Tran Tao Communal House
Introduction
Tran Tao Communal House is a historical relic with ancient architecture built over 500 years ago. The communal house worships Tutelary Deity Ly Cong Tuan, a skilled general who helped Ly Bi defeat the Liang invaders and establish the Van Xuan state. Every year on the 8th day of the 3rd lunar month, local people organize the village festival. A difference between the Tran Tao village communal house festival and other festivals is the flag-signaling ceremony and the welcoming procession from the Temple to the Communal House. The flag-signaling ceremony reenacts the fierce battles and victories of General Ly Cong Tuan. The welcoming procession depicts the General's army going into battle.
Tran Tao Communal House has a massive architectural scale, beautiful natural scenery, and is harmoniously arranged, including: the main communal house hall, the long tubular house, and the rear sanctuary; these items are arranged in the shape of the 'cong' character
Over the course of historical changes, along with losses caused by war and natural impacts, Tran Tao Communal House has still preserved many relics of high historical, cultural, scientific, and artistic value, such as: deity records, processional palanquins, ceremonial screen doors, incense tables, couplets, horizontal plaques, and worship thrones in the artistic style of the Le and Nguyen dynasties. The communal house also preserves some relics from Tao Pagoda (Phuc Khanh Tu) such as: a stone stele dated to the Vinh Thinh reign of the Le dynasty, and a bronze bell dated to the Minh Menh reign (Nguyen dynasty).
In February 2017, the District People's Committee implemented the restoration and embellishment project for the Tran Tao Communal House relic with a total investment of VND 22,149,541,000, covering 9 items on a site area of 3,466 m2. During construction, local villagers contributed nearly 300 workdays and donated artifacts worth over VND 300 million.
Tran Tao Communal House was ranked by the Ministry of Culture as an Architectural and Artistic Relic in 1990.
