Fascinating 'phoenix and dragon carvings' of the ancient temple in the midland village of Nghe An

Huy Thu• July 6, 2020 16:57

(Baonghean.vn) - With a long history, Ca Temple in Tu Vien village, Thanh Luong commune, Thanh Chuong district is one of the ancient structures with unique sculpture art.

The Great Temple was built by the people of Tu Vien village hundreds of years ago to worship "The holy Van Ho Do Thien Tran Quoc, Linh Chieu Ninh Thuan, Lich Trieu Gia Phong Thuong Dang Dai Vuong". In the past, the temple was roofed with bamboo and thatch. After many restorations and embellishments, the temple now has two lower and upper halls located at the intersection of Tu Vien village. Photo: Huy Thu

The lower shrine of the temple is a 3-room, 2-wing ironwood house built in 1901 with solid architecture, beautiful sculptures, and an airy, 2-roofed gable. Photo: Huy Thu

The upper hall of the temple was rebuilt in 1891. Although the area is modest, it is decorated with elaborate carvings and sculptures. Photo: Huy Thu

On the front rafters of the main hall are sculptures of the four sacred animals, lotus flowers, clouds, water waves... vivid and graceful. Photo: Huy Thu

Because in the middle of the main hall, on the pillars, the pedestal, the crossbeams... are all carved and engraved. The inscription recording the year of the temple's restoration is still clear. Photo: Huy Thu

According to local elders, after many restorations, the wooden frame of the upper hall has almost completely preserved the original sculpture of the temple. Photo: Huy Thu

The two remaining ends of the middle columns are carved with two majestic dragon heads facing the central altar. Photo: Huy Thu

The temple still preserves many ancient artifacts, especially in the main hall, there is a large dragon palanquin, about 6 m long, about 2.5 m high, with elaborate carvings. The dragon palanquin occupies almost the entire area of the main hall of the Ca Temple. Photo: Huy Thu

With this palanquin, the vertical and horizontal poles are all "dragon bodies", and the details around the palanquin are also decorated with graceful dragon shapes. In the photo: Carp fish facing the dragon on an ancient palanquin. Photo: Huy Thu

According to the stele erected at the temple, before the August Revolution, the temple was a secret meeting place for revolutionary soldiers, a place where the Party flag was hung to call for struggle in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, and a place where the masses gathered to seize power in 1945. During the war, the temple was the headquarters of the resistance committee, and a place where food and weapons were stored for our army and people. Currently, on the left of the temple is the Monument to the Heroic Martyrs. From ancient times to the present, Ca Temple has been a place for spiritual and cultural activities, demonstrating the tradition of drinking water and remembering its source of the local people. Photo: Huy Thu