“What does ‘Xã Tắc’ mean?” asks a curious voice. The question hangs in the air above the remaining vestiges of what was once the most important坛 of Thăng Long, old Hanoi. This is Đàn Xã Tắc.
Đàn Xã Tắc was a place for ancient rituals. Kings built it to worship Xã thần. Xã thần is the God of Earth. They also worshiped Tắc thần. Tắc thần is the God of Agriculture. Both were vital to the rice-farming civilization.
Author Đào Duy Anh explained “Xã tắc” in his dictionary. He wrote that in ancient times, people needed land. So, they built a Xã platform to worship the God of Hậu thổ. People needed rice so they built a Tắc platform to worship the God of Nông. Losing the country meant losing Xã Tắc. Therefore, Xã Tắc also meant the nation.
Professor Lê Văn Lan said that the Đàn Xã Tắc held a sacred position. This was true for the people, kings, and capitals of Vietnam and China. Preserving the Đàn Xã Tắc meant preserving the nation.
In 1048, King Lý Thái Tông founded the Đàn Xã Tắc. It was in what is now Xã Đàn Ward. Over time, the location was lost. But in November 2006, it was rediscovered during road construction.
Đàn Xã Tắc is deeply connected to Vietnamese spiritual culture. Kings performed rituals here. They prayed to the gods for good harvests and peace. This is why the name “Xã Đàn” exists today. The name has been passed down through generations.
Đàn Xã Tắc was built in the open air. It had a square, two-tiered structure. The main face pointed north. Both tiers had brick railings. A stepped system was in the center of each side. The lower platform was about 28cm high. The upper platform was about 1.6m high. Kings performed rituals on the upper platform. Thirty-two stone basins held ceremonial items.
A brick wall surrounded the entire compound. It had three gates on the north side. The other sides had one gate each. Outside the south wall stood a brick screen. It was 10m long and 3.7m high. A square pond was in front of the north gate. Each side was 60m long and lined with stone.
According to historical records, Đàn Xã Tắc was built lộ thiên. It had a square, two-tiered structure, and the main face pointed north. Both tiers were surrounded by brick railings, with a stepped system in the center of each side.
During excavations at Ô Chợ Dừa, archaeologists found many artifacts. Below the Northern cultural layer was the Phùng Nguyên culture. It was about 3500 years old. Artifacts included stone axes, rings, bricks, tiles, and pottery. This shows people lived here in the Bronze Age.
The discovery of the Phùng Nguyên culture is significant. It is one of the first Bronze Age sites found in Hanoi. This fills gaps in the history of the capital.
Every year, the king hosted a ceremony. It was held in the spring and autumn. These rituals honored the gods. People prayed for good harvests. They also prayed for peace and prosperity.
Đàn Xã Tắc is a valuable piece of cultural heritage. It helps us understand the past. It inspires future generations.
Though not fully intact, Đàn Xã Tắc remains a treasure. It is a reminder of the agricultural roots. It reminds us of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. It has been ranked as a National Archaeological Site since 2007. Today, remember the rituals performed here. Remember the prayers for a bountiful land.