Sketch by Architect Tran Thai Nguyen
In 1874, Mr. Truong Vinh Ky was voted by the world as a "linguist" when he was fluent in 26 languages. In addition, Petrus Ky is also considered the father of Vietnamese journalism. He was the founder of the first newspaper in Quoc Ngu: Gia Dinh Bao, launched in 1865.
The three-door gate with three roofs of Petrus Ky mausoleum - sketch by architect Tran Anh Tuan
Built on the family's land, according to many documents, Petrus Ky tomb was designed by him in a combined East-West style (*).
Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
Viewed from Tran Binh Trong street, behind is Cho Quan monastery - sketch by architect Linh Hoang
Petrus Ky was Catholic, so the tomb had a cross-shaped floor plan (a common floor plan of Catholic churches in Europe). The three entrances to the tomb were arched. The columns and walls had horizontal grooves and decorative friezes... On the entrance to the tomb facing Tran Hung Dao Street, there were Latin words: "Miseremini Mei Saltem vos Amici Mei" (Please have mercy on me, at least my friends). On the door facing Tran Binh Trong Street, there were Latin words: "Fons Vitae Eruditio Possidentis" (Knowledge is the source of life for those who possess it).
Sketch by Vo Tin Dat
Sketch by Architect Bui Hoan
The three-entrance gate at Petrus Ky mausoleum - sketch by architect Tran Xuan Hong
The Asian features are shown in many points. The main gate (on Tran Hung Dao Street) is designed in the style of a three-door gate commonly found in Vietnamese temples and pagodas (a large main gate in the middle, two side gates on either side, and three-tiered tiled roof above). The tomb has a fish-scale tiled roof, and the ridge is decorated with stylized dragons. On both sides of the door are pairs of Chinese parallel sentences. On the ceiling is a dragon horse (horse body, dragon head) with its head facing east...
Sketch by designer Le Quang Khanh
Illustration by Architect Bui Hoang Bao
Petrus Ky's tomb, his wife and children are all paved on the floor - sketch by architect Linh Hoang
In the tomb there is an altar and a bust of Petrus Ky in a traditional long dress and turban. There are three graves: Petrus Ky, his wife Vuong Thi Tho and his son Truong Vinh The, all buried underground, level with the floor.
Le Hong Phong High School (District 5) was formerly named Petrus Ky. Currently, in Tan Phu District, there is also Truong Vinh Ky Street.
(*): Based on the common Vietnamese-French documents, the content of the Chinese and Latin characters on the work and the personality of the scholar Petrus Ky, there is a reasonable hypothesis that the tomb was built around 1928.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lang-cua-nha-bac-hoc-viet-nam-thong-thao-den-26-ngon-ngu-185250118221929321.htm
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