La Thạch Quan and Shrine

Location: The relic complex is located in La Thạch Village, Liên Minh Commune.

La Thạch Quan: It was first built in the 18th century and underwent several restorations (in 1848, 1899, and 1937). The Quan worships the Three Great Deities who were three Chu brothers (Chu Cẩn, Chu Khiêm, Chu Đàm) - skilled civil and military generals of the Han dynasty who led troops to suppress the Mạnh Hoạch rebellion. Later, they manifested their power to help Nguyễn Kim defeat the Mạc army, so they were conferred the title of Superior Deity by the dynasty.

La Thạch Shrine: Located right next to the Quan, it was established to worship the Local Earth God namely Mr. Nguyễn Đăng Phi. He lived during the Trần dynasty and was originally from Đa Sĩ (Hà Đông). To avoid persecution by the Hồ dynasty, he fled to the then-desolate land of La Thạch, invited relatives to reclaim land, and established the village.

2. Distinctive features of architecture, art, and relics

At La Thạch Quan: The structure still retains its traditional architectural style, with clear carved lines and a balanced layout themed around flowers, plants, and sacred animals expressing wishes for fertility. The Quan possesses a valuable collection of artifacts such as dragon thrones, spirit tablets, palanquins, and 10 royal conferral edicts, among which the earliest edict dates from the 6th year of Vĩnh Thịnh (1710).

At La Thạch Shrine: Although small, the shrine preserves very unique works of art, notably a pair of 18th-century stone dragons decorating the steps. Most special is the stone stele "Bản huyện giáo phường bi ký" erected in 1751, recording the covenant for establishing a fund by 15 ca trù guilds, becoming a valuable source of documentation proving the local area's long-standing historical and cultural performance tradition.

3. Distinctive traditional festival

Time: The La Thạch Village Festival takes place from the 4th to the 8th day of the third lunar month (the main festival day is the 6th).

Festival rituals: On the main festival day, the village organizes a very solemn palanquin procession with flags, fans, eight-treasure ceremonial objects, and an eight-tone band (formerly the procession went from the Quan to the communal house; later, because the communal house was demolished during the scorched-earth resistance, it was changed to go from the Quan to the pagoda).

Recreational activities: The festival portion attracts a large number of people with a series of distinctive folk games, including martial ones such as duck catching, blindfolded goat catching, competitive rice cooking, wrestling, boat racing, puppet shows, and burning the cotton tree....

Death anniversary days (giỗ): Every year, the villagers commemorate the deities' death/transformation days on the following dates: 17/7, 9/1, 12/2, and 8/8. On these occasions, the villagers perform the ritual of the ten-bow offering ceremony at the Quan and the female-officiant offering ceremony at the Shrine.

4. Relic ranking The La Thạch Quan - Shrine relic complex was recognized by the People's Committee of the former Hà Tây Province as a Historical and Cultural Relic in 2001.