Chung Communal House - a communal house over one hundred years old.
Chung Communal House, an ancient communal house revered by the locals as the “soul of the Muong village”, worships Saint Tan Vien – one of the Four Immortals of Vietnamese folk beliefs. In addition, in the worshiping room there is also the tablet of his mother – Mrs. Dinh Thi Den, along with the gods Quy Minh, Cao Son and the ancestors who had the merit of opening up and establishing Giap Lai village in the past. Each horizontal lacquered board and parallel sentences here seem to still echo the spirit of “remembering the source of water when drinking” of the Muong people of the ancestral land.
In 2010, Chung communal house was restored and renovated.
Inside the communal house.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thong, keeper of Chung Communal House, said: The Communal House has existed since the early 19th century, and was once the largest communal house in the region, built of precious wood and roofed with palm leaves - a material familiar to the Muong people's lives. After the war, the communal house was destroyed, leaving only a few traces. In 2010, with contributions from the people, the communal house was restored on the old foundation. This is not only a place of worship, but also a spiritual support for the whole community.
Passing through the main gate, one can clearly feel the rustic yet sophisticated beauty of the ancient architecture. The communal house was built in the shape of the letter "Nhất", consisting of five rooms and two wings, with four open sides. The roof is covered with dark red moss tiles, the curved roof ends are shaped like a dragon facing the moon. The floor is paved with red-baked bricks, giving off the scent of incense and old wood.
Mr. Dinh Ngoc Loi - the person who takes care of the communal house, who looks after each pillar and each carved panel, shared: "Each carved line is a story about the heart of the Muong people here, sent to the communal house."
Relics are still preserved at Chung communal house.
The remaining relics such as bricks, tiles with brocade seal patterns, laterite, wooden pillars... are carefully placed in the side room, like small pieces contributing to recreating the history of a communal house over one hundred years old.
Chung Communal House Festival usually takes place on the 14th and 15th of the second lunar month. These are two solemn days, including a solemn ceremony and a bustling festival with folk games: tug of war, crossbow shooting, duck catching... Before the main festival day, the whole village cleans up, prepares offerings and practices traditional rituals. According to Mr. Dinh Ngoc Loi, the selection and training of officials, gong troupes, and Sinh Tien dances begin at the beginning of the lunar year, to ensure the ceremony takes place solemnly and accurately.
The ceremony took place solemnly at Chung communal house festival.
In the sacred space, the sounds of drums, gongs, and singing and dancing mingle in the lingering smoke of incense. All seem to bring viewers back to their roots, to the ancient Muong memories. Mr. Ha Tien Phi, a local resident, shared: “After the communal house was restored, everyone was excited. The festival is not only an occasion to remember our ancestors, but also helps to strengthen the bond between villagers and neighbors, preserving traditional cultural beauty.”
Today, Chung Communal House is not only a place to express beliefs, but also a symbol of solidarity and the will to preserve Muong culture in the midst of modernity. Looking at the communal house roof hidden among the green of the palm hills, I suddenly felt moved. Because there, amidst the new rhythm of life, there is still a source of culture that is being cherished, preserved, and harmonized with time by the Muong Thanh Son people.
Trong Khanh, Do Tung
Source: https://baophutho.vn/dinh-chung-mach-nguon-van-hoa-cua-nguoi-muong-thanh-son-242440.htm
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