Discovering a relic cluster over 4 centuries old in Thuy Nguyen, Hai Phong

The Tay Communal House, also known as the Ca Communal House, is one of the architectural works of art that represents the religious beliefs of the people of Duong Dong - Minh Tan (Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong). The Communal House was built in the early 17th century and was one of the largest and most beautiful communal houses in the Northern Coastal Plain at that time.

The ground structure and artistic style of the Tay communal house are typical of traditional Vietnamese communal houses with a Dinh-shaped layout, seven main rooms and three rear rooms.

The temple worships the seven tutelary gods and princesses of the Viet Thuong family. They were the "founding heroes" who fought and defended the country during the reign of King Hung Due Vuong.

In particular, the most prominent feature of the architecture of the Tay communal house is that most of the sculptures are carved with images of aquatic species, expressing the cultural features associated with the children of the water gods here. On the panels are sculptures of the four sacred animals, the four seasons and dozens of species of flowers, leaves, birds and animals.

Outside the Communal House, there is a stele house recording the names of families who contributed to the king and helped the village god protect the country. These steles were collected by the relic management board from other communal houses and pagodas and brought to the Tay Communal House for worship.

In the early 19th century, the Tay communal house fell into disrepair. The current communal house was restored and embellished on the foundation of the old communal house. The architectural art harmoniously combines the traditional and the modern. The local people also renovated the communal house well (Ao Dai), building a pair of dragons over 5m long in the "two dragons curling up in the water" style.

Tay Pagoda is located parallel to Tay Communal House on the same mountainside. The three-door gate faces Ao Dai. The pagoda was built in the 17th year of King Le Hy Tong's reign, Chinh Hoa (1681 - 1705).

Thoi ky chong Phap, chua la mot trong nhung noi hoi hop cua Chi bo Dang Duong Dong Minh Tan. Nhung nam 1955 - 1960, noi day la tru so lam viec cua Uy ban hanh chinh xa. Cung voi dinh Tay, chua Tay da duoc Bo Van hoa Thong tin (nay la Bo Van hoa The thao va Du lich) xep hang Cum Di tich lich su va nghe thuat cap quoc gia ngay 13.2.1996.

During the anti-French period, the pagoda was one of the meeting places of the Duong Dong Minh Tan Party Cell. In the years 1955 - 1960, this place was the working headquarters of the Commune Administrative Committee. Together with Tay Communal House, Tay Pagoda was ranked as a National Historical and Artistic Relic Complex by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) on February 13, 1996.

Trung tam Van hoa thong tin huyen Thuy Nguyen

Every year, the Tay communal house festival is held from January 14 to 16 to commemorate the merits of the tutelary gods, the ancestors, the martyrs, and those who founded and built the ancient Duong Dong site. In 2024, the festival will be solemnly held with all the rituals of the ancient procession to worship the female officials, the ancient procession, the door opening ceremony, the night offering ceremony... and the traditional incense offering ceremony. Besides the ceremony, the festival includes cultural exchange activities, folk games... showing the beauty of the typical spiritual and cultural activities of the village community here. Photo: Department of Culture and Information of Thuy Nguyen district