Trung Van Dinh Communal House

• Worshipped Figure:

  • Trung Communal House: Worships three Tutelary Gods / Patron Deities, who were three blood brothers: Viet Phap (Chieu Phap Thien Vuong), Viet Cu (Dong Cu Linh Ung), and Viet Hoan (Moc Hoan Cu Sy).

• Divine Chronicle and Merits:

  • The three deities at the Communal House: They opened a martial arts training camp at Van Dinh. In the 10th century, when the country fell into the turmoil of the Twelve Warlords, the three brothers led the Van Dinh righteous army to Hoa Lu to follow Dinh Bo Linh. They took part in the attack on the southwest side of Do Dong Citadel, helping to defeat Do Canh Thac's forces, unify the country, and establish the Dai Co Viet state. After the Dinh dynasty suffered a crisis (Do Thich harmed King Dinh), the three maintained their loyalty and jumped into the river to take their own lives to preserve their integrity.

• Historical and cultural imprints: The relic complex reflects the martial tradition, patriotism, and spirit of unity in quelling rebellions and defending the country of the people of Van Dinh through historical periods. This is also a famous cultural land associated with modern-era scholars such as Duong Khue and Duong Lam (who made great contributions to restoring the relic).

• Trung Communal House:

  • Located on a 1515 m2 plot adjacent to the Day River dike.

  • Large in scale, with a layout in the shape of the Chinese character Tam (=), including the Main Hall, Incense Chamber, and Rear Palace, along with two rows of Left/Right Wings.

  • The Main Hall is 20 m long and 8 m wide, with 15 bays, roofed with fish-scale tiles, and four curved corners shaped like dragon boats. The truss system has a structure of "upper stacked beams, lower brackets, corbels, and braces" with very exquisite carvings of the Four Sacred Creatures (Dragon, Qilin, Turtle, Phoenix), the Four Seasons Plants (Chrysanthemum, Bamboo, Pine, Plum), and dragons. The ridge beam records the year of construction/restoration under the Nguyen dynasty (6th year of Thieu Tri - 1846).

  • The Incense Chamber has a two-tier, eight-curved-roof structure (symbolizing yin-yang and the five elements), with trusses of the "crab-claw" type.

• Thuong Communal House:

  • Located in Ben hamlet, it has a layout in the shape of the Chinese character Nhi (=), including the Main Hall and Rear Palace.

  • The Main Hall has three bays and two side aisles, with closed gable ends. The wooden frame consists of six trusses of the "upper beams and collar ties, lower corbels and braces" type. The decorative art focuses on four relief-carved corbel panels featuring the Four Sacred Creatures, lotus flowers, and roses. The ridge beam records the date of reconstruction in the 2nd year of Tu Duc (1849).

The relic complex preserves a rich and valuable system of artifacts:

• Ancient Documents: 02 Han-character books recording the village's deities' legends and ancient customs; 12 royal edicts from various dynasties conferring titles on the deities.

• Wooden objects and ritual objects: 05 thrones with spirit tablets (in the Rear Palace of the Trung Communal House); 02 carved wooden worship platforms from the Nguyen dynasty; 01 ancient worship niche; 02 artistic palanquins carved in the Nguyen dynasty; 02 ceremonial weapon stands; 02 ceremonial washing poles; 04 horizontal lacquered boards and 05 pairs of parallel couplets.

• Metal and Ceramic Objects: 02 bronze bells; 02 sets of bronze incense burners and bronze cauldrons; a set of 12 Eight Treasures and snake-headed spears; 15 incense jars of various types and 04 pairs of porcelain deer vases.

• The relic complex is where cultural activities and traditional festivals of the Van Dinh villagers take place, meeting the need for freedom of belief and commemoration of the merits of the Tutelary Gods/Patron Deities.

• It is a center for community activities, educating younger generations in the spirit of unity and patriotism, and a site for sightseeing and worship for local people and visitors from all over.

• Management and protection: Local authorities and people maintain a temple keeper system (selecting elderly men who understand culture and customs) to directly look after the site, offer incense, and welcome visitors.

• Repair and restoration: The relic has been restored through many periods with voluntary contributions of labor and money from the people (such as the restoration of the Incense Chamber, adjustment of trusses, and re-tiling of the roof in 1993).

• Legal basis: The scientific dossier of the relic was compiled based on the Ordinance on the Protection of Historical, Cultural Relics and Scenic Landscapes (1984) and was approved at a three-level conference (Province, District, Commune) on 24/05/1994 for submission to the Ministry of Culture and Information for consideration of protection ranking.