Tan Phuoc Communal House (Dong Thap) was recognized as a provincial relic after a report from Vietnam Law Newspaper.

(PLVN) - Tan Phuoc Communal House (Tan Phuoc Commune, Lai Vung District, Dong Thap Province) has just been recognized as a provincial relic and still retains the statue of the Thanh Hoang God in the main hall after a reflection by the Vietnam Law Newspaper.

On May 28, the Tan Phuoc Communal House's Te Tu Committee informed that the People's Committee of Dong Thap province has just issued a decision to rank Tan Phuoc Communal House (Tan Phuoc commune, Lai Vung district, Dong Thap province) as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic.

Decision to recognize Tan Phuoc Communal House as a provincial relic

Previously, the Vietnam Law Newspaper published an article “Dong Thap: Is Tan Phuoc Communal House worshiping a God statue “inappropriate?” - reflecting the Dong Thap Provincial Museum’s report on the results of a survey to establish a scientific dossier to rank Tan Phuoc Communal House as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic and stating that the Communal House worshiping a God statue is inappropriate. The museum’s viewpoint stated that “currently, Tan Phuoc Communal House has a statue of a God, but the statue of the God cannot be identified as a God with a specific name conferred by the King. Therefore, placing the statue on the altar of the God is inappropriate and must be done in accordance with regulations”. This unit also stated that Tan Phuoc Communal House meets the criteria for a historical relic (memorial to a famous person). However, the worship of the God statue requires the Sacrificial Board to follow the regulations.

The statue of the Thanh Hoang God is still solemnly worshiped in the main hall.

In fact, Thanh Hoang is a god who governs a land and performs the function of "protecting the country and the people" in the locality. This is an abstract god, not a historical person with flesh and blood. Therefore, most people do not have a statue but only worship the word "God" in Chinese characters. However, because in the people's mind, the god who is appointed Thanh Hoang must have a specific image with a crown, belt and robe like a court official, they have based on that to create a statue of Thanh Hoang to worship with the purpose of creating more faith and a solid spiritual support.

After the reflection of Vietnam Law Newspaper, Dong Thap province's functional sector has stepped in to review, inspect and direct specialized units to complete the dossier to recognize Tan Phuoc Communal House as a relic.

Temple worship ceremony at Tan Phuoc Temple

Mr. Ho Van Riet - Head of the Tan Phuoc Communal House's Worship Committee expressed his joy when the Communal House was recognized as a provincial relic. Notably, the Communal House still retains the original state of the God Statue, solemnly worshiped in the main hall. This is not only the joy of the Worship Committee but also the common joy of the people of Tan Phuoc commune because the image of the God worshiped at the Communal House has long been associated with the beliefs and faith of the people.

Thuong Temple

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/dinh-tan-phuoc-dong-thap-duoc-cong-nhan-di-tich-cap-tinh-sau-phan-anh-cua-bao-phap-luat-viet-nam-post549964.html