Tan Ky Commune, Tu Ky District, Hai Duong Province is a special locality with outstanding cultural and historical values. In the commune, there are three national relics: Quynh Goi Communal House, Ngoc Lam Communal House and Nghi Khe Pagoda. Each construction carries within it unique historical stories, architectural art and beliefs.
Quynh Goi Communal House and Ngoc Lam Communal House in Ngoc Lam Village, Tan Ky Commune are two ancient communal houses, both built during the Later Le Dynasty, worshiping Thanh Hoang, Duc Thanh Cao Son Dai Vuong - a talented and virtuous general who had the merit of defeating invaders and saving the country during the reign of the 18th Hung King and was awarded many royal decrees that are still preserved today.
According to Mr. Ha Van Mic - the person in charge of taking care of Ngoc Lam communal house, Quynh Coi communal house is where the village's tutelary god was born, so every time the festival is held, there is a joyful and exciting atmosphere. Ngoc Lam communal house is where the village's tutelary god passed away, so the festival is more solemn and respectful.
“Ngoc Lam Communal House has undergone many major renovations, most recently in 2018. With the contribution of local people, the communal house construction committee has raised 1.6 billion VND to renovate and preserve the architectural beauty of this ancient building,” Mr. Mic added.
With their long-standing historical features, Quynh Goi communal house and Ngoc Lam communal house were both recognized as national historical relics in 2001.
Nghi Khe Pagoda (also known as Phuc Duyen Tu) in Nghi Khe village is a place to worship Mahayana Buddhism and the village's tutelary god, Mr. Nguyen Phuc Ho, a general of the pre-Le dynasty who fought against the Siamese and eliminated the Song invaders.
According to Venerable Thich Thanh Hai, abbot of Nghi Khe Pagoda, the pagoda bears the imprint of Le Dynasty sculpture with a unique "inner public, outer private" architectural style. The two gable rooms are connected to two corridors, creating a closed, harmonious space.
The temple's sanctuary consists of three rooms, connected to the central room, which is a solemn place to display Buddha statues. Currently, the temple still preserves many rich and diverse antiques such as a system of Buddha statues, steles, parallel sentences, large characters and a Nom script directory.
Nghi Khe Pagoda was ranked as a national historical relic on December 20, 1997.
Mr. Pham Viet Tiep - Chairman of Tan Ky Commune People's Committee - said that every year, each relic has its own festival, attracting a large number of local people and visitors from all over to participate.
Today, the sites preserve many valuable antiquities from ancient times. All of these antiquities have been carefully preserved, through the installation of display cabinets, to avoid termites or theft. The sites are also equipped with surveillance cameras both inside and outside, along with fire extinguishers to ensure security and safety.
“In 2025, the Commune People’s Committee plans to widely promote the unique beauty and historical value of the relics in the area. This plan will not only focus on organizing cultural events and traditional festivals to attract visitors, but also pay attention to preserving and promoting the unique values of the relics,” Mr. Tiep added.
