The First Temple receives provincial-level historical relic status.

(Baonghean.vn) - On July 20, 2014, a solemn ceremony was held at the grounds of the First Temple in Tan Phong hamlet, Dien Nguyen commune (Dien Chau district) to receive the certificate recognizing it as a provincial-level historical relic. The ceremony was organized by the People's Committee of Dien Chau district and the People's Committee of Dien Nguyen commune, in accordance with Decision 2697/QD.UBND of the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued on June 16, 2014.

The procession carrying the relic certificate from the commune's People's Committee headquarters to the temple.

The First Temple was built during the Later Le Dynasty to worship Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon; the temple was built in a beautiful scenic location - Ancient texts record: "Two mountains guarding the temple, surrounded by the Bung River, Ho Linh mountain bowing towards it, Kim Quy, Be Phuong, Ky Lan facing inwards, Son, An, Tan, Muc displaying their splendor…".

Originally, the First Temple was just a small thatched-roof temple. After relocating the temple according to feng shui principles by Master Ta Ao, the First Temple gradually expanded in scale, with its various structures built over many years and at different times. The old temple had a spacious grounds of approximately 3 acres and was part of a complete complex: temple, pagoda, shrine, etc. Due to historical changes, the current temple grounds only include the main hall, the main gate of the triple-arched gate, the courtyard, the well, and the Van Hoi stele, totaling nearly 3,000 square meters.²These structures are all original and bear the mark of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Currently, besides the main deity Sat Hai Dai Vuong, the First Temple also houses the worship of various Buddhas, Saints, and Deities brought from temples and pagodas in the commune and neighboring communes, such as: Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Eastern Grand Eunuch, Northern Grand Eunuch, Western Grand Eunuch, Southern Grand Eunuch, Hung Dao Dai Vuong, Three Holy Mothers, Confucius, the Twin Jade Maidens of Van Vat village (Dien Lien commune), the Local Guardian Deity of Dong Phu village (Dien Nguyen commune), the Local Heroic Spirit of Dong Phu village (Dien Nguyen commune), Ngo Vuong Thuong Dang Chinh Than of Thu Phu village (Dien Thai commune), the Local Guardian Deity Thong Due Ton Than of Thu Phu village (Dien Thai commune), the Local Guardian Deity Linh Huu of Thu Phu village (Dien Thai commune), Hoa Lang Thai Te Ho Quoc Cong of Ly Trai village (Dien Ky commune)... and more than ten other deities whose origins and specific legends have not yet been identified.

Every year, the First Temple hosts four major festivals: the Lantern Festival (15th day of the 1st lunar month), the commemoration of Sat Hai Dai Vuong and Thanh Minh (15th day of the 3rd lunar month), Ky Phuc (15th day of the 6th lunar month), and the year-end thanksgiving ceremony (15th day of the 12th lunar month). In addition, there are traditional national holidays and monthly festivals. These festivals are all solemnly organized according to ancient customs and have been maintained regularly from ancient times to the present day. The number of people attending these ceremonies is large and continues to grow.

The First Temple also witnessed the ups and downs of local history. During the Can Vuong resistance against the French, the First Temple was a base of operations for Nguyen Xuan On's resistance army. During the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, it served as a printing and propaganda center for revolutionary documents, a place to plant the red flag with the hammer and sickle, and establish the First Party branch. During the August 1945 Revolution, it was the site for handing over the seals and records of the old regime to the revolutionary government, the location of the "Golden Week" campaign, and the election of the first National Assembly. During the resistance against the French and Americans, the First Temple became a storage place for weapons and ammunition, and a training ground for militia and self-defense forces.

The First Temple is a cultural and spiritual center for the people of Dien Nguyen in particular and the entire region in general, serving the needs of visiting and commemorating those who have contributed to the homeland and the country. It is closely associated with the Vietnamese belief in worshipping deities and praying for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and prosperity for the people and the animals. Notably, it is a characteristic site representing the harmonious coexistence of the Three Religions: a Buddhist temple, a shrine dedicated to deities, and a sacred house dedicated to a revered master; reflecting the richness of culture and the intermingling of ideas.

The recognition of the First Temple as a historical relic will facilitate the reconstruction and restoration of rituals and festivals at the temple site, aiming to preserve and promote tangible and intangible cultural values, and promptly meet the spiritual aspirations and needs of the local people.

Tran Canh Yen