Ninh Son Communal House - A Symbol of Culture and Folk Belief

Ninh Son Communal House, belonging to Ninh Son residential group, Chuong My Ward - a sacred historical relic that preserves the cultural and historical values of the community over many generations in the ancient land of Ninh Kieu. The communal house has a position of 'backing the mountain and facing the water.' The natural mountain-and-water scenery is beautiful. The communal house is surrounded by three majestic mountain ranges: Phuong Hoang Mountain, Hoa Tinh Mountain, and Tram Mountain. In front of the communal house is a large plain with a blue lake and cool rice fields, creating a peaceful rural landscape that is both poetic and ancient, with a solid and sacred position.

1. Historical values and offerings to the deity

Ninh Son Communal House is where His Excellency Ly Ong Trong is worshipped - a hero who made great contributions to the cause of defending the country during the Au Lac period under the An Duong Vuong dynasty. Through ups and downs, although it was once severely destroyed during the wars of the Le - Trinh and Tay Son periods, the communal house has still been restored and maintained by the people, preserving its historical values.

2. Artistic Architecture and Priceless Artifacts

In terms of architecture, Ninh Son Communal House is a distinctive artistic work bearing strong imprints of traditional Vietnamese village architecture. The communal house grounds are harmoniously arranged from the Dai Bai, Trung Cung to the Hau Cung.

The Dai Bai hall stands out with a structure of five compartments and two side wings, a system of large wooden columns supporting the communal house roof, roofed with traditional old-style tiles, along with four soft curved corners pointing upward to the sky. The artistic highlight lies in the elaborate wood carvings, vividly painted with the four sacred creatures (Dragon, Ly, Turtle, Phoenix), combined with cloud-and-fire patterns and sacred nghê creatures... symbolizing wishes for prosperity and peace for the villagers. The communal house is considered one of the large architectural structures that can bring prosperity to the villagers through historical periods. Here, 14 ancient royal edicts from feudal dynasties are still preserved, along with a divine register recording the Tutelary God - treasures that testify to the long history of the relic.

3. Traditional Festival and the Moral Principle of Remembering the Source When Drinking Water

To commemorate the merits of the Tutelary God, every year, on the occasion of Tet and spring, once every three years, the people of Ninh Son village jubilantly organize a festival from the 9th to the 11th day of the 11th lunar month. The atmosphere in Ninh Son village is bustling, and everyone strives to create a green, clean, and beautiful landscape to welcome the village festival.

The Ninh Son Communal House Festival still preserves many unique rituals and folk knowledge, starting with the ritual of cleaning the altar and the tablet of the Saint with five-fragrance water, followed by the ceremony of inviting the Saint; the village elders perform the ritual of offering sacrifices to the superior deity with many cultural values still preserved; each time the festival is held, it not only attracts local children but also attracts tens of thousands of visitors from everywhere to worship and observe the scene at Ninh Son Communal House.

The festival is a vivid history lesson that educates younger generations about national pride and the fine moral principle of 'Uống nước nhớ nguồn' (remembering the source when drinking water).