of the township People’s Committee.

That was part of the seven-staged project worth VND14.7 billion (US$918,700) to restore the relic in time for Quang Nam’s tourism year 2006, Giang said.

Thought to be built in late 16th century, Chua Cau – also known as Japanese Covered Bridge – is a well-known monument in the ancient town, a bustling port in the 16th century, influenced by European, Japanese and Chinese culture.

It is constructed in the Japanese style of "the upper part of a house and the lower part of a bridge". The whole structure is made of red painted wood with elaborate carvings. The single span is 18 meters long and three meters wide and is built over a small canal leaning to the Hoai River.

At the northern and of the bridge is the statue of Bac De, Emperor of the North, sitting on the back of a Cau Long. This is a sacred animal which is half dragon and half dog. At each end of the bridge are two grey wooden statues of monkeys and dogs.

The ancient Japanese believed that the world rested on the back of an animal called Cu (Ivarnazu in Japanese) which had its head beneath Japan. Whenever the animal moved its tail Japan suffered an earthquake, In order to eradicate the disasters, the Japanese built the Pagoda Bridge so that an invisible sword could be driven through the back of the Cu.