Unique ancient communal house worshiping King Mai
(Baonghean.vn) - Existing for hundreds of years, Phuc Xa communal house in Ngoc Son commune is the only ancient communal house in Thanh Chuong district and a rare one in Nghe An that worships the village's tutelary god Mai Hac De.
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| According to the relic records,familyPhuc Xa in Lam Hong hamlet, Ngoc Son commune, was built during the Nguyen Dynasty and includes main structures: communal house gate, main hall, and main gate. The gate of the communal house is two large pillars (over 5 m high, the base of the pillars has a side of 1.4 m) embossed with the image of the "four sacred animals" using lime mortar and ceramic pieces. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The front and back of the pillars are inscribed with many parallel sentences in Chinese characters. The special feature of the pillars is the art of carving dragon reliefs and vivid lion statues on the top of the pillars. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Phuc Xa Communal House is a 5-room house located along Ru Dang hill. According to the elders, in the past, the 3 outer rooms of the communal house had 3 benches for mandarins and people to sit on when there was work. The 2 inner rooms were places of worship, separated by a wooden wall, with 2 doors on both sides, which were opened only when there was a ceremony. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The communal house has a massive wooden frame, using construction materials and assembly techniques.traditional, decorated with gentle, graceful carvings. The truss structure is in the style of "upper gong rack, lower rafters". Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Compared to many ancient communal houses in the province, where the construction materials are usually bricks and bluestones, Phuc Xa communal house has a different point: the original walls are built of laterite, and the pillars' bases are made of rough stone... Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Phuc Xa communal house worships the tutelary god Mai Hac De - a national liberation hero who led the uprising in Hoan Chau to overthrow the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century, maintaining our country's independence for nearly 10 years (713 - 722). In addition to worshiping theKing Mai(Mai Thanh Dai De, Mai Thanh Thieu De), the communal house also worships the gods Cao Son, Cao Cac, Nam Son, Kim Son, Phuc Son, Bach Son, Lam Son, gods who have contributed to helping the country and the people, and are respected by the people in the region. Photo: Huy Thu |
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Before the August Revolution, Phuc Xa village had communal fields in Mound Lay Huong for people to cultivate, and the annual profits were used to celebrate the death anniversary of King Mai. During the years of French rule, the communal house was a place to detain and torture revolutionaries. On the day of the "seizure of power", the local revolutionary committee used to work at the communal house. During the resistance war, the communal house was a place to organize popular education classes; it was the headquarters of the provincial Political School. American planes once dropped bombs on Phuc Xa village, collapsing a corner of the communal house. Next to the communal house is an ancient banyan tree that exists side by side with the old communal house. Photo: Huy Thu |
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After decades of being a ruin, with the desire to restore the traditional values of their homeland, in 2014, the people of Phuc Xa village joined hands, contributed their efforts, restored and embellished the ancient communal house. During this restoration, some damaged wooden structures were replaced. The communal house gate was reinforced... Every year on holidays and Tet, at the ancient communal house, the villagers organize a banquet for the elderly, celebrate longevity in early spring, meet, exchange, and meet... Photo: Huy Thu |
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| In particular, on the 16th day of the 9th lunar month every year, the people of Lam Hong hamlet solemnly hold a death anniversary ceremony to commemorate King Mai at Phuc Xa communal house. This year, in the complicated conditions of the epidemic, the death anniversary of King Mai was organized simply but no less solemnly. Phuc Xa communal house has been recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic. During its long existence, the ancient communal house is not only a vivid historical relic, a place to gather and reflect the noble traditional values of the locality, but also a place to educate and proudly "light the fire" for many generations. Photo: Huy Thu |
