Temple of Mother Goddess Au Co in Nghe An

(Baonghean) -When it comes to the origin of the Vietnamese people, everyone knows the legend of the “Hundred Egg Sac” of Mother Au Co and Father Lac Long Quan, who gave birth to one hundred children in the land of Vietnam. Later, fifty children followed their Father to the sea, and fifty children followed their Mother to the mountains to make a living, creating the Dragon - Fairy race. Of these, the eldest son stayed in Phong Chau land to become King of Van Lang, establishing the Hung Vuong dynasty - the first dynasty of our country in history...

In Cua Xa area, now Nghi Khanh commune, Nghi Loc district (Nghe An), there is still a story about 2 out of 100 children of Father Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co when they went to the South (arriving in Cua Xa area, they saw the beautiful scenery, majestic mountains and rivers, an estuary for boats to go out to sea, flat land convenient for production and labor, so they chose this place to build a career). Together they reclaimed land, established villages, cultivated crops, fished, raised livestock, and built a prosperous foundation, life became increasingly prosperous, the population grew larger and larger, and the clan grew stronger and stronger. To remember Mother Au Co, the people here built a shrine right at the estuary, which is the predecessor of Cua Xa temple - the place to worship the Mother Au Co today.

Statue of Mother Goddess Au Co at Cua Temple.

In the 13th century, facing the threat of invasion from the Yuan-Mongol empire, the Tran Dynasty sent King Chieu Minh Tran Quang Khai to guard Nghe An, build and develop forces to prevent the intention of attacking Dai Viet from the South. When sailing from the sea to Cua wharf, King Chieu Minh saw that this land was surrounded by mountains and rivers, and had convenient water and land transportation, so he stationed troops and set up camp, building this place into a strategic area to defend and attack the Yuan-Mongol army.

During his time stationed here, in addition to building a military base, King Chieu Minh also built and renovated many temples. After traveling throughout the Cua Xa area, seeing that the temple of Mother Au Co was still small and not worthy of the stature of the National Mother, General Tran Quang Khai ordered the temple to be rebuilt to be larger and more beautiful. The construction of the temple was meant to promote the nation's roots, thereby encouraging patriotism in the hearts of soldiers and people. It created a strong motivation to work together to protect the homeland from invading enemies. Since then, Cua temple has been filled with incense all day and night, becoming an important spiritual address in this land.

The temple is called Cua Temple because it was previously built at Cua Xa seaport, and this area has Lo Mountain, so it is called Cua Lo. Cua Temple used to belong to Huong Due village, later changed to Khanh Due so the temple is also called Khanh Due temple after the village name, now belongs to Nghi Khanh commune, Nghi Loc district. The temple was built in a beautiful location, facing the Southeast on a piece of land shaped like a Phoenix. Through the ups and downs of time and historical changes, the temple suffered many damages and has undergone many large and small restorations. In 2003, the temple was restored to its current appearance.

The architecture of the temple is in the shape of the letter Tam, including the Lower Palace, the Middle Palace and the Upper Palace, along with a large three-door gate, which adds to the solemnity and dignity. In particular, in the three-door gate as well as in the Upper Palace, there are ancient parallel sentences praising the merits of the Mother Goddess Au Co and General Tran Quang Khai. The altar of the Mother Goddess Au Co is placed in the most solemn position reserved for the main deity in the Upper Palace. On the altar, there is a statue of Mother Au Co with a solemn posture and a gentle face. Through the following dynasties, the temple was also a place to worship angels who have contributed to "protecting the country and the people" such as the Three Holy Mothers, the God Cao Son Cao Cac and other human gods who have contributed to the country and the locality.

Nghe An land is the place that has recorded many marks of the Grand Tutor General Chieu Minh Vuong Tran Quang Khai. Thuong Xa area (Cua Lo) used to be a strategic base in the victories against the invading Yuan-Mongol army. His contributions to Thuong Xa land are immense, creating deep respect and gratitude in the hearts of the people here. Therefore, he is considered a saint by the people and is worshiped right at the temple. In addition, Cua Temple is also a place to worship General Ninh Ve, the Governor of Nghe An Lieu Quan Cong Nguyen Canh Que and Confucian scholar Phung Thoi Ta, who are heroes and famous people who have contributed to the people and the locality.

During the period of fighting against the French to regain national independence, Cua Temple was the meeting place of Nghi Loc District Party Committee. This was the place where the revolutionary activities and patriotic movement of comrades Nguyen Duy Trinh (later Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) and comrade Hoang Van Tam were conducted. In April 1931, Cua Temple was the place where local people organized a demonstration to arrest the French lackey Chanh Doan Hieu and established the Soviet government. On June 20, 1932, the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement was brutally suppressed, comrade Hoang Van Tam was arrested and executed by the French and his lackeys at the foot of Dong Dinh Mountain near Cua Temple.

Not only is it a famous historical and spiritual relic, Cua Temple is also the center of a sacred land of thousands of years of culture. Cua Temple is the western gateway of Cua Lo Town, looking to the East is the temple and tomb of the famous person Phung Phuc Kieu, looking to the Northwest is the temple of Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi, looking to the North is the temple of Thai Pho Nguyen Su Hoi. Behind the temple is Dong Dinh Mountain (Co Mountain). In the past, there was a tall statue of a man standing pointing to the sea on the Mau Bong Mountain, which is Mau Au Co Mountain. To the Northeast is Kiem Mountain, moving to the East in the same vein as Co Mountain is Lo Mountain, opposite to the left of Cam River is Dragon Mountain range. Far in front is Hong Mountain - Lam River sheltering and building. To the left of the temple are Song Ngu Island and Mat Island, and to the right is Thach Dong Mountain rising tall and majestic. Surrounding Cua Temple are mountains such as Tuong Son Mountain, Bang Nhan Mountain, Lu Son Mountain, Lan Chau Island...

Cua Temple, along with Con Temple in Cua Con, Sat Hai Dai Vuong Temple in Cua Van, Cuong Temple in Cua Hien, are four major temples at the seaports of Nghe An. This place was chosen by the ancients as the eternal place to worship the National Mother, the mother who gave birth to our Vietnamese people. On December 23, 2009, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee granted a certificate recognizing Cua Temple as a Provincial Historical - Cultural Relic. Since 2010, Cua Temple Festival has been restored and is one of the main activities of the annual River Festival in Cua Lo Town!

Article and photos: Tran Tu Quang (Nghe An Provincial Library)