Hậu Xá Communal House

Worshipped Figure: The communal house worships the village tutelary god, Thuận Thế Chiêu Ứng Sắc Sinh Thần Đại Vương (real name Vũ Danh Phục), a human deity from the reigns of King Lý Nhân Tông and King Lý Anh Tông.

Divine legend: During his lifetime, he was well versed in the classics and histories and was appointed by King Lý Anh Tông as Tiết Chế Chỉ Huy Sơn Lam Sứ, responsible for tax collection in Ứng Thiên Prefecture. He helped the people establish schools, buy fields and ponds, and encourage production in Hậu Xá Village. Legend says that during the Ming invasion, he appeared in a dream to help Lê Thái Tổ (Lê Lợi) defeat the invaders and save the country, so he was conferred the title "Thượng đẳng phúc thần".

Revolutionary events: The communal house was the place where the sons of Hậu Xá Village were seen off to join the army to fight the Americans. Phương Tú Commune made great contributions in both resistance wars, with 25 martyrs and 06 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers.

Scale and Layout: The relic complex is located on a spacious plot at the entrance to the village, facing west, with a communal house pond in front. The items include: the communal house well, Nghi Môn (ceremonial gate), Đại Bái (main hall), and Hậu Cung (rear sanctuary) (in the form of the Chinese characters Đinh - J).

Ceremonial gate: Built in the trụ biểu style with a hổ phù panel, topped with kneeling nghê, below is a lantern panel decorated with the four sacred creatures (dragon - qilin - turtle - phoenix).

Dai Bai (main worship hall): The imposing scale includes 3 bays and 2 lean-tos, with 4 sharply curved roofs covered with old ri tiles. The roof truss system combines the "thượng chồng rường giá chiêng, hạ cốn, bẩy hiên" type (in the central bay) and the "thượng ván mê chạm hổ phù, hạ chồng rường, bẩy" type (in the side bays). Wood carvings focus on dragon motifs ("Ngư long hý thủy"), nghê, hổ phù holding the character thọ, lotus flowers, and phoenix birds. A distinctive feature is the four đầu dư carved with splendid dragon heads and the carved panels of đao mác and clustered clouds, strongly bearing the artistic style of the Nguyễn dynasty (19th century).

Rear sanctuary: It consists of 3 bays in the longitudinal house style (chuôi vồ), with brick-ended walls, and a truss of the "kèo kẻ quá giang" type. At the innermost is an altar base holding a lacquered and gilded dragon throne and spirit tablet.

Paper documents: 01 Ngọc phả, 01 Thần tích and 10 royal conferral edicts from the Hậu Lê and Tây Sơn periods to the Nguyễn period (Chiêu Thống, Cảnh Hưng, Cảnh Thịnh, Gia Long, Tự Đức, Đồng Khánh, Duy Tân, Khải Định).

Wooden objects: 01 set of dragon throne and spirit tablet in 17th-century style (117 cm high), 01 bát cống palanquin (early 18th-century style), 05 ancient horizontal plaques (including one inscribed "Nam Quốc Lương Hàn"), 06 pairs of couplets from the late 19th to early 20th century, 01 set of openwork-carved altar curtains, 01 double altar shrine.

Other artifacts: Bronze objects (a pair of cranes, a gong, a three-piece set), porcelain objects (03 lục bình vases), and other ritual objects.

Main festival: It takes place annually on the 3rd day of the 2nd lunar month.

Rituals: There is a Mộc Dục ceremony (cleansing the statue/throne with pure rainwater), and a palanquin procession from the Communal House to Miếu Cò and then back to its resting place. The ritual team consists of 12 people, with the Lý Trưởng or Chánh Hương Hội acting as Chief Celebrant (wearing a red robe and red boots). The ritual lasts 2-3 hours with 8 rounds of worship.

Festival part: Organize folk games such as swinging, climbing a pole, duck catching, and pot smashing to strengthen community solidarity.

According to the record dated 23/10/2004 and the map extract (sheet No. 01, 2003), the relic is zoned as follows:

• Zone 1 (Inviolable): Includes land plot No. 158 with an area of 857.8 m2 East borders the village road, West borders the communal house pond - plot 210, South borders the pagoda pond - plot 534, North borders Provincial Road 428.

• Zone 2 (Construction adjustment, landscape protection): Includes land plot No. 210 (area 1154.3 m2 - bordering fields, plot 533) and plot 534 (area 268 m2 - bordering the village road, plot 210, plot 158).

All activities that violate or construct in ways affecting Zone 1 and Zone 2 as zoned are strictly prohibited.