The Phuong Ngoai Communal House relic was built long ago to worship the three deities who protect the spiritual life of the people according to traditional beliefs. The origins and deeds of the deities are recorded and passed down among the people as "superiors" who always listen to and understand the people's sorrows in order to protect and shelter them.
Historians affirm that during the period of Chinese domination and resistance against it, lasting more than 1,000 years, Ly Bi's uprising in particular and the Early Ly dynasty in general held a very important position, because Ly Bi's uprising achieved the most resounding victory and won the longest-lasting independence and autonomy. In the nation's history, Ly Nam De was the first person to proclaim himself Emperor and also the first to establish the era name "Thien Duc". Ly Nam De was also the first to recognize the central position of the land of ancient Hanoi... Relics worshipping Ly Nam De are now scattered across the provinces of Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, etc., including Phuong Ngoai Communal House in Lien Minh commune.
Besides the two deities mentioned above, the communal house also worships Thien Cuong Dai Vuong, who rendered meritorious service to the country during the Hung Kings period. At the same time, in Phuong Ngoai locality, he directly taught the people how to make a living and improve their lives to achieve what they have today; truly great merit.
About artistic and aesthetic values:
The artistic and aesthetic value of the Phuong Ngoai Communal House relic is expressed through its architectural structure and interior worship objects. Regarding architecture: the communal house includes the main hall, rear hall, and left-right porches, all designed in the traditional style, with gable walls built solid, tiled roofs, and wooden trusses.
Having suffered much damage when the French burned the communal house, the people of Phuong Ngoai made many efforts to rebuild it and called for donations, preparing worship objects in traditional styles such as dragon thrones, incense tables, and eight treasures... made of wood, intricately and meticulously carved with themes suitable for the village communal house, to restore the rituals of worshipping the three Holy Deities.
About cultural and scientific values
Phuong Ngoai Communal House is a place of worship for the three deities and also the center of community life for the village, a place for meetings and cultural and religious activities of the villagers. Here, every year on festival occasions, healthy cultural and religious activities take place. Through the ups and downs of life, the rituals and especially the spirit of solidarity of the people in the village have always remained strong; this is also where the people express their reverence for the deities and ancestors who sheltered and blessed the people with peace and warmth, prosperity for the people and abundance of goods. That is also how previous generations educated younger generations in compassion and the tradition of remembering the source when drinking water.
Studying and researching the Phuong Ngoai Communal House relic helps us see many values in the layers of religious culture worshipping the village's tutelary deity; these traditional cultural values have aroused love for the homeland and awareness of protecting national cultural traditions; they are a driving force for the locality to develop its economy and society comprehensively.
