Thanh Chuong is a rural area with a rich cultural and historical heritage system, with a total of 457 relics reviewed and listed by the province, protected; of which 71 relics are ranked at the national and provincial levels. Bach Ma Temple relic has long been famous as one of the four temples with the largest scale, most beautiful architecture and the most sacred in Nghe An: "First Con, second Qua, third Bach Ma, fourth Chieu Trung". This place worships the famous general Phan Da, a talented general who made great contributions to the Lam Son army in the resistance war against the invading Ming army.
General Phan Da was born in the early 15th century, in a fishing family along the Lam River, in Chi Linh village, Tho Du district (now Khai Tien village, Vo Liet commune, Thanh Chuong district). In his youth, Phan Da was an intelligent, handsome boy, good at martial arts and archery, so the people called him "ky dong". When there was a foreign invasion, he gathered an army to practice day and night. In 1418, Le Loi raised the flag of uprising in Lam Son (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 army and, together with Vo Liet militia, enthusiastically participated in many battles to destroy the enemy. Phan Da was a brave and resourceful general.“charging into battle as if charging into an empty place”, making the enemy terrified many times. When going into battle, Phan Da often wore white armor and rode a white horse, so the people often called him by the name “White Horse God”.
In a sudden ambush on the northern bank of Lam Giang, General Phan Da was seriously injured and was carried back by horse. Near Vo Liet, he breathed his last at Cong Trung, Lai Thanh (now Trung Thanh village, Thanh Long commune, Thanh Chuong district). His body was buried by termites, and was very sacred, so the people built a temple to worship him.
In 1428, Le Loi ascended the throne. Considering the merits of General Phan Da, he provided money and assigned the local people to build a majestic and splendid temple and organize annual international ceremonies; at the same time, he bestowed the title "Do Thien Dai De Bach Ma Thuong Dang Phuc Than". Later, the feudal dynasties bestowed the title "Thuong - Thuong - Thuong Dang Toi Linh Ton Than".
Bach Ma Temple is also the place where many important historical events were recorded later. Notably, in the 6th year of Quang Thuan (1465), King Le Thanh Tong himself visited the temple and held a ceremony here on his way to conquer the South. In the 30th year of Canh Hung (1770), Duke Bui The Dat held a ceremony on his way to fight the enemy and due to his spiritual response, the battles between the king and the duke were all great victories. Since then, the temple's sacredness has become more and more famous to this day. This place, during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement of 1930-1931 and the resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, has become a place associated with many struggles and revolutionary movements of the people of Thanh Chuong.
Bach Ma Temple relic is not only famous for its unique architecture, the "four sacred animals" of Nghe - Tinh region; here, every year, there is also a festival imbued with the unique traditional cultural values of Thanh Chuong land.
Bach Ma Temple Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Nghe An, associated with the formation of the temple, about 500 years ago, and is listed as an "International Ceremony" - meaning a ceremony according to state rituals presided over by a court official. In the past, the ceremony was presided over in an "international" style; the festival included many cultural activities, reenacting stories about General Phan Da through wrestling games, mock battles, folk games such as tug of war, cockfighting, swinging, human chess, card chess, martial arts, and ca tru singing competitions, attracting a large number of people and officials from all over the region to attend.
Due to historical conditions and circumstances of each period, the way and scale of organizing the Bach Ma Temple Festival have changed, but basically still retain the traditional sacred rituals. Since 1994, when the relic was ranked as a national relic, the local government and people have restored the festival with all the rituals as before, becoming an annual traditional activity on the 9th and 10th of the second lunar month. Through the festival, it aims to connect the past with the present; educate the tradition of patriotism and the struggle for national liberation for all classes of people; preserve the unique traditional cultural activities of the homeland; at the same time create a space for people and tourists to enjoy healthy and beneficial cultural and spiritual values.
Mr. Dang Van Hoa - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Thanh Chuong district said: The unique feature of the Bach Ma Temple Festival is the wrestling game - considered a sacred game, recreating part of the form of recruiting soldiers to fight against the Ming invaders of General Phan Da. Through the wrestling competition, strong, agile young men with the qualities to participate in the fight; at the same time, affirming the strength of solidarity, creating successes in the war to protect the homeland and the country. In the rituals taking place at the festival, from the sacrificial ceremony, the incense offering ceremony to the palanquin procession, in the decoration, the costumes of the sacrificial team, the walking movements and the worshiping rituals all simulate the style and activities of the royal court... With its typical unique cultural values, in 2020, the Bach Ma Temple Festival was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage.
The Bach Ma Temple Festival in 2024 will be held at the district level on the 8th and 10th of the second lunar month (ie from March 17 to 19, 2024) and the festival space will be held in the two communes of Vo Liet and Thanh Long with many solemn rituals. Specifically, at Bach Ma Temple (Vo Liet Commune), there will be opening ceremonies, proclamation ceremonies, god worship ceremonies and thanksgiving ceremonies. In addition, there will be an incense offering ceremony at the tomb of General Phan Da, an incense offering ceremony at Phu Ngoai, a palanquin procession from Bach Ma Temple through the villages of the two communes of Vo Liet and Thanh Long and the opening of the festival.
Regarding the festival, in addition to maintaining the unique cultural features of Bach Ma Temple Festival, which is wrestling, Thanh Chuong district also organizes a number of folk games: pot smashing, throwing balls, tug of war, poetry reading, singing, painting and calligraphy. Through these activities, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, the aim is to demonstrate the spirit of martial arts, improve health and preserve the traditional cultural beauty of the nation. Within the framework of the festival space, the district organizes booths to introduce and provide OCOP products and local specialties (currently Thanh Chuong district has 34 3 and 4 star OCOP products), creating conditions for tourists to shop and enjoy the products of Thanh Chuong homeland; at the same time, promote and boost economic development, increase income for local people.
In order to create a comfortable, joyful and happy festival atmosphere for the people and visitors, the Vice Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee said: The district has paid attention to the organization and directed the preparation carefully, ensuring safety and convenience for the people and visitors. From planning the areas for organizing the festival, the ceremony, the areas for arranging services, parking lots, etc.; to propaganda, guidance and ensuring security and order for visitors, keeping the festival environment clean and civilized.
With careful preparation by the Party Committee and authorities at all levels in Thanh Chuong, coming to the Bach Ma Temple Festival this year, people and tourists from all over the world will experience a vibrant cultural space, both bearing the national cultural identity and the unique characteristics of Thanh Chuong land; worshiping and remembering the merits of General Phan Da and his soldiers, praying for all the best for their families and everyone./.