Ram Temple receives Certificate of Recognition as a Provincial-Level Historical Monument

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of March 11, 2015, Quynh Van commune, Quynh Luu district, solemnly held a ceremony to receive the Certificate of Recognition as a Provincial-level Historical Relic for Ram Temple. Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district, and a large number of local officials and people.

Ms. Hoang Thi Quynh Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the certificate recognizing the Ram Temple complex as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic.

The procession carrying the certificate of recognition from the stadium to the Rậm Temple.

Ram Temple, also known as Thuong Temple, is located southwest at the foot of Tung Son Mountain, in Quynh Van commune, Quynh Luu district (Nghe An province). The temple is dedicated to Saint Phung Hung – a national hero who led an uprising to overthrow the Tang dynasty's rule, and is revered by the people as Bo Cai Dai Vuong (Great King Bo Cai).

From ancient times, the Rậm Temple in Quỳnh Văn commune was built next to the old main road. According to historical records and the temple's genealogical history, Phùng Hưng was from Đường Lâm (now Đường Lâm commune, Sơn Tây district, Hanoi), and his given name was Công Phấn. Phùng Hưng's father was Phùng Hạp Khanh, a virtuous and talented man who participated in the Hoan Châu uprising led by Mai Thúc Loan in Nghệ An. Phùng Hưng possessed extraordinary strength, exceptional courage, and intelligence, and early on, he aspired to expel the occupying forces and liberate the country. In his youth, he even killed a tiger that was causing trouble in the area.

On January 21st (798 AD), the Kunlun and Chava rebels were causing trouble in the south, so the King was patrolling the area. Upon reaching Tung Son village, darkness fell, forcing him to encamp. His guards warned Phung Hung that the area was infested with tigers. That night, a tiger suddenly appeared. Phung Hung fought the tiger alone, but to no avail. Just then, three more tigers joined the fight, and Phung Hung perished. The four tigers carried his body to the top of Thach An mountain for burial, but the mountain was too rocky for them to dig. So they carried Phung Hung down to Long Hai Son in Quynh Tu village (now Quynh Xuan commune, Quynh Luu district) for burial. The following night, the tigers continued to bury him, and the tomb grew larger. The local people erected a temple to worship Bo Cai Dai Vuong. After his death, Bo Cai Dai Vuong became very powerful and helpful to the people. Currently, there remains a stone stele with raised inscriptions: "Created in the eighteenth year of Gia Long's reign" and a stone incense burner with inscriptions "Eternal incense and offerings," along with two stone pillars each inscribed with couplets on four sides.

Delegates offer incense at the Ram Temple.

Sacrifice ceremony at Ram Temple

The ancient temple was originally structured into five buildings: the rear hall, the main hall, the left wing, the right wing, and the lower hall.

From 2006 to 2008, the Ram Temple was restored with two buildings: the main hall and the upper hall; the middle hall, lower hall, left wing, and right wing will continue to be built.

Since 2008, Quynh Luu district has revived the Ram Temple Festival. The festival takes place on the 21st day of the first lunar month every year. Throughout its centuries-old history, Ram Temple has been a cultural and spiritual center for the local people and surrounding areas. Every year, numerous ceremonial activities are held here, attracting large numbers of locals and tourists from all over.

Given these immense values, and in order to preserve and promote their long-term historical and cultural significance, in 2014 the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued a decision to recognize Ram Temple as a provincial-level historical relic.

At the ceremony, representatives from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An province presented the Certificate of Recognition for the historical site ranking, recognizing the Ram Temple complex as a provincial-level historical site.

Van Dinh