Phu Cuu communal house traditional festival
The Phu Cuu communal house Festival in Mot hamlet, Hong Chau commune (Hai Phong City) takes place on the Lunar January 5 - 6, attracting a large number of local residents and visitors.
Preserving hometown soul through rituals
On the afternoon of February 21 (Lunar January 5), the traditional Phu Cuu Communal House Festival was held to honor the village's tutelary spirit, while praying for national peace, abundant harvests, and prosperty. This year's festival lasts one and a half days, from February 21-22 (Lunar January 5 - 6). Rituals and cultural-sports activities were fully prepared, ensuring harmony between the solemn ceremonial part and the joyful festive part.
After the traditional rituals, community sports activities were organized, creating a cheerful atmosphere during the festival.
On the morning of the Lunar January 6, the official opening ceremony was solemnly held, followed by the traditional Chinese chess tournament, attracting many elderly people and enthusiasts of this intellectual sport.
Historical Imprint
According to historical records, the communal house worships Cao Son, the village tutelary spirit, a Chinese official who once advised his king against invading our country.
During the Le Dynasty, when the court suppressed rebellions in Phung Hoa (Chau Hoan, now Nghe An Province), generals prayed at the Cao Son temple and subsequently won consecutive battles. Reporting the matter, the king ordered the temple's repair, and later decreed that villages without a tutelary spirit could invite the god's title for worship.
Subsequent Nguyen Dynasty emperors continued to bestow titles, officially established the deity as the village's tutelary spirit. From then on, locals frequently visited the communal house to pray for good harvests and peace.
Phu Cuu Communal House was built during the later Le Dynasty, around the mid-18th century, and renovated across many dynasties, with a major large-scale restoration in 1928 still evident in much of its architecture. The structure was built with sturdy ironwood framing. The roof system boasts exquisite carvings, clearly reflecting the folk art style of the Northern Delta region. Panels depicting stylized dragons, phoenixes, flowers, and leaves embody ancient views of the universe, human life, and aspirations for peace.
Throughout history, the communal house has witnessed many important local events, serving as a gathering place during national resistance wars. This blend of tangible and intangible values creates a profound cultural depth for the relic. In 2006, Phu Cuu Communal House was ranked as a national historical-cultural relic.
Hai Phong News