La Gian Communal House
Introduction
La Gian Communal House is located in La Thanh Village, Doai Phuong Commune, Hanoi City. The communal house stands on a large hill, occupying a beautiful position in the rural landscape of the Doai region.
The communal house is where the Three Holy Tan Deities (Tan Vien Son Thanh) are worshipped – the leading deity in the Vietnamese belief in the Four Immortals. Previously, La Gian Communal House was a large ancient communal house with imposing architecture. Over time, natural disasters and war damaged many sections; currently only the single-compartment Rear Hall remains.
The Rear Hall is built with masonry walls and closed gable ends, with two sloping roofs covered in ri tiles. The ridge and eaves are decorated with dinh-edging; in the center is a stylized sun and fire-cloud motif; at both ends of the ridge are dinh-shaped blocks, and below is a tiered frieze, bearing the characteristics of traditional Nguyen Dynasty architecture.
During the August Revolution of 1945, the communal house was the site of meetings to seize power. During the resistance wars against France and the United States, it was a base for revolutionary activities, a place to hide cadres and store weapons, and it once welcomed Comrade Ton Duc Thang to work there in 1947–1948.
La Gian Communal House Festival is held on the 4th day of the first lunar month every year; on the 26th day of the seventh lunar month, an incense-offering ceremony is held to commemorate the Three Holy Tan Deities.
With its outstanding historical and cultural values, La Gian Communal House was ranked as a Historical–Cultural Relic by the People's Committee of Ha Tay Province on 04/02/2003.
