Cấn Xá Thượng Communal House

According to legendary documents, royal edicts, horizontal inscriptions, parallel sentences, and the genealogy 'Cấn Thượng Village Thần Phả' copied in the 12th year of Vĩnh Hựu under Lê Ý Tông (1746 AD) by Nguyễn Hiền, Thiếu Khanh, official in charge of the Bách Thần At the Palace, with the corrected text compiled by Nguyễn Bính, Đông các Đại học sĩ of the Hàn Lâm Academy, in the second year of Hồng Phúc under Lê Anh Tông (1573 AD) and kept at the communal house, Cấn Xá Thượng Communal House worships three Thành Hoàng (village tutelary deities) who helped the people and the country from the reign of King Thục An Dương Vương. They were the court official Trần Công Tuấn, conferred the title Quý Châu Thành Đại Vương (father), and his two sons: Thị Tòng tham quan Đệ Nhất Trung Á Đại Vương and the mật viện bang soái official Đệ Nhị Trung Á Đại Vương. The Ngọc Phả records that Trần Công Tuấn was originally from Hoan Châu; he was accomplished in both civil and military matters and was invited by King Thục Vương to serve as an official. He was granted a fief in Ninh Sơn District (i.e., An Sơn District).

Tuấn Công built a palace at Kinh Xá Commune to reside in, opened assistance among the people, and married Ms. Quê Nương of Kinh Xá. The couple were elderly but had no children, so they distributed their property and wealth, brought money and incense to Sài Sơn Pagoda to pray for an heir.

 The following year, Mrs. Quế Nương gave birth to twin boys. Tuấn Công named them Đệ Nhất Trung Á and Đệ Nhị Trung Á. The twins were handsome and talented, thoroughly versed in the classics, history, military affairs, and governance. As worthy talents, they were invited by King Thục to serve as officials. From then on, king and subjects were united in virtue, the realm was peaceful, and all people were well fed. King Thục reigned for 46 years, then the Triệu dynasty sent troops to invade our country; the three father-and-sons of Tuấn Công led troops to suppress the enemy and won many great battles. Triệu Đà, knowing he could not win, sought peace and used his son Trọng Thủy to marry Princess Mỵ Châu in order to steal the magic crossbow. Tuấn Công and his sons knew Triệu Đà's scheme and tried hard to dissuade King Thục, but the king did not listen, so they resigned and returned to their homeland of Kinh Xá. When the Triệu had tricked their way to the magic crossbow, they brought troops to attack Thục; King Thục was defeated, fled to Nghệ An, and jumped into the sea. At court only the three father-and-sons Tuấn Công remained at the head of the great officials; they urged the household servants and the people of Kinh Xá to counterattack Triệu Đà's army, and Triệu Đà's army suffered a great defeat. Tuấn Công died on the 10th day of the 8th lunar month at the age of 82; the two Trung Á lords died on the 14th day of the 1st lunar month. Afterwards, the villagers carried them back to worship at the palace of the court official at Kinh Xá and honored Tuấn Công as the father king.

The festival is held to commemorate the Three Great Kings, including:

- Quý Công Trần Quốc Tuấn (father)

- Đệ Nhất Trung Á (son)

- Đệ Nhị Trung Á (son)

Cấn Xá Thượng Communal House worships three Great Kings from the time of Thục An Dương Vương: the court official Trần Công Tuấn Đại Vương and his two sons, Đệ Nhất Trung Á Đại Vương and Đệ Nhị Trung Á Đại Vương. The Ngọc Phả records that Trần Công Tuấn was from Hoan Châu, accomplished in both civil and military matters, and was appointed a court official by Thục Vương. He married Mrs. Quế Nương of Cấn Xá Hạ and had two sons, who were later made officials by King Thục. Because they failed to dissuade King Thục from marrying Mỵ Châu to Trọng Thủy, the two asked to resign and returned to their mother's homeland. When Thục An Dương Vương fled and the Triệu army pursued him, passing through Cấn Xá Hạ, they were ambushed by the two men, and the Triệu troops had to flee for their lives.

Sùng Hưng Pagoda together with Cấn Xá Thượng Communal House forms a cluster of religious architectural and artistic relics; this place witnessed many historical evidences of the locality during the periods of national construction and defense. At the same time, it is a center for cultural activities and for exercising local freedom of belief. Cấn Xá Thượng Communal House was ranked as an architectural and artistic relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1995.

Currently preserved antiquities and relics:

- 21 royal edicts, of which 13 are still legible, including

 - 01 edict from the Trần period

 - 05 edicts from the Lê period

 - 07 edicts from the Nguyễn dynasty; the rest are faded and torn.

 - 02 volumes of Thần Phả, of which 01 is in Nôm script and 01 is in Hán characters.

Main festival: The festival of Cấn Thượng Village, Kiều Phú Commune, Hà Nội City, takes place from the 13th to the 15th day of the first lunar month every year. In the past, the festival was held annually; from 2000, the Commune People's Committee stipulated that the festival be held once every five years in even years, and in the remaining years only the rituals are held without the festival.

 To date, the Cấn Thượng Village festival has still been maintained according to regulations. Hội lệ: It is held in odd years (outside the years of the main festival); the rituals remain the same as in even years, but the festival activities are not organized.

Currently, Cấn Xá Thượng Communal House is carrying out restoration and embellishment work.