An Thượng Communal House, An Thượng Village, Hòa Phú Commune, Hà Nội City
Introduction
An Thượng Communal House is a valuable architectural work; the relic was ranked by the People's Committee of Hà Tây Province under Decision No. 122/QĐ-UBND dated April 29, 1989, and is a place for cultural and religious activities for the people of An Thượng Village (formerly Thượng Lao Village) and visitors from afar.
According to the genealogical record “Trần triều tứ vị đại vương ngọc phả cổ lục thượng đẳng bộ tích nhất ban nhị thập ngũ xã phụng lễ” (Ancient jade genealogy of the four divine generals of the Trần Dynasty worshipped by 25 communes), a copy of which is currently kept at An Thượng Communal House, the communal house worships four deities:
1- Holy Mother, wife of Hưng Đạo Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn (Lady Bảo Hoa)
2- Lord Hiển Công
3- Lord Sý Công
4- Lord Lân Công
(These are the three sons of Lady Bảo Hoa and Trần Quốc Tuấn)
The genealogy states: In the Trần Dynasty, there was Trần Quốc Tuấn, a man of complete literary and martial talent, who married Princess Bảo Hoa. Their first child was a handsome young man named Hiển Công. That year was the Giáp Thìn year. Three years later, on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month of the Đinh Mùi year, she gave birth to twins, two plump boys named Sý Công and Lân Công. They carefully raised them to study both literature and martial arts. At the age of 18, the young men went to court for examination and were all recruited by the king. The king appointed Hiển Công as Chief Advisor of the Left Dao Military, Sý Công as Grand Chancellor, and Lân Công as Grand Preceptor.
At that time, the Yuan-Mongol invaders were plotting to encroach on our country's borders. Receiving the king's order, the three men traveled everywhere to reassure the people in their livelihoods and prepare to fight the invaders. By the king's order, the three led troops to guard key positions at the border and eliminate spies operating secretly.
On the 10th day of the 7th lunar month, the three men and their soldiers marched through Thượng Phú Commune, Quảng Bị Canton, Chương Đức District, Ứng Thiên Prefecture. They stayed here for three or four days to survey the terrain and the people's situation, and then decided to establish four forts in our locality as follows:
- One fort at the new communal house and shrine, the central place for meetings and discussions of military affairs
- One fort at Ngõ Mây, which is the site of the shrine worshipping Lady Bảo Hoa today
- One fort at Sơn Cầu, also called Quán Kiều
- One fort at the Hàm Rồng junction, which is Rồng Market today
After establishing the forts, the three men returned to Hành Tung Hamlet. One day, while on an inspection tour, Trần Quốc Tuấn and Lady Bảo Hoa went to Thượng Dục and Hạ Dục communes to meet the people. Princess Bảo Hoa decided to use this place as a base for resisting the invaders.
The Yuan-Mongol invaders were ravaging our country. After capturing Thăng Long Citadel, they expanded their scope and threatened Vạn Kiếp Fort, the fief of Trần Hưng Đạo. The enemy was very strong, so the king invited civil and military officials to court to ask for strategies, including the family of Hưng Đạo Vương. Trần Quốc Tuấn was appointed Quốc Công Tiết Chế, holding full military authority, and Lady Bảo Hoa was appointed as military advisor. Following their father's order, the three men went to Thượng Phú Commune to recruit soldiers. The surrounding people enthusiastically responded. After recruiting enough troops, the generals and soldiers advanced straight to Vạn Kiếp to fight the enemy. The soldiers and household servants of Vạn Kiếp Fort fought extremely bravely. The Yuan troops panicked and collapsed. Hưng Đạo Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn directly commanded the land and naval forces, while Princess Bảo Hoa and her three sons directly fought and pursued the Yuan invaders, causing thousands of them to die, then continued to pursue them to the Bạch Đằng River and beheaded the enemy general Ô Mã Nhi. The remaining invaders fled in panic back to their country. After those decisive victories, the country returned to peace, and the king held a banquet to reward the civil and military officials, including the four deities of An Thượng Village.
Architectural style: It features the traditional artistic architectural style of Vietnamese feudal dynasties (Lê - Nguyễn periods), notable for its system of columns and beams made of lim wood or precious wood with elaborate carvings.
Notable features: It includes the Great Worship Hall (bái đường) and the rear sanctuary in the đinh-shaped layout, preserving many valuable relics such as worship thrones, horizontal plaques, couplets, and procession palanquins.
