Thanh Trì Communal House, Sơn Tây Ward, Hanoi City

THANH TRÌ COMMUNAL HOUSE, SƠN TÂY WARD

Thanh Trì Communal House is located in Ái Mỗ residential group, Sơn Tây Ward, Hanoi City. It is a historical–cultural relic closely associated with the religious life and community activities of the local people. The communal house is one of the typical relics of the Đoài region worshiping the three Great Kings, Supreme Blessed Deities Tản Viên Sơn Thánh, and it is also closely linked with Và Temple and the system of relics worshiping Tản Viên Sơn Thánh in the area.

Through many repairs and renovations, Thanh Trì Communal House has still preserved a relatively rich system of artifacts dating from the Nguyễn period to the present. Representative objects such as the incense table, long thrones, royal edicts, lamp stands, and candle stands… not only serve worship activities but also carry historical, cultural, and artistic value. In particular, the long thrones and royal edicts kept in the main hall are valuable artifacts, contributing to reflecting the religious tradition and the existence process of the relic. Conservation work has received attention, and most worship objects remain in relatively good condition.

The Thanh Trì Communal House festival is a beautiful traditional cultural feature, expressing the people's reverence for the deities and the spirit of community cohesion. The communal house festival is held on the second day of the second lunar month, with the main ritual being the sacrifice ceremony. In addition, festival activities are also associated with the Và Temple festival, which takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month and the 15th day of the ninth lunar month. Every three years, according to tradition, in the years of the Rat, Horse, Cat, and Rooster, on the full moon of the first lunar month, Và Temple holds its main festival, with the ritual of carrying the three Holy Tản deities across the Red River to perform ceremonies at Ngự Dội Temple, Vĩnh Phú Commune, Vĩnh Phúc Province.

In particular, the festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month is inter-regional, with the participation of many relics and communities such as Và Temple, Vân Gia Communal House, Ái Mỗ, Nghĩa Phủ, Mai Trai, Phù Sa, and Duy Bình Village. Before the festival day, people prepare offerings and palanquins and perform traditional rituals, including the bathing ritual before conducting sacrifices. The bond between villages and relics is also handed down through folk verses reflecting the distinctive character of the cultural and religious life of the Đoài region:

“Twelfth: Phú Nhi water procession

Thirteenth: Thanh Trì, fourteenth: Phù Sa

Fifteenth: Và Temple festival…”,

With its outstanding historical, cultural, and architectural-artistic values, Thanh Trì Communal House was ranked by the Hanoi City People's Committee as a City-level Historical–Cultural Relic under Decision No. 1237/QĐ-UBND dated March 10, 2011. This is an important recognition of the relic's value, while also requiring continued conservation of the architecture, preservation of artifacts, and promotion of traditional rituals.

Together with Và Temple, Sơn Tây Ancient Citadel, and Đường Lâm Ancient Village, Thanh Trì Communal House contributes to creating the distinctive heritage space of Sơn Tây land – the Đoài region. Preserving and promoting the relic's values not only helps preserve local cultural identity but also educates tradition and nourishes pride in the homeland for present and future generations.