Unique ancient communal house 'embraced' by two hundred-year-old Bodhi trees in Dong Thap

Tan Dong Communal House (also known as Go Tao Communal House) is an ancient communal house, built in the year of Ky Suu 1901, in Go Tao Hamlet, Tan Dong Commune, Dong Thap (formerly Tan Dong Commune, Go Cong District, Tien Giang ). Initially, the communal house was less than 100 ^m2 wide, in 1904 it was severely damaged by natural disasters, in the period of 1905 - 1907, the communal house was completely built at its current location with an area of 538 ^m2 .

- Ảnh 1. — Tan Dong Communal House is a place to worship the Local God to show gratitude for his contributions to opening up the land. The Communal House has a harmonious layout, including the Vo Ca (opera stage), the Chanh Communal House (main worship hall) and the Chimney House (cooking area for worshiping).

- Ảnh 2. — The front of the communal house is highlighted by five European-style arched doors, the largest in the middle, with a small scroll carved on top inscribed with the year 1907 (marking the time the communal house was completed). The main hall is covered with yin-yang tiles, built of precious wood, opposite is a large altar engraved with the word "Than Nong", on both sides worship the Earth God and the Five Elements. The main communal house is built in the four-pillar architectural style, with 5.5m high columns, majestically painted with gold. The smokehouse was damaged during the war.

- Ảnh 3. — The communal house is in cool green when viewed from above, in the middle of a rice field, away from the residential area with the main door facing north.

Around 1986, the theater hall was in a state of disrepair, seemingly unable to withstand the passage of time. At that time, two Bodhi trees suddenly sprouted in front of the communal house, reaching high, their roots clinging firmly to the walls and pillars, like "giant" arms supporting them. Since then, the communal house not only did not collapse but also had a special appearance: the Bodhi roots intertwined, covering, creating a solemn and ancient look.

Mr. Pham Van Hieu, Deputy Head of the Tan Dong Communal House Service Board, shared: For many generations, people in the hamlet have considered the two Bodhi trees as a part of the communal house's soul, working together to preserve, clean, and guide visitors to visit.

- Ảnh 4. — Many layers of Bodhi roots intertwine with each other, keeping the communal house stable over time.

- Ảnh 5. — After 1975, local people joined hands to restore and maintain traditional worship ceremonies. Every year, the communal house has four major ceremonies: Ky Yen (16th day of the 2nd lunar month), Ha Dien (16th day of the 5th lunar month), Thuong Dien (16th day of the 8th lunar month) and Cau Bong (16th day of the 11th lunar month). On each occasion, people send their wishes for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and good crops.

Tan Dong Communal House is also associated with the historical traces of the resistance war. In the 1960s, the enemy turned this place into a place to detain many revolutionary families. In 2010, Tan Dong Communal House was recognized as a provincial historical and cultural relic. By 2020, the project was restored and embellished with a budget of about 2.6 billion VND.

PHOTO: THANH QUAN