The Character Worshiped at Hang Kenh Temple

* Export shoe factory, capacity 3 million pairs/year, investment value 29 billion VND. of Van Dat Company Limited

* Dupex paper factory of My Huong cooperative, investment value 14 billion, capacity 4000 tons/year

* PP packaging factory of Ngoc Quyen enterprise, investment value 10 billion, capacity 13 million bags/year

These factories, after being completed and put into operation, will contribute to creating strong industries in competition and economic development of the district such as: mechanics, wood products, packaging, paper production.... Currently, this system of enterprises has a total registered capital for production and business of 215 billion, with a stable income, contributing to solving many social problems (especially employment).

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2.1.3. Human tourism resources

Le Chan is famous as a heroic land with an indomitable spirit, a brave and resilient fighting spirit. In the history of formation and development, the people of Le Chan have made many positive and great contributions to the cause of liberation and protection of the fatherland. In 2000, Le Chan district was recognized by the state as "Hero of the People's Armed Forces". Le Chan land is associated with the historical tradition of the early years of the Christian era, the time of the Trung Sisters, about the talented and beautiful girl "Female General Le Chan" who had the merit of repelling the invaders of the Southern Han Dynasty (40-43), establishing the village of Ven (An Bien).

Besides the glorious historical tradition, Le Chan is also a land rich in cultural tradition. That beauty has been recorded and reflected through many steles and relics remaining until today. In Niem Nghia ward, there is still a stele "Van hoi bi ki" (created in 1782) recording the contributions and construction of Van Tu, one of the places for community cultural activities. In Hang Kenh communal house, there is still a stele recording the names of those who passed the imperial examinations (1460-1693).

Along with the general development of Hai Phong city, the district has become one of the three centers of the city, with a convenient transportation system, convenient for tourists to visit. In the district, there are many architectural relics with artistic and cultural values ranked by the state: Nghe Temple, An Bien Temple, Tu Vu, Dong An, Hang Kenh, Du Hang, Du Hang Pagoda, Ven Pagoda, An Duong Pagoda, Nam Hai, Pho Chieu...

Each relic is associated with festivals, an occasion to return to one's roots with all pride and respect, an occasion to connect the community, exchange culture and art, attract the participation of the village community, and have great appeal to domestic and foreign tourists to attend the festival.

It can be said that the heroic historical traditions, with valuable architectural and artistic relics of spiritual culture, have shaped the land and people here, creating unique cultural features that attract tourists. That is also the "tourism product" - the humanistic tourism resource that the district can exploit to serve tourism development, building the land named after the female general Le Chan to become increasingly rich and civilized. Worthy of the sacrifice and selfless labor of many previous generations, turning this land into an "attractive destination" for domestic and foreign tourists to visit, research and study. So that tourism can truly become a "key" economic sector of the district.

2.2. Cultural value of Hang Kenh communal house

2.2.1. History of Hang Kenh communal house

2.2.1.1. History of Hang Kenh land

According to the genealogy of the families in the area, Hang Kenh was originally called “Kinh Duong Trang”. This land was established from 1215-1218 (Tran Dynasty - XIII century). This is an alluvial land, located close to the sea and is often affected by the tide, creating many creeks, some of which have become branches of Lach Tray River.

The book “History of the Party Committee and People of Du Hang Kenh Commune” based on ancient documents and family genealogies, provides information about the origin of Kinh Duong Trang’s population as follows: the first residents came to settle, reclaim land, establish villages and became the ancestors of the families. Therefore, since ancient times, people have passed on to each other the saying “Dang Nguyen chi giao cap Ngo, Do, Vu ” to show gratitude and remind the next generations of the families who contributed to “Creating heaven and earth in this land”. In addition, there is also a parallel sentence in the village’s Dong communal house affirming:

" Since the establishment of the village, it has been said that Deng Jianji has ruled the east since ancient times."

Translation: "Building villages and hamlets is the family's way of living in Dong village."

Before the first year of Hong Duc (1470), Kinh Duong Trang was located in An Duong district, Nam Sach prefecture, Hai Duong province. During the Hong Duc period (1470-1497), Kinh Duong Trang was divided into two parts: Kinh Duong Trang and Kinh Duong Doai Thon - located in the West. Kinh Duong Trang was later changed to Kinh Duong commune, An Duong district, Nam Sach, Hai Duong.

During the Mac Dynasty in the 16th century, Kinh Duong commune was changed to Hang Kenh commune (An Hai district, Hai Phong). The land of Kinh Duong Doai village was expanded due to rapid population growth, so it was named Du Hang Kenh (Quang Bao year 4 - 1559).

In 1873, French colonialists invaded Ninh Hai area. On July 19, 1888, the French government decided to establish Hai Phong city and classify it as a first-class city (equivalent to Hanoi and Saigon). At that time, the Hang Kenh and Du Hang areas were villages bordering the city and Phu Lien province (later changed to Kien An province).

In 1961, Du Hang and Hang Kenh communes were merged into Du Hang Kenh commune, Hai An district, Hai Phong. Due to the strong urbanization process in Hai Phong, on May 1, 2003, the Prime Minister's decision was implemented.

Government. Du Hang Kenh Commune of Hai An District was converted into Du Hang Kenh Ward, Le Chan District, Hai Phong City.

2.2.1.2. Characters worshiped at Hang Kenh communal house

Hang Kenh Communal House initially worshiped the village's tutelary god, Vu Chi Thang (1253-1325). He was a famous general of the Tran Dynasty (13th century), from Nam village, Hang Kenh. He had great merit in helping Tran Hung Dao fight the Yuan-Mongol invaders on the Bach Dang River in 1288. When the country was at peace, he returned to his hometown, and spent money to help the poor settle down and make a living. All the villagers admired and were grateful to him. When he died, the villagers honored him as a "god of fortune" and built a temple to worship him.

In the 6th year of Tu Duc Dynasty (1853), there was an edict to grant 17 villages and 5 communes of An Duong district, Kinh Mon prefecture, Hai Duong (including Hang Kenh village) to build structures to worship Ngo Quyen. Therefore, Hang Kenh communal house was used by villagers as the place to worship the tutelary god of Ngo Quyen village. Vu Chi Thang's deity was brought to a rather large temple, more than 200m from Hang Kenh communal house. That temple was called Tu Vu (temple to worship the Vu family saint).

Hang Kenh Communal House is one of dozens of architectural, artistic and religious works that people built to commemorate the greatest "Renaissance Ancestor" - Ngo Quyen on the land of Hai Phong, where he once made great achievements.

Ngo Quyen was born in 898 and died in 944. His hometown was Duong Lam, Ba Vi, Ha Tay (now Ba Vi, Hanoi). Legend has it that " When he was born, there was a strange light filling the house, his appearance was unusual, and he had three moles on his back. The fortune teller thought it was strange, indicating that he could rule a region, so he was named Quyen. When he grew up, he was handsome, his eyes were as bright as lightning, his gait was as leisurely as a tiger, he was intelligent and brave, and he had the strength to lift a cauldron of oil " (Complete Annals of Dai Viet, volume 1, 2004).

His father was a prestigious chieftain and good at martial arts. Growing up, Ngo Quyen became a strong young man, diligently practicing martial arts and having talent.

strategy. He defeated 200,000 Southern Han invaders on the Bach Dang River in 938, ending 1,000 years of Chinese domination for our nation, opening an era of Dai Viet civilization, of Thang Long culture. The two words "Bach Dang" have entered history in the thousand-year-old consciousness of the Vietnamese people. Bach Dang has become the convergence point of national vitality, just as Pham Su Manh praised:

" The wonder of the universe, the sun of Duong Coc, the king of Giang Son, the Bach Dang River"

Translation: "The wonder of the universe is the sun in Duong Coc cave. The sacred energy of mountains and rivers is condensed in Bach Dang"

Through the worship of Ngo Quyen - the national hero as the tutelary god, we can see that the people here highly respect the person who has contributed to the country and the people. His contributions are not only affirmed and recognized in the royal decrees, but also in the horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences in the communal house. The people of Hang Kenh worship the tutelary god Ngo Quyen with all their faith, respect and pride. He is the supreme god "the most superior god", who controls the lives of the villagers, has the duty to protect and defend the villagers and bestow blessings on the villagers. The people of Hang Kenh did not build a temple but a communal house to worship Ngo Quyen, so from history he has entered the "immortal sacred realm" in the souls of the villagers.

2.2.1.3. The formation process of Hang Kenh communal house relic

On the left porch of the communal house, there is a stone stele recording the merits of those who paid for the renovation of the communal house. On the stele is engraved " Construction started in the year of Tu Duc Tan Hoi 1851".

However, according to the local elders, Hang Kenh communal house has existed since the 11th year of Le Vinh Thinh (1718). In the early 18th century, the village built the communal house on the bank of Lau Gie in Bac village, Hang Kenh commune (1718). By the year Canh Ty, under the reign of King Minh Mang, the communal house was severely damaged.

The elders and dignitaries in the village met many times to discuss and decide to rebuild the Communal House. The new construction site is Trung village - the central location compared to the old Communal House (ie the current location). This shows that the year recorded on the stele is the year the Communal House was rebuilt - 1851.

Mr. Nguyen Danh Duong (1791-1861), who passed the bachelor's exam in Tan Ty year (1821), was elected by the villagers of Hang Kenh to manage the reconstruction of the communal house. He stood up and called on the villagers to contribute money, rice, and buy ironwood to rebuild the communal house. He hired two groups of workers, each group of 15 people, led by Mr. Nguyen Duc Nghiep and Mr. Nguyen Duc Nghiem to prepare for the reconstruction of the communal house. The old workers followed the original model of the old communal house. In particular, the remaining carvings and decorations from the old communal house were brought back to be installed in the main communal house.

At first, the communal house was still the common property of the two communes of Hang Kenh and Du Hang Kenh. In the 19th year of Tu Duc (1866), Du Hang Kenh built another communal house completely imitating Hang Kenh communal house, the only difference was that Du Hang communal house did not have the floorboard system like Hang Kenh communal house.

2.2.2. Architectural value

Hang Kenh Communal House is located at 55 Nguyen Cong Chu Street, Hang Kenh Ward, Le Chan District, Hai Phong. The communal house is located on a land area of up to 7000m2 . Compared to other relics in the inner city, this area is ideal for use, exploitation and promotion of the values of the relic.

It can be said that Hang Kenh Communal House is a large-scale communal house with almost intact structure and architectural components. Hang Kenh Communal House is the second oldest communal house in Hai Phong city, only after Kien Bai Communal House, Kien Bai Commune, Thuy Nguyen District (Kien Bai Communal House was built in 1685, Hang Kenh Communal House was built in 1718).

2.2.2.1 Construction principles

Hang Kenh Communal House was built on a relatively high ground, so it has a positive element. To balance it, in front of the communal house there is a crescent lake - a negative element. According to the ancient concept, yin and yang are always balanced and harmonious.

The communal house was built facing the West. Ancient feng shui masters chose the West because this is the ideal direction, the direction of full sunlight, refreshing spirit. Perhaps the West is the "favorable" direction with the heroic and great life and career of King Ngo Quyen. Therefore, almost all places of worship of King Ngo in Hai Phong face the West (Kheen Communal House, Hang Communal House).

2.2.2.2 Architecture of buildings in the relic

* Overall layout

From Nguyen Cong Chu street, entering the relic of the communal house, there is a large gate built in the style of "nhat mon", the gate roof has a overlapping structure, two floors and eight roofs. The roofs are covered with fish-tail tiles, creating curved ridges connecting the four corners. The ridges are decorated with the combination of "dragons and phoenixes". On the ancient ridge, people embossed Chinese characters to name the relic "Nhan Tho Dinh". With the meaning: "Nhan" is humanity, is love between people, "Tho" is long-lasting sustainability. "Nhan Tho" is love, humanity between people will exist forever with time.

In front of the front and back gate pillars are embossed parallel sentences in Chinese characters, praising the sacred place and the career of the national hero - Ngo Quyen. Through the gate, we will immediately see a large crescent-shaped lake, the lake water is clear and cool. The lake is located straight along the sacred path of the lake shore, opposite the lake is Nghi Mon (the gate of the communal house), including: Main gate, left gate, right gate. The "main gate" is built in the style of "copper pillars", embossed with Chinese parallel sentences. The top of the pillar is embossed in the style of a lantern, the four sides of the lantern are embossed with reliefs.

Four sacred animals (dragon, unicorn, turtle, phoenix). On top of the pillar are two unicorns sitting in the betel-chewing posture, as if guiding people to the sacred land. On the right and left of the main gate, a short distance away, are small gates: left gate, right gate, 2-storey roof style, curved roof, with the ends of the roof decorated with curled patterns.

Through the gate into the communal house yard. The communal house floor is paved with traditional Bat Trang bricks. The yard is almost square, with sides equal to the length of the main worship hall. Surrounding the yard is a system of low walls, flower-style. The walls are built with bricks from the Later Le and Nguyen dynasties.

On the left and right of the communal house, symmetrically facing each other across the communal house yard, are the Ta Vu and Huu Vu houses (also known as Giai Vu houses). Next to the main communal house is the Van Tu house.

It can be said that the architectural works built in the relic area are placed and arranged in very reasonable and interconnected positions, closely connected and in harmony with each other. The main works combine to form the shape of "tiger floating in the moon" - the image of the aspirations, happiness and peace of the rice-growing residents.

* Architectural value

Hang Kenh Communal House has a spatial layout in the shape of the letter "Cong" (I), including the main hall, the tube and the back palace. The quintessence and architectural art values are mainly concentrated in the main hall.

- Dai Dinh: is the most important architecture in the entire communal house architecture.

+ Roof system: looking from the outside and from above, we can immediately see that the roof system of the main hall is divided into 4 roofs. The two gable roofs are small and narrow, the front and back roofs are very large. Overall, the roof of the communal house looks like it is rafting down to the ground. The roof is covered with dragon scale tiles (large-sized fish-tail tiles). The corners of the roof are curved, as if lifting the communal house into the air.

The ridge and the eaves are decorated with lemon flowers - a typical architectural feature of the Later Le Dynasty. The top of the ridge is decorated with "two dragons facing the moon", expressing the dream of "favorable weather", a prosperous and happy life of the rural residents.

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