Duong Khe Communal House
Introduction
Type and Ranking: It is an Architectural and Artistic relic. It was recognized and ranked by the Minister of Culture and Information under Decision No. 1811/1998-QD-BVHTT dated 31/08/1998 as National-level Relic.
2. Worshipped Figure and Historical Value
Worshipped Figure: The communal house worships Thien Cuong Linh Ung Dai Vuong (real name Vuong Ngon), an outstanding Lac general during the reign of the 17th Hung King (Hung Due Vuong).
Divine legend: He was accomplished in both letters and martial arts and was well versed in astronomy and geography. When the Shu army invaded, he was assigned by the king to command the large land and naval forces and, together with Tan Vien Son Thanh, defeated the enemy to protect the country of Van Lang.
Event associated with the locality: During the campaign to suppress the invaders, he chose the spiritually significant land of Duong Khe as a place to station troops and establish a temporary palace. After he passed away (died) on the 10th day of the 11th lunar month, he was posthumously conferred the title of Phuc Than (Blessing Deity) by the king, and the people built a shrine to worship him and honored him as the village tutelary god.
3. Architectural and Artistic Characteristics
Construction history: The structure was initially built during the Le Trung Hung period and continued to be repaired and expanded during the Nguyen period (adding the gatehouse and rear sanctuary).
Layout: The relic faces a semicircular pond and includes the following components: the lantern-pillar gate, the Cung house (functioning as a three-entrance gate), the Dai Bai (main worship hall), and the Hau Cung (rear sanctuary).
Dai Bai (main worship hall): It is large-scale with 5 bays, using a system of 4 rows of large wooden column bases (up to 60 cm in diameter). The trusses are made in the sturdy "chong ruong con" style.
Sculptural art: This is the most outstanding value of the communal house. The vividly carved me con (architectural panels) strongly reflect the Le Trung Hung style with images such as a fairy riding a dragon, mother and child dragons playing, the long ma (dragon horse), and a nghe (mythical lion) staggering while carrying the communal house roof with an optimistic spirit. In particular, the communal house still preserves the remains of a nine-tiered Le-period ceremonial door (cua vong) exquisitely openwork-carved with motifs of fairies, dragons, and phoenixes.
Rear sanctuary: It is designed in the Dinh character shape with 3 bays, with trusses in the Nguyen-period "chong ruong ke truyen" style. Here are placed the worship cabinet, the Le-period throne and spirit tablet, and the massive three-tiered Nguyen-period incense table with decorative patterns.
4. System of Relics and Antiquities
The communal house preserves a very diverse and rare system of antiquities.
Ancient Documents: 01 genealogy of deities (compiled in the 3rd Vinh Huu year) and 13 royal edicts.
Wooden objects and worship items: Remains of a nine-tiered Le-period ceremonial door, worship cabinet, throne and spirit tablet, 01 worship bed, 02 palanquins, a set of ba buu (eight treasures), xa mau (halberd), long dinh (dragon palanquin), 03 horizontal plaques, 02 pairs of parallel couplets, a ceremonial weapon rack, and a washing vessel stand.
Other artifacts: 01 set of bronze tam su (three ritual vessels), 02 parasols, 02 bronze incense burners, and many other ritual objects.
5. Worship rituals
Every year, the villagers organize a traditional festival to honor the patriotic and martial spirit and to commemorate the merits of the Lac general of the Hung King period.
In daily life, the communal house is a center of cultural activities and a meeting place for organizations and local people to discuss the work of building their homeland.
