"Lang Trau" is the land of the ancient capital of Van Lang, now Duu Lau ward, Viet Tri city. Harmonizing with the thousand-year history of the nation, the ancient Lang Trau village – now Duu Lau ward – embodies the richness and uniqueness of the ancestral land, with place and village names linked to legends from the Hung King era. It preserves relics dedicated to the Hung Kings and their generals, such as Bao Da communal house, Huong Tram communal house, and most notably, Duu Lau communal house – a temple dedicated to Prince Lang Lieu and the legend of "Banh Chung and Banh Giay" (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes).
Panoramic view of Dữu Lâu communal house, Dữu Lâu ward, Việt Trì city.
According to legends and historical records, Prince Lang Liêu was the second son of King Hung Vuong VI (Hung Huy Vuong), living in Duu Lau village. He was known for his intelligence, filial piety, diligence, and close relationship with the people.
During a competition to prepare offerings for his father, the King, on his birthday, Prince Lang Liêu created two unique types of cakes symbolizing "Round Heaven - Square Earth": bánh chưng and bánh giầy. Thanks to their profound meaning and skillful craftsmanship, Prince Lang Liêu was chosen by his father, the King, to succeed him, becoming the 7th Hung King, known as Hung Chiêu Vương.
From the moment he ascended the throne, King Hung Chieu demonstrated himself to be a wise and virtuous ruler. He constantly cultivated himself, lived simply, and based his rule on benevolence and righteousness. King Hung Chieu's aspiration was to bring prosperity and happiness to his people and protect the nation's borders.
The story of Prince Lang Liêu and the sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng and bánh giầy) is always recounted as a source of pride in Vietnam's thousand-year-old culture, conveying a message of filial piety and responsible living. Because of their devotion to their ancestors and love for their people, when King Hùng Chiêu Vương passed away, the people of Dữu Lâu village erected a temple to worship him, called "Dữu Lâu Vũ Miếu," and honored him as Lang Liêu Đại Vương.
Over thousands of years, during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong (1557-1573), officials from the Ministry of Rites were sent to survey ancestral worship sites, examine and rearrange temples, pagodas, communal houses, and shrines. At the same time, they recorded relics, stories, and legends, creating divine chronicles for each village.
Upon reviewing the history and relics of the Dữu Lâu region, the King issued a decree: Merging the Dữu Lâu Temple dedicated to Lang Liêu Đại Vương and the Ổ Rồng Temple dedicated to Tản Viên Sơn Thánh to be worshipped together in the village communal house. Simultaneously, he bestowed royal decrees honoring the great figures who had rendered meritorious service to the nation, including: Tản Viên Sơn Thánh Đại Vương; Cao Sơn Thánh Thần Đại Vương; Quý Minh Thánh Thần Đại Vương; Lang Liêu Thánh Thần Đại Vương; Bộ San Đại Vương; and Ả Nương Công Chúa Đại Vương. The King entrusted the people of Dữu Lâu village with the responsibility of maintaining the incense offerings and worshiping these figures for generations to come...
Mr. Ta Van Thinh regularly looks after, cleans, and maintains the Duu Lau communal house.
Dữu Lâu communal house was built quite early; according to tradition, it dates back to the Lê Trung Hưng period in the 16th-17th centuries. During the years of resistance against the French, the land of Dữu Lâu, bordering the communal house, served as a gathering place for guerrillas and soldiers.
In 1947, after their crushing defeat on the Lo River, French warships, while retreating, bombarded the village temple, causing the main pillar to collapse. They also searched and burned the temple, so most documents and artifacts related to it have been lost. However, with deep respect for their ancestors, the people of Duu Lau village have joined forces to rebuild the temple to honor their forefathers and contribute to building and preserving the cultural identity of their homeland.
In 2001, the People's Committee of Phu Tho province issued a decision allowing the people of Duu Lau to restore the village communal house. Construction began on the 6th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse (2002). The village's main pillar was completed with an area of 226 m² . The communal house has a layout in the shape of the Chinese character "Đinh," with the entrance facing northeast. The frame structure consists of 6 rows of columns, with a truss system similar to ancient communal houses, comprising 3 bays and 2 aisles, with a thatched roof and tiled eaves. The restored communal house has 4 curved eaves, with decorative carvings on the ridge. The roof is decorated with two dragons flanking the moon, and the ends of the beams, eaves, and eaves are carved with floral patterns, clouds, and plants. These are traditional decorative patterns of village communal houses.
Mr. Ta Van Thinh, the caretaker of Duu Lau communal house, said: "Although the communal house was restored using concrete, the skillful hands of the craftsmen have created a vibrant, traditional architectural style. Every year, Duu Lau communal house organizes five festivals according to the lunar calendar: the 6th day of the 1st lunar month; the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month; the 10th day of the 4th lunar month; the 5th day of the 5th lunar month; and the 10th day of the 10th lunar month. At the festival, there is a game called 'Phet,' which the locals call 'Loc,' attracting a large number of locals and tourists. Duu Lau communal house is also where chefs from various associations, clubs, businesses, and food lovers nationwide hold incense offerings to commemorate the contributions of Prince Lang Lieu - Hung Chieu Vuong."
The Dữu Lâu communal house holds immense artistic value as an intangible cultural heritage. According to researchers, it is the only place in the entire country dedicated to the worship of Lang Liêu Thánh Thần Đại Vương, and it also directly participated in the national defense effort with significant events. Through this, it contributes to educating future generations to learn from and emulate, serving as a powerful and convincing testament to the nation's history of nation-building and defense.
Hoang Giang
Source: https://baophutho.vn/ve-lang-trau-nghe-tich-lang-lieu-216230.htm
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