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The Quan Lan Communal House is situated with a group of pagodas and shrines on Quan Lan Island Commune in the Van Don District, Quang Ninh Province, 35km from Cam Pha Town and 55km from Ha Long City. This communal house was built at end of the Later Le Dynasty (in the 17th century) and was restored on numerous occasions during the Nguyen Dynasty.
It is dedicated to the founding fathers of the village, and also to Tran Khanh Du, the man who sunk the food supply boats of Truong Van Ho. This contribution was of great importance to the victory on the Bach Dang River in 1288.
It is built in the shape of the letter I. Its Front Ceremonial Hall has five compartments and two lean-tos. Its Back Sanctuary includes three compartments. The communal house has 32 big ironwood pillars, 26 smaller ironwood pillars. Its roof carved scale- tiles, atop of its roof has two carving dragons flanking a moon.
The main decorative themes of the building are: dragons, phoenixes, flowers and leaves, all formed in different styles at the ends of columns and frameworks. The most precious artefact still preserved in the communal house is a statue of Tran Khanh Du with 18 royal decrees from the Emperors Nguyen conferring the title of tutelary genie on him. |
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