Thieu Xuan Communal House and Thieu Xuan Shrine, Son Tay Ward, Hanoi City

Thieu Xuan Communal House and Shrine, together with Thieu Xuan Pagoda, form a relic complex named after the place name of Thieu Xuan residential group. In addition to the above name, Thieu Xuan Shrine is also known as Gan Temple.

1. Thieu Xuan Communal House is located on high, spacious land in an open area in the middle of the village. According to remaining documents kept in the communal house, the complex dates from around the early Nguyen period and was repaired several times in the 20th century.

The communal house faces west and is built in the “first hall, rear dinh” style, spacious and dignified. Thieu Xuan Communal House was founded on land with a long history of cultural tradition - a place preserving a long-standing cultural tradition, the cultural activity center of the village community, and a place for preserving and promoting traditional cultural values. The communal house worships the three Holy Tan deities – one of the four immortals in Vietnamese folk belief. Throughout history, they have always protected and blessed the country with stability and safeguarded the peaceful life of the people. The image of the three Holy Tan deities is a symbol of the strength and indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese nation throughout the process of national construction and defense

The communal house also preserves a system of artifacts made of materials such as wood, paper, and ceramics, crafted meticulously and elaborately, reflecting the lifestyle and history of national fine arts through different historical periods.

2. Thieu Xuan Shrine was built on a large plot of land outside the village, about 500m from the residential area. It was built on a high mound, facing southeast, with ancient shade trees planted around it. Most of them are cham trees. The shrine was built in the “first hall, rear dinh” style.

The Dai Bai consists of one bay with two wings. The curved roof corners rise upward; the roof is covered with native tiles; in the center of the ridge is a dragon facing the moon; the wooden frame is structured in the upper stacked purlin, lower brace style, with four rows of columns, and the floor is paved with bricks and left open.

The inner hall consists of three bays with closed gable walls; in front there are three doors opening to the Dai Bai, behind there are three doors connecting to the Rear Hall, and the floor is paved with bricks. In the center, adjacent to the rear hall wall, is the outer altar; on both left and right sides, the local Tutelary God is worshipped. Rear Hall: consists of one bay built with closed gable walls, roofed with native tiles.

Thieu Xuan Communal House and Shrine have undergone many restorations and repairs. However, they still preserve the architectural and physical ensemble bearing traditional architectural style, namely the stacked purlin and brace trusses with decorative carvings of themes such as flipped leaves, clouds, and spirals..., creating a gentle and elegant feature for the relic.

In addition to historical, artistic, and aesthetic values, the artifacts in Thieu Xuan Shrine are also an indispensable soul, making the relic more sacred and cozy.

Every year in early January of the lunar calendar, the Thieu Xuan Communal House – Shrine festival is held from the afternoon of the 17th to the 19th day of the first lunar month. Thieu Xuan Communal House and Shrine were ranked as a Historical Relic by the People's Committee of Hanoi City under Decision No. 2007/QD-UBND dated April 24, 2018. This is a place that attracts visitors and local people's worship.