Thai Binh Temple (Temple of the Great Saint)

Thai Binh Village Communal House has been ranked as a city-level historical-cultural relic by the Hanoi People's Committee under Decision No. 6540/QD-UBND dated December 23, 2024.

Thai Binh Village Communal House has a total area of 963.4 m2, including the gate, main hall, rear sanctuary, guest house, courtyard and garden, and relics and artifacts belonging to the site.

The tutelary god worshipped at Thai Binh Communal House is Bot Hai Dai Vuong, whom the people honor as Duc Thanh Ca because of his many merits in teaching the people how to make a living, driving out the An invaders, and supporting the people's lives. Through the dynasties, his great services were all honored by emperors as “Bot Hai Thuong Dang Than,” worthy of being passed down and worshipped forever

Thai Binh Communal House was built in the 17th century, but it deteriorated; surviving to the present day, it has undergone many repairs and renovations. The main structure of the communal house today was rebuilt in the 19th century. On the upper beam of the Dai Bai hall, the date of the communal house's founding is still recorded as the 17th year of King Tu Duc (1864). Although this is a recorded date, it helps later generations know clearly the construction history of Thai Binh Communal House.

The communal house was built to worship the tutelary god who helped the country and helped the people of Thai Binh Village in studying, farming, trading, and doing business. Surviving to this day, the communal house has become a cultural activity center for local people. Every year, it is the place where festivals are held with many rituals, ceremonies, and folk games. This has contributed to passing on the cultural values of ancestors to younger generations and at the same time strengthened the solidarity of local people.

Thai Binh Communal House has a main plan in the shape of the Chinese character Dinh, consisting of two main structures: the Dai Bai hall and the rear sanctuary.

Thai Binh Communal House is large in scale, with open landscape space facing the Day River and surrounded by fertile villages, creating for the relic a harmonious and dignified architectural environment. The structures are reasonably distributed, standing out above the village's civil architecture and suited to the hot and humid climate.

The carved panels on the wooden architecture are quite rich and diverse, with many different themes such as the four sacred creatures, water-coiling dragons, dragons facing, dragon-transformed leaves, flowers and leaves, clouds, etc., on most components of the wooden frame such as roof trusses, side trusses, boards, brackets, and cantilevers. All of this has created a unique beauty for the communal house here.

The communal house still preserves many valuable artifacts such as a system of large inscriptions, incense tables, worship thrones, etc.; these artifacts are all decorated and carved beautifully and have artistic value for researchers to study.

- Landscape space of the relic:

          The communal house is located in the relic cluster of Thai Binh Communal House and Dien Khanh Pagoda (Dien Khanh Tu), in a fairly beautiful and airy setting; in front it lies close to National Highway 21B and faces west within the dike area, looking toward the Day River. To the right of the communal house is Dien Khanh Pagoda (currently being renovated), surrounded by densely populated residential areas of Chua Hamlet and Gia Hamlet. Around the communal house there are also temples to Duc Thanh Ca, Duc Thanh Thuong, Duc Thanh Tieu, Duc Thanh Trung, Duc Thanh Ha, etc. With a dense concentration of religious and belief relics distributed in the village, this has created links in a rich and diverse cultural life space and increased solidarity in the community.

          - Overall layout:

The beginning of the relic is the communal house gate/Nghi Mon built in the four-pillar style; behind it is a stone-paved communal house yard with a fairly large area for organizing festivals. Adjacent behind the communal house gate on the right is a martyrs' memorial to commemorate the people of Thai Binh Village who contributed to the Revolution. In the center of the yard is the Dai Dinh hall—the main structure, relatively large in scale. To the left of the Dai Bai hall is a guest house built in 2019, consisting of four compartments, made of xoan wood, with a wooden frame built in the hidden-row-of-columns style, with crossbeams resting on the surrounding wall.

Interior arrangement

Đại bái is the architectural and cultural space with the densest arrangement of worship objects. In the area between the main columns and the rear military columns of the central bay, a wooden incense table is placed, on which are an incense bowl and a set of five ritual vessels. On either side of the incense table are ceramic jars and wooden worship cranes. Along both sides between the main columns is a set of ceremonial weapons; above hangs a horizontal plaque and couplets praising the merits of the Tutelary God. In the two side bays are altars arranged quite simply to worship the generals and the Earth God of the area.

The Hậu cung is a solemn place; inside are a shrine cabinet, worship throne, spirit tablet, robe, hat, and boots of the Tutelary God. On the left, the shrine cabinet holds a statue of a purple horse. In front of the shrine cabinet is an incense table, on which are placed worship objects such as an incense bowl, offering trays, a set of five bronze ritual vessels, water jars, flower vases, and so on. On the two main columns hang a pair of couplets praising the merits of the Tutelary God.

Đức Thánh Trung Temple is one of the works worshipping Đức Thánh Cả - Bột Hải Đại vương and jointly worshipping his general Minh Pháp. This is a religious architectural work built to worship those who contributed to the village and community, and it is also a place for cultural and religious activities of the local people. This relic is a cultural heritage with many cultural and historical values that should be preserved and safeguarded as a meaningful contribution to the nation's cultural treasury.

Thái Bình Village, Hòa Xá Commune, Hà Nội City, is home to many religious and belief architectural works. According to tradition, the village worships Bột Hải Đại vương - Đức Thánh Cả, revered by the people as the village Tutelary God, and the village temples all jointly worship his generals.

Đức Thánh Trung Temple jointly worships the deity Minh Pháp. In the spirit tablet and the book “Thần sắc, thần hiệu xã Thái Bình, phủ Ứng Hòa, huyện Sơn Lãng, tỉnh Hà Đông,” there is recorded the noble title: “Đương cảnh Thành hoàng Minh Pháp tôn thần.”

- Đức Thánh Hạ Temple worships Chiêu Pháp Uy Thông Đại Vương.

The careers of these two deities are closely linked with Đức Thánh Cả, so all religious activities of the two temples are closely connected, creating a cultural space rich in the folk character of ancient Vietnamese people.

Through the dynasties, the great merits of Đức Thánh Cả were all honored by emperors as “Thượng đẳng thần,” General Minh Pháp, also jointly worshipped at Đức Thánh Trung Temple, was granted the noble title “Đương cảnh Thành hoàng Minh Pháp tôn thần”, worthy of being preserved and worshipped forever.

- Landscape space of the relic:

Đức Thánh Trung Temple has an area of 5,097m2 and was built on alluvial land of the Đáy River, with fertile silt from the river making the trees here lush and green. The temple is located outside the Đáy River dike, facing the Đáy River, backed by the dike, with National Highway 21B behind it. The temple has beautiful terrain, sloping gently down along the dike. The temple is far from the residential area, making the relic site even more solemn and mysterious. Around the temple yard are ponds and lakes and many green trees, creating a landscape and shade for the relic. The temple was rebuilt in recent years, so its current technical condition is quite good.

          - Overall layout:

The overall layout of Đức Thánh Trung Temple begins with the temple gate built in the four-pillar style, facing National Highway 21B to the east. The temple gate is close to National Highway 21B; next is a large yard paved with bat bricks. To the right of the temple gate is a guest house with four bays; to the left are the main works of the temple. The main works face west; in front of the main temple is a pond, then a screen, located a yard away from the main temple, intended to shield and block the view while also blocking wind and air currents from outside entering the main temple. The main temple has a “front Nhất, rear Đinh” plan, including the Tiền tế, Trung tế, and Hậu cung. The entire main complex is 22.765m long and 12.04m wide. The Tiền tế and Trung tế are separated by a 3.64m yard, where green trees are planted to create a landscape and openness for the temple.

on the interior arrangement

- Interior arrangement in the Tiền tế:

The Tiền tế is where ceremonies are held, so its interior arrangement is also organized quite formally. In the central bay is an incense table, on which are placed an incense bowl, a bronze tripod, and an incense bowl. In front of the incense table is a worship stand; on both sides are lộc bình vases and a set of ceremonial weapons, all made of wood. Above hangs a horizontal plaque“Mậu chung anh tú.” On both sides of the main columns of the central bay hang a pair of couplets praising the merits of the deity worshipped. In the left bay is a palanquin in the artistic style of the 20th century, used to carry the worship throne and spirit tablet of the Tutelary God during festivals. Above on the right hangs a horizontal plaque “Hách quyết linh”; on the left is a horizontal plaque “Ư nghiệp phù”. The horizontal plaques and couplets all praise the merits of the deity worshipped here.

- Interior arrangement in the Trung tế

In the central bay of the Trung tế is a wooden incense table carved with the four sacred creatures, four seasons, and eight fruits in the artistic style of the mid-20th century. Above are placed an incense bowl, bronze offering trays, worship lamps, and flower vases. Along both sides of the incense table are worship cranes, wooden flower vases, then two worship stands and a set of ceremonial weapons. In the center of the part adjoining the Hậu cung hangs a horizontal plaque “Vạn cổ anh linh”, below which hangs a system of valance doors carved with the four sacred creatures. On the main columns and rear military columns of the Trung tế hang a pair of couplets. These are all newly introduced worship objects in recent times.

- Interior arrangement in the Hậu cung

In the Hậu cung are an incense table and a shrine cabinet; inside the cabinet are a worship throne, spirit tablet, a pair of boots, worship hat, and so on. On the spirit tablet are carved dragons flanking, flowers and leaves, lotus flowers, and clouds; in the middle of the tablet is carved the name of the Tutelary God worshipped: “Đương cảnh Thành hoàng Minh Pháp tôn thần” All artifacts in the Hậu cung are lacquered and gilded; the decorative details are mainly images of the four sacred creatures in the artistic style of the mid-20th century.

B. INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE - THÁI BÌNH VILLAGE FESTIVAL

In addition, at the communal house and temples of Thái Bình Village, forms of cultural and religious activity are still preserved through folk festivals rich in the cultural identity of the nation.

The main festival of Thái Bình Village still follows the old rules from ancient times, taking place from the 2nd to the 6th day of the first lunar month. According to regulation, the festival is held every two years in even-numbered years. Because the village primarily worships Bột Hải Đại Vương - Đức Thánh Cả, who had great merit toward the villagers, the worship ceremonies are held on a large scale, over many days, attracting many visitors from everywhere.

The festival and folk cultural activities taking place here carry the national spirit and are rich in tradition. Along with them are activities such as swinging, tug-of-war, wrestling, staff dancing, palanquin processions, and chèo singing. This is a way to maintain and promote folk cultural values formed over thousands of years of history in building and defending the homeland. At the same time, the people of Thái Bình Village, Hòa Xá Commune, also take advantage of achievements made during the renewal period to build and develop their homeland ever more strongly.

The Thái Bình Village festival is an occasion for local people and visitors from everywhere to express gratitude to their ancestors. The palanquin procession rituals, ceremonies, and folk games here vividly reflect the cultural identity of the land of Thái Bình.

-Preparation work and worship rituals:

According to local people, preparations for the festival are carried out before Lunar New Year, presided over by the village chief, who assigns tasks to members. Villagers together go to the communal house and temples to clean, wash the worship objects, and sweep the village roads and alleys. Before the festival opens, a male ritual team of about 20 people aged 60 and over performs the bathing ritual.

- Bathing ritual:

The bathing ritual is held four times a year; before the festival, on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, a seal-stamping ceremony is held, and clothes and ceremonial hats and robes are changed to invite Đức Thánh Cả to celebrate Tet with the villagers.

- Offerings:

On festival days, the offerings to Đức Thánh Cả - Great King Bột Hải cannot lack round glutinous rice cakes (bánh giầy). There are also sticky rice and chicken arranged on trays, incense and flowers, oản cakes and fruit, and votive paper money. After the ceremonial team has finished the rituals, villagers may enter to make their own offerings to pray for fortune and wealth for themselves and their families.

- Oration:

In the rituals from the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month to the 1st day of the first lunar month, including the male ritual team as the main team, there are orations, music, sinh tiền dances, and eulogies. The female team also has its own oration, offering flowers and wine to Đức Thánh Cả. The oration is placed in the central compartment in front of the altar, with a person to transmit the oration. After it is read, the reader burns it on the spot.

- Ritual teams and ceremonies: There are usually a male ritual team (about 30 people) and a female ritual team (about 40 people). The chief officiant wears red robes, hat, and boots, while members wear blue. Those selected for the ritual teams are people who understand rituals, have good morals, are not in mourning, and have complete families.

After the palanquin procession, the tablets of the generals (at six temples in the village) are brought to the temple of Đức Thánh Cả for rituals lasting about one hour. Then the palanquins and tablets are carried to the communal house for rituals on the mornings of the 2nd to 6th days of the first lunar month, and in the afternoons the festival activities take place. During the rituals there is a ritual band, a temple keeper, and a person receiving the offerings. After the rituals, villagers gather to partake of savory offerings in the communal house yard and contribute according to the number of household members.

The ritual teams include 16 male and female ritual teams and offering teams such as: dragon team; flag team; festival drum team; male ritual team; female ritual team; sinh tiền dance team; musicians; logistics team (responsible for tables, chairs, tents, loudspeakers; wherever the palanquin team goes, they must spread mats and arrange cushions); cake-pounding team; ritual preparation and offering team; ceremonial reception team; hospitality and logistics team; traffic order and safety team; stick dance team; dragon drum team accompanying the dragon dance team; Buddhist team - the elders' team.

- Saint procession ritual:

On the morning of the 2nd day of the first lunar month, the spirit tablets, incense tables, and palanquins of the temples in the village (temple of Đức Thánh Trung, temple of Đức Thánh Hạ, temple of Đức Thánh Thượng, temple of Thánh Tiếu, temple of Thánh Phụ, temple of Thánh Mẫu) are all gathered at the temple of Đức Thánh Cả to perform the ceremony. After that, the palanquins are carried from the temple of Đức Thánh Cả to Thái Bình communal house.

Thái Bình communal house is the place that receives the thrones, tablets, and palanquins of Đức Thánh Cả and the generals for their stay. When the spirit tablet of Đức Thánh Cả is carried from the temple to the communal house from the 2nd to the 6th day of the first lunar month, the thrones and tablets worshipped at the communal house must be moved aside. Only after the 6th day are they put back in their original positions.

The procession of Đức Thánh Cả is organized on a large scale, stretching more than 1 km and attracting many visitors from near and far. The procession includes 9 palanquin teams of about 20-30 people each, including: the first palanquin is the team for President Ho Chi Minh; the second is the bát cống palanquin team (the main palanquin of Đức Thánh Cả); the third is the palanquin team of Lord Quý Minh Thượng Đẳng (a powerful adviser to Lord Bột Hải); the fourth is the palanquin of Lord Tiếu (Đức Thánh Tiếu, responsible for agricultural production, firefighting, and dike rescue); the fifth is the palanquin of Đức Thánh Phụ and Thánh Mẫu; the sixth is the palanquin team carrying incense table 1 - carrying the incense bowl of Đức Thánh Cả; the seventh is the palanquin of Đức Thánh Trung (Minh Pháp tôn thần, specializing in constitutional and judicial law); the eighth is that of Đức Thánh Hạ (Chiêu Pháp uy thông, mainly in charge of military forces); the ninth is the bát bửu team carrying his weapons.

In the afternoon of the 6th day of the first lunar month, the male and female ritual teams perform rituals and organize the procession of the Saints back to their temples.

2. Festival activities:

In parallel with the rituals at the communal house, on the afternoons of the 2nd to 6th days of the first lunar month, villagers organize lively folk games in the communal house yard, such as stick dancing, wrestling, swing pushing, tug-of-war, human chess, Chinese chess, etc., in a harmonious and open atmosphere reflecting the beliefs of wet-rice agricultural residents. Some cultural performances are also held in the communal house yard and attract a large number of people.

          Other festivals and cultural activities at the relic site

The village convention of 1923 records many rituals held month by month throughout the year. In addition to the village's main festival, many other cultural activities are held during the year at the relics of Thái Bình village. To date, some festivals have been reduced, and only the following days remain:

- The 15th day of the first lunar month is the Thượng Nguyên festival, the closing ceremony of the spring festival; only peace-settling rituals are held at the communal house and temples. Legend says that in some years Đức Thánh Cả did not return to stay at the communal house and only came back on the full moon of the first lunar month, so the peace-settling ritual is held on this day.

- The 12th day of the fourth lunar month is the birthday of Đức Thánh Cả; villagers organize it only at the temple of Đức Thánh Cả and do not hold rituals at other temples. On this day, the bathing ritual is performed at the temple, with offerings including wine and cleansing powder.

- The 12th day of the eleventh lunar month is the death anniversary of Đức Thánh Cả, called the day of “cơ thần bái xá” (the day of the Saint's house). Villagers perform the bathing ritual and change robes at six temples in the village, and organize the making of bánh giầy at the temple of Đức Thánh Cả. At Thái Bình communal house and other temples in the village, only rituals to the Saint are offered.

In addition, other festivals are held during the year, such as: the first and full moon days of each month, Hàn Thực festival, Nguyên Tiêu festival, Đoan Ngọ festival, etc. The village ceremonial board opens the communal house for local people to come and burn incense to the Tutelary God.

Thái Bình village, Hòa Xá commune, Hanoi city, was formed in the Hùng Vương era when the country was built, and from that time it became a residential area with economic and social development. During the Chinese domination period, Thái Bình village was named Đại Đường Châu; later, under King Lê Đại Hành (980-1005), it was changed to Thái Đường, and from 1885 it was changed again to Thái Bình.

Along with the thousand-year historical process of building and defending the country, the people of Vạn Thái commune have created precious traditions. Mutual affection, compassion, a spirit of diligent labor, and deep patriotism are important values in this community.

Patriotism is an important characteristic in the tradition of the people of Thái Bình village in particular and Hòa Xá commune in general.

The relic complex of the Temple of Đức Thánh Cả, the Communal House, Temple, and Pagoda of Thái Bình village is not only a place of worship but also the “heart” of cultural life, where village bonds are tied and the good customs of the people of Thái Bình village, Hòa Xá commune, are preserved; it is a symbol of patriotism, martial spirit, and a treasure of folk architectural art that needs to be preserved and promoted.

We invite you to visit the relic complex of the Temple of Đức Thánh Cả, the Communal House, Temple, and Pagoda of Thái Bình village - to pay homage to the land of “sacred land and talented people” in Thái Bình village, Hòa Xá commune - where the flow of history converges with the soul of the Vietnamese countryside, to learn about the heroic life of General Đức Thánh Cả Bột Hải Quan and feel the flow of history from the era of King Hùng Huy Vương fighting the Ân invaders, to admire the exquisite wood carvings, where time seems to stand still on each roof tile and communal house pillar, and to find peace of mind when burning a fragrant incense stick in the thousand-year-old sacred cultural space. Come to Thái Bình village, Hòa Xá commune, to understand more and love more the endless cultural values of the thousand-year-old capital of civilization!