Da Phuc Communal House

According to the spirit record of Da Phuc Communal House, it worships the village tutelary god, Grand Marshal Do Tuong Cong, Do Canh Thac, of the 10th century.

Do Tuong Cong was born on the 14th day of the first lunar month in the year of Nham Than (912), in Dong Bo village, Quoc Oai. In his youth, Do Tuong Cong was an intelligent and strong boy; by 12 he could ride horses and shoot bows, and by 16 he was accomplished in both letters and martial arts and had great ambitions. Hating the Jin invaders, seeking revenge for his family and repaying his country, he raised the banner of uprising on 6-6-Que Ty (933). Under his leadership, the rebel army won a series of resounding victories; notably on 30-05 of the Giap Ngo year (934) they captured alive the enemy commander Nguu Truat. His talent and prestige led Ngo Quyen, the national hero, to send a letter appointing him Great General of Tran Bach Hac. In June of the At Mui year (935), there was a famous victory in which he killed the Liang enemy commander Luong Ngot.

On the 15th day of the first lunar month in the year of Dinh Dau (937), Tuong Cong joined Ngo Quyen and honored Ngo Quyen as Ngo Vuong. In many battles, Tuong Cong won many victories: he killed Kieu Cong Tien and seized the seal and sword of the military governor. Especially in the Mau Tuat year (938), Do Tuong Cong was sent by Ngo Vuong to guard the mouth of the Bach Dang River against the Southern Han army. Do Tuong Cong used a fire-attack naval strategy and won a resounding victory famous in a thousand years of history, capturing alive Admiral Hoang Thao. After this battle, Tuong Cong was conferred by Ngo Vuong the title of Grand Marshal, head of the military officials. For 36 years, Do Tuong Cong fought in the east and pacified the north, resisting foreign invaders and assisting three reigns of the Ngo dynasty. At home he helped the king reform politics; abroad he dispatched generals to resist foreign invaders, and he also taught the people to trade and farm, contributing to opening a period of independence, autonomy, and prosperity and ending more than a thousand years of northern domination.

Punishing the North and conquering the East, his martial might overawed the Han rulers of two dynasties

Teaching the people and protecting the country, his virtuous radiance has endured through three reigns of the Ngo kings

(Couplet by his colleague Lu Su Binh)

Do Tuong Cong died at Sai Son on the 8th day of the first lunar month in the year of Mau Thin (968), from wounds suffered in battle at Hoang Mountain, aged 56. The career, talent, and merits of Do Tuong Cong are tied to the glorious period of the Ngo Vuong dynasty, a heroic historical mark of our nation. The local people, grateful for Do Tuong Cong's merits, revered him as the village tutelary god worshipped at the communal house, where he is very efficacious. He was repeatedly conferred titles by the Le and Nguyen dynasties, including Great Minister, Great King, Righteous Spirit of the Southern Sky, Great Minister of Military Might, and Beneficent God of the Western Land who brings justice, pacifies the people, and saves the world.

Da Phuc Communal House was built long ago. However, during the years of resistance against the French, in response to the Party's call, the people of Da Phuc Hamlet destroyed the village communal house as part of the scorched-earth resistance, and it was lost. After the country was peaceful and reunified, in 1993, the communal house was restored by officials and the people of Da Phuc on its old foundation. The architecture preserves the traditional features of the old northern village communal house; its component parts include the ceremonial gate, communal courtyard, front worship hall, and rear sanctuary.

Due to the effects of time and history, many ancient artifacts are no longer extant. Today, Da Phuc Communal House preserves only three stone steles and some artifacts such as a worship throne, horizontal plaques, and couplets.

According to traditional custom, every year on the 4th day of the first lunar month, the Da Phuc village communal house festival solemnly holds a ceremony and offers incense to the village tutelary god to pray for favorable rain and harmonious winds. In addition to the traditional festival, Da Phuc Hamlet also participates in and contributes to the Thay Pagoda Festival on the 7th day of the third lunar month: a palanquin procession from the communal house to Thay Pagoda.