Vân Cốc Communal House Historical-Cultural Relic

Overview of the Vân Cốc Communal House Historical-Cultural Relic

The Vân Cốc Communal House Historical-Cultural Relic is located in Phúc Lộc Commune, Hà Nội City, and worships the three generals Phùng Ả Tú, Phùng Ả Huyền, and Hoàng Thượng Cát, who assisted the Trưng Sisters in driving out the Eastern Han army.

Legend has it that in the early years of the Common Era, in Vân Thủy Village (later renamed Vân Cốc Village and now belonging to Vân Phúc Commune, Vân Nam Commune, and Vân Hà Commune; after consolidation, only Vân Phúc Commune and Nam Hà Commune remained, Phúc Thọ District, Hà Nội City, now belonging to Phúc Lộc Commune, Hà Nội City), there was Mr. Phùng Liệt, whose wife was Mrs. Phạm Thị Tự, and they had two children, Phùng Ả Tú and Phùng Ả Huyền; in Nhật Chiêu Village (now in Liên Châu Commune, Phú Thọ Province), there was Mr. Hoàng Xuân Hy, whose wife was Mrs. Phạm Thị Chỉ, and they had a child named Hoàng Thượng Cát. The three ladies were naturally intelligent and strong, and also skilled in literature and martial arts, including chess. At that time, no man or woman could match them, and they were respected and admired by the villagers for their talent and spirit. Facing the loss of the country and the suffering of the people caused by Tô Định, the Eastern Han governor who invaded our country, the three ladies were deeply concerned with finding a way to save the country and the people. Hearing that the Trưng Sisters had raised the flag of uprising at the Hát River estuary and sent proclamations everywhere calling on talented people to support the uprising, the three ladies recruited 52 insurgents, trained them in archery, swordsmanship, and martial arts, crossed the Hát River to gather, met the Trưng Sisters, paid their respects, and were highly regarded by the Trưng Sisters, who appointed the three ladies to command a unit contributing to driving out Tô Định.

In the spring of 40, the Trưng Sisters launched the uprising; insurgent forces in endless ranks advanced to surround the enemy, and Tô Định could only find a way to flee. After defeating Tô Định's army, the Trưng Sisters ascended the throne, returned to establish the capital at Mê Linh, and appointed the three ladies Phùng Ả Tú, Phùng Ả Huyền, and Hoàng Thượng Cát as generals commanding the garrison at Hát Giang, the outpost of Mê Linh Capital.

After three years, the Han court sent Mã Viện with a large army to attack Giao Chỉ. Facing the strong enemy, Trưng Vương remained determined to fight against the invaders. In the unequal battle, with the enemy many times stronger, the Trưng Sisters retreated to the Cẩm Khê area, a strategic base with good defensive value. But because the enemy was too strong, the Trưng Sisters later sacrificed themselves at Hát Giang on the 6th day of the 3rd lunar month, 43. With their commander lost, the three ladies, along with famous generals and insurgents, still resolved to fight to the end; on the 11th day of the 3rd lunar month, 43, the three ladies also sacrificed themselves. To commemorate the merits of the three female generals, the people of Vân Thủy Village established a place of worship for the three ladies. In the Đinh Dynasty, the three ladies Phùng Ả Tú, Phùng Ả Huyền, and Hoàng Thượng Cát were posthumously conferred the title 'Tam vị Đại Vương Thần' and were worshipped as the Village Tutelary God at the Vân Cốc Communal House Historical-Cultural Relic to this day.

The Vân Cốc Communal House Historical-Cultural Relic was built long ago but was later completely destroyed during the 'scorched earth resistance' years (1947–1948). In 1990, with the agreement of the authorities and the people, the communal house was gradually rebuilt and restored on the old foundation, although it was very small compared with the former scale of the communal house, and over time it had deteriorated. In 2021, Vân Cốc Communal House received state investment for restoration and embellishment according to its former scale and architecture, and it was completed and put into use on September 30, 2024, including the Nghi môn (ceremonial gate), Tả vu (left wing), Hữu vu (right wing), communal courtyard, Đại bái (main worship hall), and Hậu cung (rear sanctuary). In addition to its architectural values, Vân Cốc Communal House also preserves stone column bases, evidence of its massive scale, and a number of other valuable ritual objects. Local officials and people continue to repair ritual objects and build landscapes suitable to the solemn architecture and landscape of the communal house. With its outstanding historical, cultural, and artistic architectural values, Vân Cốc Communal House was ranked at the Provincial level under Decision No. 1210/1999/QĐ-UB dated November 9, 1999, of the Hà Tây Provincial People's Committee.

Every year after the communal house was restored, the traditional Vân Cốc Communal House Festival is held in spring from the 12th to the 15th day, with the former communes taking turns organizing it (now the villages of the three former communes Vân Phúc, Vân Nam, and Vân Hà, under the two-tier local government model); the rituals have entered the memory of all local people. The traditional festival is an occasion for the people to express their reverence for their predecessors who contributed to their homeland and country.