Quần Hiền Communal House, Hòa Bình Hamlet, Thường Tín Commune

According to the accounts of elderly villagers and local people, Quần Hiền Communal House was built long ago, at its present convenient location for transportation. The communal house stands on a beautiful plot of land in the east of the village, facing north, with the Tô Lịch River directly in front of its gate. The ancients chose the position 'first near the market, second near the river' to invest in building Quần Hiền Communal House in the 'chữ công' (Công-shaped) plan, including the great hall, the front worship section, and the rear sanctuary. The great hall of Quần Hiền Communal House is 13 meters long and 8 meters wide, divided into three bays—central bay and side bays—with the great hall structured in the form of four rows of wooden columns and a stacked-beam roof truss. Inside the great hall are four large scroll carvings; the scroll on the left is carved with the theme of fish and dragon playing in water, centered on a large dragon spouting water below. The great hall is decorated with carvings and arranged magnificently. These include an intact system of horizontal plaques and couplets; in the central sanctuary is a finely carved curtain door, especially the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, gilded and lacquered, with the eight immortals sailing on a dragon boat and riding fish, each figure in a different pose, holding an erhu as if singing—this carving carries strong folk elements…

The hagiography preserved at Quần Hiền Communal House records: “In the tenth month of winter, the seventeenth year of the Vĩnh Lạc era, year Kỷ Hợi. In Quỳ Châu and the subordinate districts there was chaos and disorder. The Ming sent Li Bin, Fang Zheng, and many generals leading 100,000 troops to attack Bình Định Vương at Mang Thôi; afterward Bình Định Vương was defeated. Initially Bình Định Vương raised troops at the Lam Sơn base. The Ming constantly searched and scoured and inspected rigorously. With troops exhausted and still weak, unable yet to resist the enemy, Bình Định Vương plotted with his generals to seek help and said:“Who can take my place, let the Ming enemy capture him, so that I may go into hiding, conceal my traces, and let the troops rest, in order to gather soldiers and plan to raise troops again?”. Lê Lai volunteered to take on this task himself; the Vương bowed and prayed to Heaven, saying: “Lê Lai gives his body in place of his lord; if later days do not remember his merit, may the palace turn into mountains and forests, the seal turn into iron and bronze, and the divine sword turn into a blunt knife.” After that, Lê Lai led troops to Tây Đô Citadel to challenge the enemy, calling himself Bình Định Vương. When the Ming enemy saw this, they all surrounded him, blocking every escape route so he could not turn back. Lê Lai charged straight in and was captured by the Ming and executed. In Đông Quan Citadel and other regions, word spread that Bình Định Vương had died. The Vương rested for several years, and the Ming did not pay attention or take precautions. Later, when the Vương moved the Mang Thôi garrison, Li Bin and Fang Zheng advanced close to surround him. The Vương hid troops in one place to wait for the enemy at Thi Lang, then attacked; Li Bin and Fang Zheng were almost only able to escape with their lives. The Vương advanced to Ba Lẫm Hamlet in Lỗi Giang; the Ming generals Tạ Phượng and Hoành Thành had to abandon Nga Lạc garrison and return to defend Quan Du camp, to guard Tây Đô Citadel, holding firm and not coming out to fight. The Vương again sent Lê Sát and Lê Hào to divide and attack, greatly defeating the enemy; neighboring districts all enthusiastically responded, and the army's morale was greatly encouraged.

Lê Thái Tổ bestowed the following couplet:

“In life a general, in death a god; with both hands he upheld it, for countless ages the imperial pillar is restored.”

“Merit at court, name in history; one body offered, for ten thousand years the official's hairpin and tablet are entrusted to the man.”

Rough translation: “In life a general—in death a god; with both hands he held it, pure for a thousand years, the royal clan keeps his helmet and armor.”

“Merit at court—name in history; one body in replacement, for ten thousand years the hairpin and tablet are passed to the man.”

Horizontal plaque: “Majestic spirit of the temple court”.

Lê Thánh Tông bestowed the following couplet:

“Greatly transmitted on bells and cauldrons, the lofty person is looked up to.”

“Through generations preserving loyal integrity, together with the nation.”

Rough translation:

“Handed down on bells and cauldrons, his great merit is revered by all,”

“Through life maintaining lofty integrity and staunch loyalty, supporting and aiding the nation.”

Đoan Dương Festival, year Quý Mùi, the 36th year of the Tự Đức era of the imperial Nguyễn dynasty (1884).

Quần Hiền Communal House worships Lord Lê Lai, who received beautiful titles by imperial edict through successive reigns

Vạn Đức Thánh Hoàng Trung Túc Đại Vương. Reverently received!

The Lê dynasty successively conferred additional titles: Hướng nghĩa Kiệt trung, Chiêu tiết Hạo linh, Dực bảo Trung hưng, Trác vĩ Quang ý, Thượng đẳng thần. Recorded through successive reigns are the imperial edicts Hộ quốc Hựu dân, Hiển ứng Chiêu cảm, Phu huệ Hồng ân, Phổ trạch Tá trị, Phù vận Khuông quốc, Tế thế Phu hưu, Khang hựu Đốc bật, Huy quang Cương chính, Phù tộ Diễn khánh, An dân Trấn quốc, Anh linh Tán bính, Phù cương Dương vũ, Hùng tài Vĩ lược, Tá tích Tán trị, Phu dũng Trợ thắng, Phổ thông Tích phúc, Chí nhân Hậu đức, Phong công Hoành mô, Viễn lược Quảng nghiệp, Tổng lộc Thuần hi, Phương dự Mậu công, Thịnh đức Hậu trạch, Tác tắc Hồng huân, Bảo nghiệp Trang tĩnh, Dụ phúc Diệu vũ, Khai sáng Thủ thành, Phi hiến An biên, Uy linh Tá thánh, Diệu uy Tán Mưu, Triệu tích Cương minh, Nhân trí Hùng lược, Tuy khánh Liễm phúc, Tế trị Anh nghị, Thần đoán Khang quốc, Long nghiệp Sùng cơ, Hiển khánh Ôn văn, Hoàn vũ Thâm nhân, Hiển đạt Chiêu hựu, Diệu ứng Quang tế, Bác thi Phổ nhuận, Phái ân Anh du, Mậu đức Minh mẫn, Thần vũ Nghiêm uy, Thiện tín Mỹ đại, Thánh thần Anh minh, Quả đoán Hùng nghị, Tối linh Đại vương and Queen Bà Trai trang Tĩnh nhất, Ý đức Nhân hậu, Thuần hòa Đôn mỹ, Nhu huệ Trinh nghi, Lệnh đức Gia hạnh, Chương thuận Ôn từ, Uyển mị Phong diễm, Nhàn nhã Thừa thiên, Phái trạch Phu hựu, Hồng từ Phổ nhuận, Long hưu Nghiêm cẩn, Thuần ý Lệnh nghi, Khoan hòa Từ ý, Ôn nhu Thuần tĩnh, Đoan cung Diễm lệ, Tối linh Công chúa.

The legend of Vạn Đức Thánh Hoàng Tối Linh Đại Vương, who was originally granted the national surname Lê and named Lai. In the time when Annam was under the Ming bandits, the people rose up and joined Lê Thái Tổ’s army; he personally took the lord’s place and maintained loyal integrity. Later, when Thái Tổ pacified the Ming enemy and won the empire, records wrote of his fierce integrity; he was conferred the title of meritorious official and posthumously honored as the Tutelary Spirit Linh Phu Hiển Ứng. The people of the village maintain incense and fire and worship him at the temple of Lê Lai.

Quần Hiền Communal House is a historical relic where the village tutelary god is the national hero Lê Lai. It also preserves the legend of the Lam Sơn uprising during the siege of Đông Đô Citadel (Hanoi). The communal house is an architectural and sculptural work of the Nguyễn dynasty, quite typical in art, architecture, and sculpture, with full traditional and folk elements.