Hiep Ninh Communal House - Evidence of the August Revolution

In the historic August days, red flags fluttered all over the country, people's hearts resounded with the triumphant song celebrating the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Accompanying that glorious victory were the relics marking the revolutionary journey. Standing out in the heart of Tan Ninh ward, Tay Ninh province, Hiep Ninh communal house is not only an ancient architectural work but also a place that bears the mark of patriotism and the desire for independence. It was at this communal house that the outstanding children of the homeland forged their fighting spirit, lit the fire of revolution, and contributed to the historic August autumn.

Hiep Ninh Communal House is an ancient communal house built around 1880, worshiping the local god Tran Van Thien - the person who migrated to establish villages, reclaimed and created ancient Tay Ninh . This is one of the very few communal houses built at the end of the 19th century that still retains almost intact the ancient communal house style, typical of Southern communal houses.

Hiep Ninh Communal House still retains its ancient architecture.

Before entering the communal house, people will pass through the main gate with the "first gate" architecture. According to Tay Ninh Museum, the gate was built in 1943, along National Highway 22B. Next is the "second gate" leading to the communal house yard with a dragon and horse screen tiled with ceramic, blue and white tones with each line carved delicately.

The communal house has a Tam-shaped architecture, 5 compartments, 3 main layers of houses including the vestibule, main hall and rear hall. The communal house is built with wooden pillars, brick walls, tiled roof, is an architectural work of wood carving with the art of embossing, flower carving, gilding and lacquering, high level of fine art, marking the talent of our ancestors.

Different from other communal house architectures, Hiep Ninh communal house has a bell tower and drum tower built square, two floors occupying the entire two gables, and arched doors. This architectural style makes the communal house balanced and sturdy. This place still preserves many precious artifacts and worshiping objects such as horizontal lacquered boards, large inscriptions, inlaid altars of the local tutelary god, throne of the local tutelary god, palanquin to receive royal decrees, eight treasures,...

Every year, the communal house has two major holidays. On the 15th and 16th of the third lunar month, the communal house organizes the Ky Yen festival for local people to commemorate the merits of the local tutelary god Tran Van Thien in reclaiming land, establishing villages, and protecting the villagers. Every Ky Yen festival, people have the opportunity to admire the elaborately carved wooden palanquin through the ceremony of receiving the royal decree of King Khai Dinh bestowed upon the tutelary god Tran Van Thien on the 18th of the third lunar month, 1917 (ie May 19, 1917).

Every year on the 15th and 16th of the 8th lunar month, the communal house solemnly holds a flower-praying ceremony, worshiping the God of Agriculture with the hope of favorable weather, good crops, and a prosperous life for the people.

The dragon horse is assembled from ceramic pieces at the screen of the gate leading to the communal house yard.

The old communal houses are not only architectural works bearing strong cultural imprints, symbols connecting the past with the present, but also play a special role in community life, especially during the important historical period of the country. And Hiep Ninh communal house was once the place marking the uprising to seize power in Tay Ninh town 80 years ago.

In the book Town - 30 years of revolutionary struggle (collected, compiled and published in 1991 by the Propaganda Department of Tay Ninh Town Party Committee), it is written: On August 24, 1945, the whole town was bustling. People, some looking for fabric to make flags, others looking for paint and ink to write slogans. At 5 pm, the Vanguard Youth Team, whose core was the National Salvation Youth with the number of cadres we brought in to be in the Leadership Committee, nearly 500 people gathered at Hiep Ninh, Thai Binh and Ninh Thanh communal houses. They wore conical hats with red stars, held bamboo poles with top flaps, wore a rope around their waist and had more than 10 guns, drums were beaten, each beating continuously. Choral songs resounded "Youth, stand up and answer the call of the country... Let's go together, brothers and sisters, on the road...".

Here, hundreds of armed youths gathered to support the masses in Tay Ninh town, Chau Thanh district, Phu Khuong district from many directions to march and demonstrate their power, marching towards the center of Tay Ninh town, surrounding the Governor's palace, occupying offices, forcing the Japanese and French governments to surrender.

Then, the vanguard youth force supported the masses under the leadership of Viet Minh to organize a large rally at Tay Ninh town stadium to demonstrate strength and establish a revolutionary government under the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Hiep Ninh Communal House is a place where many young people come to create a space imbued with Southern culture.

According to the Provincial Museum, in the years 1954-1960, the base of the Provincial Party Committee, Tay Ninh town was located next to Hiep Ninh communal house (50m away) at the house of Mr. Nguyen Van Dat (Nam An). This was the base of activities of comrade Hoang Le Kha and other comrades in the Provincial Party Committee. The communal house sheltered, connected, and was the secret place of activities of the elite children of the homeland Tay Ninh, who were brave and resilient to gain independence for the nation today.

With the above values, Hiep Ninh communal house was ranked as a historical and architectural relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in Decision No. 1430/QD/BT, dated October 12, 1993.

Hiep Ninh Communal House is currently protected with an area of ^{​​7,300m2} . Through the ups and downs of time, the communal house still stands firm as a sacred symbol, contributing to preserving the soul of the homeland, educating the younger generation about the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", arousing national pride in every Vietnamese child.

Nowadays, in addition to the communal house worshiping occasions, Hiep Ninh communal house is also a place for many generations to return to. Some people come to find a national cultural space for a photo of traditional folk crafts. Some people come to research and learn about the unique architectural features of the Southern communal house. There are also tourists who stop by to explore a cultural - historical relic that is more than 140 years old,.../.

Khai Tuong

Source: https://baolongan.vn/dinh-hiep-ninh-chung-tich-cach-mang-thang-tam-a201287.html