Unique, ancient features of the one-of-a-kind communal house in Dong Thap

Over the years, the two Bodhi trees have sent down large and small roots, adding to the ancient beauty of Tan Dong communal house, attracting many visitors from all over to admire, make films and take souvenir photos.

Two Bodhi trees with roots embracing the entire communal house are one of the unique, ancient features of Tan Dong communal house in Tan Dong commune, Dong Thap province.

Over the past 100 years, despite many restorations and embellishments, the historical and cultural values ​​of this communal house remain intact today.

Today, Tan Dong communal house is one of the famous tourist attractions in Tan Dong commune, Dong Thap province.

According to the records of the Relic Management Board, Tan Dong communal house, also known as Go Tao communal house, in Go Tao hamlet, Tan Dong commune, Go Cong Dong district, old Tien Giang province (now Tan Dong commune, Dong Thap province), was built in the year of Ky Suu 1901.

In the early stages, the communal house was built on a small scale, less than 100 m2; from 1905 to 1907, the communal house was completed with an area of ​​538 m2. This is where the local people worship the village's Thanh Hoang, also known as the Thanh Hoang Bon Canh, to respect and show gratitude to the ancestors who had contributed to opening up the land.

The middle area is the main hall (worship place) of Tan Dong communal house. (Photo: Huu Chi/VNA)

Tan Dong Communal House is a unique complex of architecture including Vo Ca (where opera is performed), Dinh Chanh (where worship is held), and Chimney House (cooking house). The facade of the communal house has five European-style arched doors, the middle door is large, the side rooms are small. The middle door arch is shaped like a small scroll, with the year 1907 (the year the communal house was completed) inscribed.

The martial arts section consists of two rooms with three wings, wooden pillars, and a roof covered with yin-yang tiles. Opposite this structure is a large altar with the word "Than Nong" on it. On the left and right sides are shrines to the Earth God and the Five Elements. In the middle area is the main hall built in the style of a four-pillar house with 5.5 meter high pillars, with the word "Than" written in gold paint on a red background. The smokehouse area, which used to be the place to cook food during communal house ceremonies, was completely damaged by the war.

According to Mr. Ta Van Tung, head of Go Tao hamlet, Tan Dong commune, this communal house dates back to 1901 and has been severely degraded due to the erosion of time and the ravages of war.

After 1975, the people in the hamlet contributed to renovate the place to practice their beliefs, praying for favorable weather according to the annual worshiping rituals. Every year, Tan Dong communal house has 4 worshiping rituals: on the 16th of the 2nd lunar month, it is the Ky Yen worship; on the 16th of the 5th lunar month, it is the Ha Dien worship; on the 16th of the 8th lunar month, it is the Thuong Dien worship; and on the 16th of the 11th lunar month, it is the Cau Bong worship (praying for good crops). In the worshiping rituals of the communal house, people all express their wishes for national peace, favorable weather, and bountiful harvests.

Around 1986, when the theater hall was damaged, the space in front was empty. At that time, there were 2 Bodhi trees growing on the left and in the middle, growing very quickly, spreading their roots along the walls, beams and columns, contributing to supporting the communal house from collapsing.

Over the years, the two Bodhi trees have sent down large and small clusters of roots, adding to the ancient beauty of the communal house, attracting many visitors from all over to admire, make films and take souvenir photos.

Mr. Pham Van Hieu, Deputy Head of the Tan Dong Communal House Service Committee, shared that the people in the hamlet for many generations are very happy to see that the communal house still exists over time, with the unique features of two Bodhi trees embracing the communal house, so there is a common consciousness to preserve and protect it. Members of the Service Committee clean it up as well as guide tourists to visit and admire it.

In 2010, Tan Dong communal house was recognized as a provincial historical-cultural relic. After many surveys, by around 2020, Tan Dong communal house was restored and embellished with a budget of about 2.6 billion VND.

Mr. Pham Van Hieu (right), Deputy Head of the Tan Dong Communal House Service Board, Dong Thap Province, trims Bodhi branches. (Photo: Huu Chi/VNA)

Doctor of History Nguyen Phuc Nghiep, former lecturer at the Political School of Tien Giang province (now Dong Thap province), said that the Tan Dong communal house relic has important historical significance to local people.

Here, in the 60s of the 20th century, the US-puppet regime did not give up any tricks, turning this place into a place to imprison revolutionary families. Tan Dong communal house relic has a strong national cultural identity expressed through its construction structure and material structure. The communal house also preserves many unique traditional rituals of the locality in the communal house's worshiping customs.

Although built with brick, tile, wood and stone materials, the project is very harmonious with a sophisticated mortise and tenon system.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Ben, an expert from the Department of Culture and Society of Tan Dong commune, said that the local government has developed a plan to protect relics, especially the communal house from natural impacts, in order to meet the cultural and spiritual needs of local people.

Tan Dong communal house has become a place of sightseeing and admiration for many people inside and outside the province, a famous tourist destination of the locality in particular and Dong Thap province in general./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhung-net-doc-dao-co-kinh-cua-ngoi-dinh-co-mot-khong-hai-o-dong-thap-post1058200.vnp