5 of the most sacred temples in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - Besides offering visitors moments of enjoying picturesque scenery and unique architecture, the following 5 temples are also famous for their sacredness and serve as a pillar of faith and spirituality for the people of Nghe An province:

1. Cờn Temple

Cờn Temple is located in Quỳnh Phương ward, Hoàng Mai town.

According to historical records, the temple was built in 1235 during the Tran Dynasty. The Cờn Temple is dedicated to the Four Holy Mothers – the Great Holy Mothers of the Southern Sea. These Holy Mothers are three princesses from the Southern Song Dynasty: Empress Dowager Cixi Yang Yueguo, the two princesses Zhao Yueqiao and Zhao Yuexiang, and their wet nurse. These goddesses are believed to protect and bless the people, ensuring prosperity and protection from danger.

Panoramic view of Cờn Temple. Photo: Hồ Đình Chiến

The Cờn Temple complex includes the Inner Cờn Temple and the Outer Cờn Temple.

The Outer Cờn Temple is located on the Hùng Vương mountain range. It is dedicated to deities such as Đế Bính, Trương Thế Kiệt, Lục Tú Phu, and others. These deities were previously worshipped at the Inner Cờn Temple, but due to Confucian beliefs about the separation of male and female deities, a separate temple was built during the Lê dynasty. The two temples are approximately 1km apart.

According to local accounts, the temple's history recounts that in the first year of the Thiệu Bảo era (1279), the Yuan army ambushed the Song army. Trương Thế Kiệt and Lục Tú Phu, loyal officials of the Southern Song dynasty, took King Đế Bính, his family, and over 800 soldiers onto ships to escape. The Yuan army pursued them relentlessly, but they encountered strong winds and waves, and the Southern Song king and his entourage drowned in the East Sea.

The bodies of the princess and her two daughters drifted ashore at Càn estuary. The villagers of Càn found the bodies of the drowned women strangely preserved, their faces rosy, their clothes resplendent, and emitting a fragrance like orchids and cinnamon. They buried them and erected a shrine, and every time they went out to sea, they prayed there and found their prayers answered.

Visitors from all over flock to the Cờn Temple festival. Photo: Hồ Đình Chiến.

Because of the temple's sacredness, many people from within and outside the province often come here to offer incense and pray. The Cờn Temple Festival, held annually from the 19th to the 21st of the first lunar month, is an opportunity for locals and visitors from all over to come to the temple to worship and remember the merits of the Four Holy Mothers. The festival is very lively with activities such as: running and vomiting, reenacting a naval battle associated with the legend of the temple's founding, swinging on a swing, wrestling, human chess, dragon boat racing, traditional opera, folk singing, etc.

2. Quả Sơn Temple

Quả Sơn Temple is located at the foot of Quả Mountain, in Miếu Đường village, Bồi Sơn commune, Đô Lương district.

Quả Sơn Temple is a place of worship for Uy Minh Vương Lý Nhật Quang and other deities. Uy Minh Vương Lý Nhật Quang was the eighth son of King Lý Công Uẩn. He was instrumental in establishing settlements, fighting foreign invaders, securing the borders, and developing agriculture in the Hoan Châu region 1,000 years ago.

Quả Sơn Temple viewed from the main hall. Photo: Thiên Thiên

According to historians, Uy Minh Vương Lý Nhật Quang was one of the nine most distinguished figures of Đại Việt (Vietnam). Because of his immense contributions and profound gratitude, after his death, the people erected a temple at the foot of Quả Sơn mountain in Bồi Sơn commune, Đô Lương district, to hold an annual festival expressing their appreciation for him.

Previously, the temple consisted of 7 buildings and 42 rooms, situated on a large plot of land, where people offered incense and worshipped year-round. Through the ups and downs of history and the vicissitudes of time, after numerous renovations and restorations, Quả Sơn Temple has become a spiritual destination for locals and visitors from all over.

In 1995, the temple was recognized as a National Historical Monument. The temple has an upper, middle, and lower hall connected in the shape of the Chinese character "gong" (工), dedicated to Uy Minh Vương Lý Nhật Quang; there is a left wing dedicated to Đông Chinh Vương Lý Lực and a right wing dedicated to Dực Thánh Vương, two famous generals of Lý Nhật Quang.

Procession at the Quả Sơn Temple festival. Photo: Hữu Hoàn

The Quả Sơn Temple Festival is held annually from the 18th to the 20th of January. The festival space is expanded to include many cultural and sporting activities, such as volleyball matches, tug-of-war, stick pushing, wrestling, chess, boat racing, and more.

3. Bach Ma Temple

The Bach Ma Temple is located in Tan Ha village, Vo Liet commune, Thanh Chuong district.

According to many historical records, the Bach Ma Temple was built during the Le Dynasty to worship Phan Da, a talented general who made significant contributions to the war against the Ming invaders in the 15th century. At that time, Phan Da gathered his troops and trained them day and night. In 1418, Le Loi raised the banner of the Lam Son Uprising in Thanh Hoa, and later moved to Nghe An to establish a base to fight the Ming invaders. General Phan Da brought his forces to join the Lam Son Uprising and, together with the militia of Vo Liet commune, enthusiastically participated in many battles to defeat the enemy.

Panoramic view of Bach Ma Temple. Photo: Ho Dinh Chien

During a reconnaissance mission across the river while disguised, Phan Đà stopped at a village festival and was discovered. He single-handedly fought off the enemy and was severely wounded. Knowing his master was in danger, his loyal warhorse, enraged and neighing loudly, broke through the encirclement and swam back to base. Upon arriving at base, Phan Đà breathed his last.

In 1428, when Le Loi ascended the throne, recognizing Phan Da's great contributions, he bestowed upon him the title of "Great Emperor of the White Horse, High-Ranking Blessed Deity," and simultaneously provided funds and instructed local officials to build a magnificent temple and hold annual ceremonies to commemorate him, which the people commonly call the White Horse Temple.

Procession during the Bach Ma Temple Festival. Photo: Huy Thu.

The Bach Ma Temple complex includes a triple gate, ceremonial gate, upper hall, middle hall, lower hall, left wing, and right wing. It is a beautiful and unique architectural work with a harmonious layout and many exquisitely carved details. The temple also preserves many rare documents, artifacts, and ritual objects, adding to its historical and spiritual value. With its immense historical, cultural, scientific, and artistic value, the Bach Ma Temple was classified as a National Historical Monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1994.

Inside the Bach Ma Temple, many rare and precious artifacts are still preserved: a golden house, a silver house, a set of bronze bells (38 pieces), a gilded and lacquered phoenix statue, etc.

Every year, the people in the region hold a ceremony on the 9th and 10th days of the second lunar month.

4. Cuong Temple

Located on Mo Da Mountain in Dien Trung commune, Dien Chau district, Cuong Temple is a sacred temple dedicated to Thuc An Duong Vuong.

Panoramic view of Cuong Temple. Photo: Ho Dinh Chien

Cuong Temple is associated with a legend in the history of the nation's resistance against foreign invaders. Thuc Phan – after being ceded the throne by the 18th Hung King – united the strength of the entire army, decisively defeated the Qin army, and ascended the throne, taking the title Thuc An Duong Vuong. After his coronation, An Duong Vuong changed the name of the country from Van Lang to Au Lac, moved the capital from Phong Chau to Co Loa, and ruled the country for 50 years (from 257 to 208 BC).

In 208 BC, due to a lack of vigilance, King An Duong of Thuc was unexpectedly attacked by Trieu Da's army, forcing him to retreat south and commit suicide at Cua Hien, north of the foot of Mo Da mountain, now located in Dien An commune, Dien Chau district.

To commemorate the contributions of Thuc An Duong Vuong, the people of Dien Chau region erected a temple to worship him at Cua Hien. The tomb of Princess My Chau is also located there.

According to legend, although there was already a shrine, every time night fell, flickering lights would appear on the slopes of Mount Mo Da. Many believed that these were the spirits of the King of Shu wishing to rest on the mountainside, so the people built a temple and brought his spirit there to worship.

Visitors from all over offer incense at the temple. Photo: Thanh Hai

Today, Cuong Temple is both a scenic spot and a sacred spiritual and religious site. The Cuong Temple Festival, held annually from the 21st to the 23rd of the second lunar month, is also one of the famous festivals in Nghe An province, attracting people from all over to participate.

5. Duc Hoang Temple

The Duc Hoang Temple was built in 1505 in Phuc Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district.

The temple is dedicated to Hoang Ta Thon, a general who made significant contributions to our nation's resistance against the Yuan-Mongol invasion in the 13th century.

A corner of Duc Hoang Temple. Photo: Ho Dinh Chien

According to historical records, Hoang Ta Thon was born in 1254 into a fishing family in Van Phan village (now Dien Van commune, Dien Chau district). Intelligent, exceptionally brave, and skilled in martial arts and swimming, in 1285, during the second Mongol invasion of Vietnam, he was appointed to the elite naval force and awarded the title of "Internal Scholar" under the leadership of General Tran Quoc Tuan.

In 1288, when the Mongol invaders launched their third invasion of Vietnam, Hoang Ta Thon was entrusted with the important task of commanding tens of thousands of naval troops and warships. His victory over the Vietnamese navy, achieved through tactics of deep-sea diving to sink enemy ships and destroy the warships of Generals O Ma Nhi and Phan Tiep on the Bach Dang River, greatly contributed to the great victory of driving the Mongol invaders out of the country.

After the victory over the Mongol invaders, King Tran Nhan Tong bestowed upon Hoang Ta Thon the title of "Sat Hai Dai Vuong" (Great King of the Sea), commanding the army defending the coastal region.

Upon returning home in triumph and seeing the desolate state of his village and the suffering of its people, he led the coastal residents of Van Phan to the Yen Thanh area to reclaim land and establish a village.

During holidays, festivals, and full moon days, people from many places come here to offer incense and pray. Photo: Ho Dinh Chien

He was a brilliant general who rendered great service to the country and its people, so after his death, the imperial court erected temples in his honor in many places, including the Duc Hoang Temple in Yen Thanh, which is currently the most ancient and sacred Hoang Temple.

Given its immense historical and cultural value, in 1997 the Ministry of Culture and Information recognized Duc Hoang Temple as a national historical and cultural relic.

Procession during the Duc Hoang Temple festival. Photo: Ho Cac.

This year's Duc Hoang Temple Festival will take place over three days, starting from the 30th day of the first lunar month and the 1st and 2nd days of the second lunar month (i.e., from March 8th to 10th, 2016), with many activities reflecting the region's unique cultural identity, attracting a large number of local people and visitors from all over to pay their respects and visit.

Thanh Quynh