Trà Cổ Communal House (Van Linh Khanh Pagoda) is situated next to a beautiful beach in Trà Cổ Ward, Móng Cái. The building was built in 1462, but since then has gone through many restorations. The Communal House is devoted to the cult of the tutelary genies of the village; the six founding fathers of the site, who came from Hải Phòng. It is built in the shape of the letter J. Its Front Ceremonial Hall has five compartments and two lean-tos. Its Back Sanctuary includes three compartments. The decorative themes here are rich and diversified, including: dragons, unicorns, tortoises and phoenixes. They are represented with very elaborate artistic carvings.
Covering an area of 405 m², the Communal House has 48 ironwood
pillars. Its main pillars are 4.65 m high and 1.5 m in perimeter,
set up by carpenters from Thanh Hoá. Its roof is slightly sagging
and its four scimitar edges curve upwards. The beam heads are carved
with dragon’s heads. Its floor is 0.4 m high. Inside the Communal
House there are tens of exquisite carvings and gilded parallel
panels. Its cua vong (arch door) feature carved images of
female fairies riding dragons flying in cloud, above bobbing sea
waves. The upper part of the doors shows the motif of dragon
flanking the sun. Apart from four sacred animals (dragon, tortoise,
unicorn, and phoenix), one can find long-necked horned spotted deer
with short tail that are running or standing, holding chrysanthemums
in their mouths.
Its
Back Sanctuary covers 72 m². Here you can find a bas-relief lotus in
a square flowered pattern. In front of the Back Sanctuary there is a
“door” made out of silk embroidered with dragons and phoenixes.
The
festival of Trà Cổ Communal House lasts from the 30th day
of the fifth lunar month until the 6th day of the 6th
lunar month.
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