5 most sacred temples in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - Not only giving visitors moments to enjoy the charming scenery and unique architecture, the 5 temples below are also famous for their sacredness and are a spiritual and religious support for the people of Nghe An:

1. Con Temple

Con Temple is located in Quynh Phuong ward, Hoang Mai town.

According to history books, the temple was built in 1235 during the Tran Dynasty. Con Temple worships the Four Holy Ladies - the Great Holy Ladies of the Nam Hai nation. The holy ladies are the three princesses of the Southern Song Dynasty: Empress Dowager Tu Hy Duong Nguyet Qua, two princesses Trieu Nguyet Khieu and Trieu Nguyet Huong and their wet nurse. These are the goddesses who protect and bless the people to prosper in business and overcome danger.

Panoramic view of Con Temple. Photo: Ho Dinh Chien

The Con Temple relic includes the Inner Con Temple and the Outer Con Temple.

The outer Con Temple is located on the Hung Vuong mountain range. The temple worships gods such as: De Binh, Truong The Kiet, Luc Tu Phu... These gods were previously worshipped in the inner Con Temple, but due to the Confucian concept of men and women being worshiped separately, during the Le Dynasty, separate temples were built. The two temples are nearly 1km apart.

The story of the temple is told by local people that: in the first year of Thieu Bao (1279), the Yuan army ambushed the Song army. Truong The Kiet and Luc Tu Phu - loyal ministers of the Southern Song Dynasty - took King De Binh, his family and more than 800 soldiers onto boats to escape to sea. The Yuan army pursued them urgently but encountered strong winds and waves. The Southern Song king and his subjects drowned in the East Sea.

The bodies of the princess and her three children drifted to Can gate. The villagers of Can saw the bodies of the women drowned, but their faces were rosy, they were dressed in noble clothes, and they especially gave off a strange scent like orchids and cinnamon. The villagers buried them and built a temple to worship them. Every time they went out to sea to pray, they found it effective.

Tourists come to the Con Temple festival. Photo: Ho Dinh Chien.

Because of the sacredness of the temple, many people from all over the province often come here to burn incense and pray. The Con Dien Temple Festival is held on the 19th - 21st of the first lunar month every year, which is an opportunity for people in the area as well as tourists from all over to come to the Temple to worship and commemorate the merits of the Four Holy Ladies. The festival takes place very bustlingly with activities such as: vomiting race, mock naval battle performance associated with the legend of the temple's construction, swinging, wrestling, human chess, dragon boat racing, singing Tuong, Cheo, Chau Van...

2. Qua Son Temple

Qua Son Temple is located at the foot of Qua Mountain, in Mieu Duong village, Boi Son commune, Do Luong district.

Qua Son Temple is a place to worship Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang and the gods. Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang was the 8th Prince of King Ly Cong Uan. He had the merit of opening up villages, fighting foreign invaders, keeping the border safe, and expanding the agricultural economy of Hoan Chau 1,000 years ago.

Qua Son Temple seen from the main hall. Photo: Thien Thien

According to historians, Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang is one of the 9 famous people of Dai Viet. With the great contributions and deep affection of Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang, after his death, the people built a temple at the foot of Qua Son mountain in Boi Son commune, Do Luong district to hold an annual festival to express their gratitude to him.

Previously, the temple was built with 7 buildings and 42 rooms located on a large land area, where people burned incense and worshiped all year round. Experiencing the ups and downs of history with the events of time, after many restorations and embellishments, Qua Son temple has become a spiritual destination for people and tourists from all over the world.

In 1995, the temple was recognized as a National Historical Relic. The temple has an upper hall, a middle hall, and a lower hall connected together to form the letter "Cong" to worship Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang; the left wing worships Dong Chinh Vuong Ly Luc and the right wing worships Duc Thanh Vuong, two famous generals of Ly Nhat Quang.

Procession at Qua Son Temple Festival. Photo: Huu Hoan

The Qua Son Temple Festival is held from January 18 to 20 every year. The festival space is expanded with many cultural and sports activities, including volleyball, tug of war, stick pushing, wrestling, chess, boat racing...

3. Bach Ma Temple

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

According to many recorded documents, Bach Ma Temple was built during the Le Dynasty to worship Phan Da - a talented general who had great merit in the war against the Ming invaders in the 15th century. At that time, Phan Da gathered the insurgents to practice day and night. In 1418, Le Loi raised the flag of Lam Son uprising in Thanh Hoa, then returned to Nghe An to build a base against the Ming invaders. General Phan Da brought his forces to join the Lam Son insurgents and, together with the militia of Vo Liet commune, enthusiastically participated in many battles to destroy the enemy.

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

While disguised to cross the river to check the enemy situation, Phan Da stopped by a singing festival organized by the villagers but was discovered. He fought alone with the enemy and was seriously wounded. Knowing that his master was in trouble, his loyal war horse galloped wildly, neighing loudly to break through the siege, swimming across the river to return to base. When he reached the base, Phan Da died.

In 1428, Le Loi ascended the throne and, considering Phan Da's great contributions, bestowed upon him the title "Great Emperor Bach Ma Thuong Dang Phuc Than", and at the same time provided money and assigned local officials to build a majestic temple and organize annual ceremonies to commemorate him, which the people commonly called Bach Ma Temple.

Procession at Bach Ma Temple Festival. Photo: Huy Thu.

Bach Ma Temple consists of three gates, ceremonial gate, upper hall, middle hall, lower hall, left wing, right wing. This is a beautiful and unique architectural work, with a harmonious layout, carved with many sophisticated motifs. The temple still preserves many rare documents, artifacts, and sacrificial objects, adding to the historical and spiritual value of the temple. With its great historical, cultural, scientific, and artistic values, Bach Ma Temple was ranked as a National Historical Relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1994.

Inside Bach Ma Temple today, there are still many rare artifacts preserved: gold house, silver house, bronze bell set (38 pieces), phoenix statue painted in red and gilded...

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

4. Cuong Temple

Cuong Temple is located on Mo Da Mountain, Dien Trung Commune, Dien Chau District, is a sacred temple worshiping 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 abdicated the throne by the 18th Hung King, united the strength of the entire army, defeated the Qin army and ascended the throne, taking the title of Thuc An Duong Vuong. After ascending the throne, An Duong Vuong changed the name of Van Lang country 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 being off guard, Thuc An Duong Vuong was suddenly attacked by Trieu Da's army, had to retreat to the South and committed suicide at Cua Hien, north of the foot of Mo Da mountain, now in Dien An commune, Dien Chau district.

To commemorate the merits of Thuc An Duong Vuong, the people of Dien Chau built a temple to worship him in Cua Hien. There is also the tomb of Princess My Chau there.

According to legend, although there was a temple, every time night fell, there were flickering fires on the slopes of Mo Da mountain. Many people thought that it was the soul of the King of Thuc who wanted to rest on the slopes of the mountain, so the people built a temple and brought his soul there to worship.

Tourists offer incense at the temple. Photo: Thanh Hai

Nowadays, Cuong Temple is both a scenic spot and a sacred spiritual place. The Cuong Temple Festival on the 21st and 23rd of the second lunar month every year is also one of the famous festivals in Nghe An province, attracting people from all over to participate.

5. Duc Hoang Temple

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

Hoang Ta Thon Temple - a general with many contributions to our nation's resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol invaders in the 13th century.

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

According to history books, Hoang Ta Thon was born in 1254, in a fishing family in Van Phan village (now Dien Van commune, Dien Chau district). He was intelligent, braver than others, and talented in martial arts and swimming, so in 1285, when the Yuan-Mongol invaders invaded our country for the second time, he was appointed to the elite navy and was given the title of "Noi Gia Thu" under the leadership of General Tran Quoc Tuan.

In 1288, when the Yuan-Mongol invaders invaded our country for the third time, Hoang Ta Thon was given the important responsibility of commanding tens of thousands of naval troops and warships. The battle defeated our navy with the tactic of diving deep into enemy ships, destroying the warships of General O Ma Nhi and Phan Tiep on the Bach Dang River, which greatly contributed to the great victory of driving the Yuan-Mongol invaders out of our country.

After the victory over the Yuan-Mongol invaders, King Tran Nhan Tong appointed Hoang Ta Thon as "Sat Hai Dai Vuong" to command the army to defend the coastal region.

When he returned home to pay respect to his ancestors, he saw the desolate village and miserable people, so he brought the people from the coastal area of ​​Van Phan to Yen Thanh to reclaim land and establish a village.

On holidays, New Year and full moon days, people from many places come here to burn incense and pray. Photo: Ho Dinh Chien

He was a talented general who contributed to the country and the people, so when he passed away, the royal court built temples in many places, including Duc Hoang Temple in Yen Thanh, which is currently the most ancient and sacred Hoang Temple.

With its great historical and cultural values, in 1997 the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized Duc Hoang Temple as a national historical and cultural relic.

Procession at Duc Hoang Temple Festival. Photo: Ho Cac.

This year's Duc Hoang Temple Festival will take place over 3 days, starting from January 30 and February 1 and 2 of the lunar calendar (March 8 - 10, 2016) with many activities imbued with the cultural identity of the region, attracting a large number of local people and tourists from all over to pay their respects and visit.

Thanh Quynh