Dan Hoa awakens the cultural value of the ancient land

In the strong development of the capital's cultural industry, Dan Hoa commune is becoming a special highlight when it owns up to 91 relics, including 26 national relics. The ancient communal houses, pagodas, and temples with a long history are not only witnesses of the cultural sedimentary land, but also open up opportunities for the locality to participate deeply in the creative value chain, contributing to realizing the goal of Hanoi becoming the cultural industrial center of the whole country.

Commune leaders offer incense at So Pagoda. Photo: Dan Hoa

Ancient land preserves heritage soul

Early winter morning, the road leading to Dan Hoa commune is covered with a thin layer of mist. The ancient land appears peaceful, but hidden inside is a thick layer of sediment, preserved through each communal house and pagoda roof. The whole commune has up to 91 relics, of which 26 are national relics, 21 are city relics, 44 relics are on the inventory list.

To exploit that cultural resource, recently, the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Dan Hoa commune organized a working group to conduct a field survey at a number of typical historical sites in the commune. The first destination of the field survey was So Pagoda, an ancient temple built during the Ly Dynasty. The pagoda has a "noi cong ngoai quoc" layout with a two-story, eight-roofed gate, a bell tower and a stele house that have been preserved for centuries. The most important restoration took place in December 1527, when Duke Dao Quang Hoa and his wife Tran Thi Ngoc Lam donated to rebuild the pagoda and donated 10 more fields to maintain the incense. The large bronze bell engraved with the four words "Quan Chung Linh Tu" hung in the bell tower, and to this day still rings out a quiet, slow sound, as if connecting the rhythm between generations of Dan Hoa people.

According to old lady Nguyen Thi Lien, who lives near So Pagoda, “Villagers consider So Pagoda as a place to preserve the soul of the village. Time changes, but the pagoda is a place to return to for all generations.”

Canh Hoach Communal House is a prominent religious site with folk carving art from the Le - Mac period. Photo: Dan Hoa

From So Pagoda, the survey team continued to Canh Hoach Communal House - a place of religious activities that stands out for its folk carvings from the Le - Mac period. The Communal House faces the West, looking straight out onto Highway 21B, with moss-covered tiled roofs and sturdy pillars and rafters. The carvings of dragons, phoenixes, and four sacred animals on the rafters remain sharp over time, as if recording the talent of ancient artisans. This is also the place where annual traditional festivals are held, where the community gathers and shares their pride in their homeland.

According to the elders who take care of Canh Hoach communal house: “Young people work far away, but still come back in large numbers to the communal house festival. The communal house is the source, the place that connects the whole community. Canh Hoach communal house is also associated with the traditional craft of making bird cages here - where relics and craft village culture are one.”

Another important highlight in Dan Hoa is Muc Xa communal house, a national relic since 1998. The communal house worships Giac Hai Dai Vuong Dai Hung Ly Man De Ung Thien Chieu Nhan Dai Vuong, the sacred god who protects the villagers. The communal house has a round well in front - a symbol of prosperity in feng shui. The space inside preserves many elaborate carvings, from winding dragons to four-season motifs, creating a beauty that is both ancient and solemn.

At Xuyen Duong Temple, worshiping Thuong Sy Minh Lang Dai Vuong, delegates heard about the architectural imprint of the Nguyen Dynasty clearly shown in the lower rafters with delicate carvings. The final stop of the delegation was Dinh Thi Nguyen, built on a large scale from the 17th century, currently bearing the architectural style of the Nguyen Dynasty and is one of the few works that still retains almost intact the "inner public outer private" layout. The harmony from the ceremonial gate, left - right front to the main worship hall, the rear palace, makes this place a unique cultural space of the region.

These relics not only have architectural and artistic value, but are also living memories of the community, "open museums" preserving the history, beliefs and identity of the villages in the Northern Delta region.

Awakening heritage - direction from cultural industry

Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Dan Hoa Commune Mai Xuan Truong affirmed that preserving heritage is a responsibility, but promoting its value is the way to make heritage live in today's life and become a resource for development. This is also a viewpoint consistent with the central and city's policy on developing cultural industry - a field that is increasingly becoming a driving force of the knowledge economy .

Many relics in Dan Hoa are being digitized. Photo: Dan Hoa

The awakening of heritage in Dan Hoa is not only limited to restoration or preservation of the original state, but also aims to bring heritage into modern life. With 91 relics as a valuable resource for developing cultural and spiritual tourism , creating experiential journeys associated with history and ancient village space. Each communal house, pagoda roof, each genealogy or royal decree can become creative material for contemporary cultural products, from short films, digital exhibitions to souvenir products associated with the image of the relic. The intersection between ancient and modern opens up a new approach, helping heritage become closer and more attractive to young people as well as tourists.

At the same time, digital technology is creating new opportunities. Digitizing heritage, reconstructing architectural items with 3D models, building online tours or applying QR codes at relics not only supports the introduction work, but also helps preserve documents for a long time. This is a direction in line with the trend of developing the cultural industry, while increasing the ability to spread heritage values ​​to the wider community.

Ancient communal houses and pagodas are being preserved in Dan Hoa. Photo: Dan Hoa

More importantly, the efforts to promote heritage values ​​in Dan Hoa have received consensus and active participation from the people. The elderly still take care of each statue and stele; young people are increasingly interested in the history of their homeland; and the local government has actively mobilized socialization, connecting businesses, researchers, and artists to join hands in preservation and creation. It is this resonance that creates a solid foundation for Dan Hoa to embark on a new journey - the journey of bringing heritage to life in modern urban life.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/dan-hoa-danh-thuc-gia-tri-van-hoa-cua-vung-dat-co-725228.html