Thanh Son: Preserving the Soul of Heritage Amidst Modern Life

Amidst the bustling rhythm of a Newly Rural commune, Thanh Son steadily preserves its thousand-year-old cultural values. Curved roofs of communal houses and ancient temples stand not merely as testaments to time, but also as bridges connecting the past with the present—a priceless “ancient capital” that local residents are striving to safeguard for future generations.

The Chung communal house Festival in Thanh Son Commune is celebrated annually with a traditional palanquin procession ritual.

Efforts to “Awaken” Heritage

In the golden sunlight stretching across tea hills, Thanh Son appears with a nostalgic yet profound beauty. There, the village communal house remains a sanctuary gathering belief, history, and community life. Beyond honoring ancestors who made meritorious contributions to the country and its people, the communal house serves as a space connecting people to their roots.

The keeper of Chung communal house, Mr. Nguyen Van Phong, his eyes lighting up when recalling the festival, shared: Thanh Son currently hosts 4 heritage sites. Among them, Thach Khoan communal house is classified as a National Relic Site, while Chung communal house, Ba Temple, and the Nguyen Ba Family Worship House are provincial-level heritages. For locals, the communal house is not just an architectural work; it is a vault of village memories and a witness to historical transformations. No matter where they wander, everyone longs to return for the village festival, seeking the familiar roof and the vibrant festival drum beats that remind them of their roots.

The value of these relic sites is embodied in artistic details that remain intact through time. Intricate carvings of soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes on precious wood are not merely technical feats; they are vivid proof of the exquisite craftsmanship and rich spiritual life of the ancestors—who infused their beliefs and aesthetics into every wood grain and temple rafter.

Delving into the system of relics reveals a distinct cultural intersection between the Muong and Kinh ethnic groups, crystallized through ancient communal houses. A prime example is Thach Khoan communal house, classified as a National Historical Relic Site in 2001. The communal house is constructed in the shape of the Chinese characterwith 5 compartments, facing Ba Vi Mountain (Tan Mountain)—a choice filled with deep feng shui and spiritual meanings. The framework consists of 48 sturdy wooden pillars combined with sophisticated carvings, bearing the architectural hallmarks of the Muong people while sharing striking similarities with the Kinh people’s communal houses in the midland region.

The worship space inside the communal house reflects historical depth and indigenous beliefs: from Tan Vien Son Thanh (The Mountain God Son Tinh), and the three princesses of the Hung Kings, to four local Muong chiefs of the Dinh clan, led by Dinh Cong Moc—historical figures who assisted King Le Thai To in expelling the Ming invaders in the 15th century. The festival takes place annually from the 23rd to the 25th day of the first lunar month. The resounding echoes of gongs, the dam duong ritual (pounding empty wooden mortars), and the sacred procession praying for national peace create a performing arts space steeped in Muong identity. Thus, the communal house is not merely an architectural-artistic relic, but a living cultural institution where incense is regularly offered on the 1st and 15th days of every lunar month.

Similarly, Chung communal house plays a key role as a spiritual and cultural anchor for the people of Thanh Son. The communal house worships Saint Tan Vien—a figure associated with the nation-founding era of the Hung Kings—and his mother, Ms. Dinh Thi Den. Annually on the 15th day of the second lunar month, the Chung communal house Festival is held, featuring a palanquin procession from the local Confucian shrine (văn chỉ) to the communal house, coupled with folk games, creating a community cultural space that is both solemn and cohesive.

In the cultural life of Thanh Son, Ca communal house is not just a familiar name but carries a symbolic status as the belief epicenter of the community. Ca communal house worships Tan Vien Son Thanh alongside forefathers who cleared the land, fought invaders, and protected the village. Through this, the communal house acts as a string binding the Muong community to the cultural veins of Hung Kings Worship—a core axis of value running through the cultural life of the Ancestral Land.

Despite multiple restorations, Ca communal house still retains its ancient, solemn, and peaceful traits, serving as a venue for community activities, meetings, and ancestral gratitude rituals. This resilient continuity allows Ca communal house to not only survive as a relic but to live on in the daily lives of residents as a steadfast spiritual anchor over time.

Keeping the Cultural Veins Flowing Forever

Reality shows that if cultural heritage is not actively preserved, it will inevitably fade and degrade over time. Recognizing this issue, Thanh Son has adopted a proactive and substantive approach. Specifically, the socialization of heritage preservation has been continuously promoted. Alongside the State budget, many families and expatriates have voluntarily contributed funds to restore the communal spaces and recreate horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences. This represents a vital material resource while showcasing a sharp community awareness in preserving ancestral culture.

The restoration of traditional ritual sacrifices has returned the relic sites to their rightful role as living cultural spaces. Ritual teams of male and female officiants in formal attire, alongside the melodies of Xoan and Gheo singing echoing under the ancient roofs, have reenacted the past and “activated” cultural memories in contemporary life. For the younger generation, this offers a visual, emotional, and far more persuasive approach to history than any classroom lecture.

To ensure sustainable heritage development, according to Ms. Nguyen Thu Hien, Deputy Head of the Commune’s Culture and Social Affairs Bureau, the direction chosen by the locality is to bind preservation with the development of spiritual and cultural tourism. The objective does not stop at favorable infrastructure, but aims to construct Thanh Son into an identity-rich cultural space where traditional values are honored and present in contemporary life.

With local authorities and citizens joining hands to safeguard their heritage, Thanh Son not only preserves the values of the past but continues to nurture a sustainable cultural foundation, ensuring that every step of development today will always carry the silhouette of its roots.

Huong Giang