Tram Communal House

The Tram Communal House–Pagoda relic complex formerly belonged to Tram Village, Co Linh Commune, Thuan An Prefecture, Kinh Bac Region. In the Nguyen period it was in Bac Ninh Province; today it belongs to Tram 1 Group, Long Bien Ward, Hanoi City.

The communal house relic is located in the south of Long Bien Ward on the bank of the Red River, about 4.5 km from central Hanoi; after crossing Chuong Duong Bridge about 2.5 km along the Long Bien–Bat Trang dike road, the Tram Communal House–Pagoda complex is immediately visible on a high plot of land with moss-covered ancient trees. In front is an ancient communal house structured in the Dinh character plan, comprising a five-bay Dai Bai main worship hall and a three-bay Hau Cung rear sanctuary, built in the thuong chong giuong gia chieng and ha ke styles; in front of the courtyard are two three-bay buildings, Ta Vu and Huu Vu; further in front are a cuon thu screen and nghi mon ritual gate; to the left of the communal house are the storehouse and kitchen area.

When did Tram Communal House originate? The documents currently kept at the communal house do not show the date of its initial construction in the Tran or Le period; the couplets and carved fragments in the central bay of Dai Bai indicate that the most recent restoration was in the Nguyen period, the 18th year of Gia Long. In 2012, the district People's Committee approved the restoration plan for the Tram Relic Complex, making it as spacious and dignified as it is today.

Tram Communal House and the deities and village tutelary gods granted worship: According to the Tram Communal House genealogy copied by Mr. Tran Kim Quy: In the Hong Duc era, early 1572, first month, auspicious day, composed by Hanlin Academy Eastern Cabinet scholar Nguyen Binh. Following the previous dynasty, Nguyen Hien, manager of the hundred gods of the Tu Dien Hung Linh, copied it, and Tram Communal House was granted worship. Thanh Cong Tuong Liet Dai Vuong – Supreme Felicitous Deity.

Through feudal dynasties, Tram Communal House was also granted the worship of three saints: (Do Thong Dai Vuong, Nam Khe Than Vu, and Xuyen Hoa Tinh Hanh)

According to the genealogy and sacrificial text at Tram Communal House, Lord Saint Thanh Cong, whose name was Nguyen Thanh Cong, was born on the 15th day of the second lunar month in year 21 (after Cong Nguyen), in Hai Duong Tao, Hong Chau Prefecture, Thanh Mien District, Bich Thuy Village. He was accomplished in both letters and martial arts; friends respected him, and everyone honored him as a divine child descended to earth. At the age of 16, his father and mother both died; after completing three years of mourning, Thanh Cong nurtured great ambitions, established a fort at Bich Thuy Village, and rallied 500 young men from the district to practice martial arts day and night. When he heard that the Trung Sisters had raised the flag of uprising at Hat Mon, Thanh Cong led about 500 soldiers and household troops to present himself to the Trung Sisters. Seeing Thanh Cong's dignified appearance and awe-inspiring valor, the two sisters rejoiced and said: Heaven has given us a worthy talented person to assist us. Afterwards, the Trung Sisters appointed Thanh Cong as Tuong Liet Great General, bearer of the Nguyen Nhung seal, and concurrently Governor-General (infantry and navy). The Trung Sisters, together with the generals, performed rituals invoking heaven, earth, and the gods; after reading the proclamation, they divided their forces to attack Thanh, and To Dinh was utterly defeated and fled back to his own country. After ascending the throne, the Trung Sisters built 65 citadels and granted titles to Thanh Cong – Tuong Liet Dai Vuong – and granted him a fief in Thuan An Prefecture, Bac Ninh Province. It is also said that one day Thanh Cong traveled to his fief at Co Linh Village, saw that this place had picturesque mountains and waters, rivers and canals, and fertile land, and discussed with the people of Co Linh dredging ponds, clearing wasteland, farming, and putting down 10 ingots of gold as capital; Thanh Cong petitioned the king to choose Co Linh Village as Co Nhi and had a temple built Sinh Tu on a high plot of land so that later, when he reached 100 years of age, there would be a place to worship him. The country was peaceful for three years, then the northern invaders sent Ma Yuan with 400,000 troops to massively invade our country. The Trung Sisters summoned the generals back to court. It is also said that Thanh Cong obeyed the King's order, led troops through Co Linh, held a banquet, and instructed the people of Co Linh: when I am over 100 years old, the people of Co Linh should set up my spirit tablet and worship me; after parting from the elders at Co Linh Village, Thanh Cong mobilized 20 more young men from Co Linh Village; he reached Hat Mon and, together with the Trung Sisters, went to Lang Son to fight a life-or-death battle. Alas, though troops were strong and generals brave, they could not withstand the enemy's power; he and the others fought back-to-back to break the encirclement and then retreated with the Trung Sisters to Cam Khe. It is also said that at this time Thanh Cong was surrounded by many rings of enemy troops and, together with his soldiers, resolved to fight a life-or-death battle to break out; he was seriously wounded and fled to Ai Chau, Thanh Hoa Tao, Ha Trung Prefecture, Tong Son District, Tam Quy Village, when suddenly a violent storm arose and the sky became so dark that no one could be seen; in an instant the sky cleared, and the soldiers could not see him anywhere, only a very large termite mound. Thus his day of transformation is the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.

Tram Communal House Festival and folk games: The Tram Communal House Festival is usually held on the 9th and 10th days of the second lunar month every year. Organizing the village festival is a cultural beauty of the people of Tram Village, now the Tram residential groups, Long Bien Ward, and is also a religious ritual of ancestral worship by our forefathers. The village festival expresses the respect and reverence of descendants for their ancestors; it also expresses the cultural behavior of all members of the village and commune community, a characteristic of the Vietnamese nation. Coming to the Tram Communal House Festival, we can also enjoy quan ho folk songs, cheo singing, xoan singing, vi singing, etc.; and distinctive folk games such as cockfighting, tug-of-war, Chinese chess, etc., but special mention must be made of the game Blindfolded clay-pot smashing, walking on a bamboo frame to smash pots at the festival is an expression of the prosperity and development of Vietnamese culture; in addition, today's festival organizers also hold modern games and sports such as football, badminton, light volleyball, and health exercise performances ...