Đồng Táng Communal House - Đồng Trúc

Đồng Táng Communal House is located on high ground shaded by trees, possessing the standard overall layout of a northern village communal house. The communal house architecture is built in the layout of the character 'Tam' (≡) with 3 successive buildings including: Offering money, Dai Bai and Rear Sanctuary, in front opening to a small brick yard enclosed by a system of pillars and low walls extending in the imposing 'tay ngai' style.

• Front Hall: Prominent with a structure of four softly curved upswept roofs. On the ridge, the image of 'Two dragons flanking the moon' together with two kìm (Makara water monsters) in vivid ceramic appliqué appears against the sky. The internal truss system is made in the style 'thượng giá chiêng, hạ kẻ bẩy', with stylized dragon carvings with leaf motifs and a lotus image supporting the upper ridge beam, bringing an ethereal, gentle beauty.

• Great Ceremonial Hall: Continuing from the Front Hall is the Great Ceremonial Hall space, made in the style 'gable-ended side walls', with two solemn sloping roofs. Every carving detail here tends toward simplicity with refined bamboo-shoot-sheath profiling, creating a solid and rustic character.

• Rear Sanctuary: Located in the deepest and most sacred position, it consists of two bays and one dĩ in the style 'tiền đạo hậu đốc'. Stepping through the six-panel folding door is the solemn worship space, where a brick altar platform, wooden platform, and lacquered and gilded incense table stand in silence.

The history of Đồng Táng Communal House is closely associated with the worship of the village tutelary god and deities credited with controlling water and fighting invaders to protect the country:

• The Three Holy Tản Deities: The communal house worships Tản Viên Sơn Thánh along with two talented figures, Cao Sơn Đại Vương and Quý Minh Đại Vương (during the reign of the 18th Hùng King) – historical-mythological figures representing the power to conquer nature and the indomitable spirit of the nation.

• Giám Sát Đại Vương: A heavenly deity who once secretly aided the Trưng Sisters in defeating invaders and bringing peace to the people.

The intersection of mountain god and river god worship with national spirits has made Đồng Táng Communal House a solid spiritual support for the people of Đồng Táng village through generations.

Not only a work of spiritual art, Đồng Táng Communal House is also a 'red address' marking many important historical events:

• Resistance War Against France: The communal house was once a troop concentration point for our army before advancing to attack the historic Sơn Tây battle. In particular, in 1946, it hosted the Election of the National Assembly & People's Council, First Term of the locality, and was also the place for receiving the handover of seals and documents from the old administration.

• Resistance War Against the United States: The communal house became the main meeting headquarters of the government and people of Dong Tang village, where production emulation movements were launched, support was provided to the battlefield, and it was a stopping place for lingering farewells to generations of young people setting off to enlist in the army.

With special architectural and historical values, on 17/07/2008, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially ranked Dong Tang Communal House as National-level Architectural and Artistic Relic.

Visiting Dong Tang Communal House, tourists and lovers of ancient culture also have the opportunity to admire a rich system of relics and ritual objects preserved intact over many centuries:

• 03 sets of dragon thrones and spirit tablets: Among them, the central throne bears the artistic style of the Nguyen dynasty and holds a Le dynasty spirit tablet worshiping Tan Vien Son Thanh.

• 03 Tho Ha ceramic incense burners: Dating from the 18th century with antique, solemn glaze colors.

• Three-tier wooden altar: An exquisite Nguyen dynasty relief and openwork carving with the theme "Two dragons adoring the moon" and symmetrical lotus petals.

• Han-Nom heritage system: Including 13 royal edicts from various dynasties, 03 genealogical records recording the deeds of the deities, along with the bat cong palanquin, song hanh palanquin, and ablution stand carved with the Four Sacred Creatures - Four Seasons...