Thien Ma Communal House

Thien Ma Communal House is a long-standing historical relic, associated with the formation and development of the former Thien Ma Village and the cultural and religious life of the community in the Doai region.

According to historical documents, Thien Ma formerly belonged to Thien Ma Village. In the Tran dynasty, this place belonged to Quoc Oai route; by the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, it belonged to Son Tay Dao. In the early 19th century, Thien Ma belonged to Trieu Dong Commune, Thach That District, Quoc Oai Prefecture, Son Tay Tran. In 1945, Thien Ma belonged to Co Dong Commune, Tung Thien District, Son Tay Province. In 2020, Thien Ma Village and Vinh Loc Village were merged into Thien Loc Village. Currently, the place name Thien Ma belongs to La Thanh Village, Doai Phuong Commune, Hanoi City.

Thien Ma Communal House is located in a traditional rural setting with spacious, open scenery. The communal house faces southwest; its overall architecture is arranged in a Dinh-shaped layout, including many components such as the Great Hall, Rear Shrine, Left and Right Wings, Ceremonial Gate, ceremonial pillars, and a garden system. The harmonious combination of architectural components and landscape creates a space that is both solemn and strongly characteristic of traditional communal house architecture in the Northern Delta.

Thien Ma Communal House worships the three deities of Saint Tan Vien Son Thanh, who were bestowed with different honorable titles, including Ta Kien Than, Huu Kien Than, and Quy Minh Dai Vuong. According to legends and spirit records handed down locally, the deities made great contributions to the people, helping to reclaim land, develop life, eliminate evil, educate the people, and build fine customs. After they passed away, the people of Thien Ma built a temple and communal house to worship them and honored them as the village tutelary gods.

The worship of Saint Tan Vien Son Thanh at Thien Ma Communal House is tied to the tradition of venerating deities who rendered service to the people and the country among the residents of the Doai region. Through the Dinh, Le, Ly, Tran dynasties and subsequent historical periods, the deities were reputed to be sacred and manifested many times, assisting the nation and the people. Therefore, royal courts issued edicts, honorable titles, and exaltations, including the title Upper-grade Fortune God, for the people to worship long term. The worship of the tutelary gods has been maintained by the community for many generations, becoming an important part of the cultural and religious life of Thien Ma Village.

Through historical ups and downs, Thien Ma Communal House has preserved many cultural, historical, and artistic architectural values. The relic currently keeps many artifacts dating from the Nguyen dynasty, including documents and objects dated to the 6th year of Gia Long (1807), contributing to proving the long-standing history and value of the relic.

Every year, local people organize the traditional festival of Thien Ma Communal House on the 7th day of the first lunar month. This is an occasion for the people to remember the merits of the tutelary gods, while maintaining traditional customs and rituals, strengthening community cohesion, and educating younger generations about the historical and cultural traditions of their homeland.

In order to preserve and promote the value of the relic, in recent years Thien Ma Communal House has received investment, repair, and restoration. In 2022, the plan for repairing and restoring Thien Ma Communal House relic was approved by the People's Committee of Son Tay Town, contributing to protecting architectural and landscape components and creating conditions for the relic to be preserved long term.

With its outstanding historical, cultural, architectural, and folk belief values, Thien Ma Communal House is an important cultural address of the locality, contributing to enriching the cultural heritage system of the Doai Phuong area. The relic is not only a place preserving the historical imprints of Thien Ma Village but also a space for cultural and religious activities of the community, playing a meaningful role in preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of the homeland.