Than Quy Communal House

Than Quy Communal House is a National-level Historical and Cultural Relic (ranked by the State in 1997), located in Than Quy village, Dai Xuyen commune, Hanoi. The communal house worships a talented general from the time of the 18th Hung King who had merit in fighting the enemy and defending the country, together with Princess Huyen Tran and Prince Consort Tran Khac Chung of the Tran dynasty. The communal house possesses an architectural space typical of the ancient Red River Delta, closely associated with unique local historical stories.

Than Quy Communal House is a relic associated with the long-standing cultural, religious, and historical life of the community of Than Quy area, now in Dai Xuyen commune, Hanoi. The communal house is not only a place to worship deities revered by the people but also a space preserving imprints of history, architecture, and the Vietnamese tradition of “remembering the source when drinking water.” Historical and religious imprints. According to materials introducing the relic, Than Quy Communal House belongs to Than Quy village, formerly in Minh Tan commune, Phu Xuyen district. The communal house was ranked by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a national-level Historical and Architectural-Artistic Relic in 1997. The communal house worships Dong Hai Dai Vuong Doan Thuong, along with a number of figures revered by local people such as Nguyen Dinh Tuc, Pham Van Minh, Le Van Tap, and Tran Duc Phong. In addition, the relic also jointly worships Trung Thanh Pho Te Dai Vuong, Princess Huyen Tran, and Prince Consort Khac Chung. The system of figures worshipped at the communal house reflects the interweaving of many layers of legend and history, from the Hung King era to the Ly and Tran dynasties and later historical periods. The worship of figures who had merit toward the country and homeland expresses the traditional morality of local people: remembering predecessors, honoring those who had merit in protecting and building the homeland, and educating later generations about gratitude and community awareness. Architectural and artistic value

Than Quy Communal House bears typical features of traditional village communal house architecture in the Red River Delta. The relic complex includes main items such as the gate, the Dai Bai (main worship hall), and the Hau Cung (rear sanctuary). The Dai Bai has a scale of 5 bays with 2 wings, structured in the traditional style; the Hau Cung consists of a 3-bay longitudinal house connected to the central bay of the Dai Bai, forming a Dinh-shaped plan. The wooden components in the communal house still retain decorative and carved forms of artistic value. On the beams there are motifs such as scroll clouds, sacred leaves, etc., contributing to the solemn yet intimate beauty of an ancient village communal house. Together with the three-entrance gate and traditional landscape, the communal house architecture creates a cultural space characteristic of northern Vietnamese villages. Images of the banyan tree, communal house yard, pond, and village space also contribute to the landscape value of the relic. These elements are not simply architectural in meaning but are also tied to community memory and to the cultural activities and spiritual life of many generations of local people. Village communal house – community activity space. In the Vietnamese village tradition, the communal house is not only a place to worship the Village Tutelary God but also a center of community activity. Than Quy Communal House also carries this meaning. It is a place where people express reverence for the deities worshipped, and at the same time it is part of the shared memory of the local community.

Stories about the deities and historical figures worshipped at the communal house have been passed from generation to generation. Through this, the communal house becomes a place connecting past and present, helping today's people better understand the origins of their homeland.

Value and conservation issues. Than Quy Communal House once faced serious deterioration. Press sources in 2017 recorded many items damaged, the communal house roof sagging and collapsing, wooden components termite-damaged, and the relic grounds deteriorating. In response, Hanoi cultural management agencies required urgent repair measures to prevent collapse for the relic. This information shows that conserving Than Quy Communal House is not only protecting an ancient architectural work but also preserving memory, beliefs, folk art, and the cultural identity of the local community. For a relic already ranked at national level, conservation work needs to set the requirement of preserving original elements to the maximum extent while ensuring safety for people and suitability to current cultural life. Than Quy Communal House is a cultural address of significance to the land of Than Quy and Dai Xuyen commune today. Through its architecture, the system of worshipped figures, stories passed down through generations, and community activity space, the communal house contributes to reflecting the historical and cultural depth of a rural area in southern Hanoi. Amid urbanization and rapid changes in modern life, relics such as Than Quy Communal House are even more meaningful in preserving homeland memory. Conserving the communal house is not only keeping roof tiles, wooden columns, or old carved panels, but more deeply keeping a part of the soul of the countryside, history, and identity of the Than Quy community for future generations.