Yen Ninh Communal House

Yen Ninh Hamlet, Noi Bai Commune, Hanoi City

Yen Ninh Communal House worships heroes who rendered meritorious service to the country and were conferred the divine title Anh Linh. According to the stele inscription and the deity register printed on the wooden signboard, compiled by Dong Cac Grand Scholar Nguyen Binh as the original version in the first year of Hong Phuc (1572) and recorded by Nguyen Hien Quan, supervisor of Bach Linh Dien Hung Linh, according to the old version in the 6th year of Vinh Huu (1740), the communal house worships two deities: the middle-rank deity Truong Nghe (under the Trung Sisters) and the top-rank deity Xa Lai (under King Ly Phat Ma).

Because it worships two tutelary deities from two different periods, the annual festival is held twice, on the 4th day of Tet and the 13th day of the 4th lunar month.

Yen Ninh Communal House was built on a large plot of land at the southern edge of the village, adjacent to the residential area. The relic still preserves a number of artifacts dating to the Later Le period, showing that the relic was initially built at least in the Later Le period and was extensively restored and embellished in the 5th year of Bao Dai (1930).

Yen Ninh Communal House has a T-shaped ground plan including the main hall, tube corridor, and rear sanctuary. The main hall has a large, wide structure comprising five bays and two side wings, with closed gable ends, roofs covered with local tiles, and plain unadorned ridge and edge borders. The central bay of the main hall is structurally connected to the tube corridor by a system of tie beams and braces mortised into the central main columns, with ventilation panels opening into the rear sanctuary. The rear sanctuary is connected to the tube corridor with three roof truss sets constructed with upper beams, stacked middle beams, and lower rafters. The main components are planed smooth, closely joined, and edged; some are accented with decorative patterns.

The decoration on the main hall architecture is rich and diverse, belonging to the Nguyen artistic period. Some typical artifacts still preserved in the communal house include: two large horizontal plaques with the content “Cau tat ung – Hoa binh sinh” (Prayers all answered – Peace arises); 2 wooden worship thrones; 2 octagonal palanquins; 1 wooden incense table; wooden offering trays; two relief-carved panels; 2 wooden imperial concubine statues; 1 ceremonial weapon rack; a pair of wooden crane legs; two horses, red and white; 6 stone steles (including 1 stele with the earliest date in the 16th year of Canh Hung - 1754)….

Yen Ninh Communal House was ranked as a Historical-Architectural and Artistic Relic under Decision No. 5191/QD-UB dated July 30, 2002 of the Hanoi City People's Committee.