The sculptural beauty of the ancient communal house associated with the Cuong Temple Festival
(Baonghean.vn) - Having existed for a long time, Xuan Ai communal house is not only a historical relic associated with Cuong Temple Festival, but also an ancient structure with beautiful carvings.
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| According to the elders in the area, Xuan Ai communal house was built during the Nguyen Dynasty and has been renovated many times. In the past, the ancient communal house was located in the center of the village, now in Hamlet 3, Dien An Commune. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| In front of the communal house is a well that used to be a place for local people to get water for daily use, which has now been restored. Next to the well is an ancient stone stele, about 1.8m high. According to local people, the communal house used to have a beautiful gate, which later collapsed but was not restored. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The Xuan Ai communal house is a three-room, two-sided house built in the traditional wooden style. During recent renovations, some damaged wooden structures were replaced, but the original architecture remains. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Compared to many ancient communal houses, Xuan Ai communal house is not only different in its vertical structure, but also in the main communal house which is divided into two places of worship. Because the second part of the communal house is boarded from bottom to top, except for the two side passages to connect to the third part. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The roof of this communal house is elaborately decorated. The wooden planks between the lower and upper parts of the bow are carved with four large Chinese characters "van - phuc - du - dong". The outer surface of the bow is carved with a sharp image of "two dragons facing the moon". The roof and the roof are all carved with soft, stylized reliefs of flowers and tiger faces. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The two side rooms of the communal house are designed in the style of 4 columns on longitudinal beams to raise the roof, widen the side rooms and create a unique house structure. This type of house structure is often seen in communal houses built during the Nguyen Dynasty. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The lower end of the communal house is carved with the themes of "dragon horse", "phoenix dance"... in a lively manner. The image of a phoenix with its wings spread wide, wearing the word "longevity", holding a branch in its mouth, and carrying a scroll in its feet is quite sophisticated. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| In particular, the two sides of the front and back panels are elaborately carved with traditional themes such as lotus flowers, dragons, phoenixes, clouds and rain, and "long ma". Because the wooden frame of the communal house is left untouched, the sculptures are covered with dust and mold, and many are no longer intact. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Xuan Ai Communal House was recognized as a historical and cultural relic by the Provincial People's Committee in 2002. Mr. Hoang Cong Truong - Chairman of Dien An Commune People's Committee said: Previously, the communal house was a place for villagers to live, then a place for hamlets to live. Since the communal house was recognized as a historical relic, this place has only been used to worship the tutelary god, organize ceremonies, offer incense on important occasions, and visit places... In the photo: The statue of the god is worshiped in the last room of Xuan Ai Communal House. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Since ancient times, Xuan Ai communal house has been associated with Cuong Temple Festival. On each festival occasion, from the afternoon of January 14, a procession from Cuong Temple will carry the palanquin of King An Duong Vuong and Princess My Chau to the communal house to attend the sacrificial ceremony (in the past, Cao Ai communal house was the place to hold sacrificial ceremonies of four villages: Cao Quan, Cao Ai, Tap Phuc, Yen Phu). On the morning of January 15, a procession with full music, flags, parasols, and palanquins carries the King, Princess, and village guardian spirit to Cuong Temple to attend the sacrificial ceremony. Photo: Huy Thu |
