King Quang Trung Temple - An attractive spiritual and cultural tourist destination

(Baonghean) - Nestled in a poetic pine forest at an altitude of 97 m above sea level, Emperor Quang Trung Temple is located on Dung Quyet Mountain, Trung Do Ward, Vinh City, an indispensable destination in the spiritual travel handbook of visitors to Nghe An. This is also a red address for the young generation to visit, study and learn about the most glorious page of the country's history...

After the great victory in the spring of Ky Dau 1789, Emperor Quang Trung embarked on the task of building and consolidating the country. The first and most important task was to choose a land for the new dynasty to establish its capital. After many visits to Nghe An, he saw that this was a land of spiritual and talented people, so he issued an edict to La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep - Director of Sung Chinh Library to build Phuong Hoang Trung Do citadel in Yen Truong land, Chau Loc district. Although it was only built in a short and urgent time, the citadel had an inner citadel, an outer citadel and Thai Hoa palace - where Emperor Quang Trung held court. Unfortunately, when Phuong Hoang citadel was just completed, the plan to move the capital was still unfinished when the Emperor suddenly passed away. Today, on the foundation of the old dragon tower, the Phuong Hoang Trung Do relic stele has been established to mark the location where the citadel used to be located.

Landscape of King Quang Trung Temple (Dung Quyet Mountain, Vinh City). Photo: Sy Minh

If Binh Dinh is the land where the hero in cloth was born and raised, Nghe An is the place with many deep ties of love and affection for Quang Trung Nguyen Hue. His father's homeland was the Ho family in Thai Lao village - Hung Dao - Hung Nguyen. From this land, the 4th generation ancestor of Emperor Quang Trung, Ho Sy Anh, went to Dang Trong to reclaim the Tay Son Thuong Dao region. Ho Sy Anh's descendant in Binh Dinh, Mr. Ho Phi Phuc, married Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dong, the only daughter in a wealthy family, and gave birth to 3 brothers: Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue, Nguyen Lu. Later, Nguyen Hue went to Nghe An to find his family roots, accepted the Ho family genealogy in Thai Lao village, Hung Nguyen district as his clan, and chose Thai Lao as his ancestral home. In 1789, Emperor Quang Trung ordered the people of Thai Lao village to restore the ancestral temple to worship their ancestors.

With the aim of preserving those significant historical milestones, on April 28, 1962, the Dung Quyet and Phuong Hoang Trung Do scenic relic complex was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national scenic relic.

In order to continue promoting the inherent cultural and historical values ​​as well as in accordance with the people's wishes, to express gratitude to the heroic Emperor of the nation, with the consent of the Government, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the People's Committee of Nghe An province decided to start construction of the temple of Emperor Quang Trung on August 15, 2005. Inaugurated on May 7, 2008 on the occasion of the 220th anniversary of Phuong Hoang Trung Do. Building the temple in the homeland of Emperor Quang Trung and the relic of Phuong Hoang Trung Do belonging to the national scenic complex of Dung Quyet Mountain and Phuong Hoang Trung Do - Vinh is very suitable for its spiritual and historical significance.

The gate of King Quang Trung Temple. Photo: Tran Hai

Following 1 km of winding mountain road, visitors will enjoy the fresh air of nature and the sky. Climbing up 81 steps, the temple architecture appears majestic, imposing, and ancient, typical of temple architecture in Vietnam. Entering the temple area is the four-pillar ceremonial gate, including 1 large gate and 2 small gates symmetrically on both sides; the large gate is arranged with 2 floors and 8 roofs made of ironwood in a match-matching style, all 3 gates are covered with fish-tail tiles, at the main gate on both sides there are 2 guardian gods guarding the temple. Next is the four-pillar screen made of Thanh Hoa stone with carved patterns. Behind the screen are 2 steles facing each other, parallel to the main axis, the stele house on the left side includes a large drum and a stele engraved with the achievements of Emperor Quang Trung, recording the brilliant milestones in the great career of the Emperor.

The stele house on the right side includes a large bell and a stele engraved with a poem by President Ho Chi Minh about Emperor Quang Trung with national pride. Next to it are the left and right houses, consisting of 3 rooms and 2 wings made of ironwood. The right house is the house to welcome delegates and visiting delegations. The left house is the gallery displaying documents and artifacts related to the life and activities of Emperor Quang Trung and the Tay Son Dynasty. Between the two houses is a 1,500m2 yard with a garden of banyan trees, bodhi trees and bonsai pots blending into the space of a poetic pine forest.

The lower, middle and upper halls are considered the center of the entire temple, designed in the shape of the letter Tam, gradually rising. All three houses are made of ironwood, carved with motifs in the style of the Nguyen Dynasty. The lower hall has the largest area of ​​180m2, including 3 compartments, a 2-storey roof structure, between the two floors there is a set of small bars for ventilation and light from the outside to increase the grandeur, massiveness and antiquity of the entire temple. The worshiping frame in the temple is arranged according to the traditional worshiping belief of the Vietnamese people, which is the Buddha in front and the Saint in the back. The altar of Buddha Sakyamuni is solemnly arranged in the middle of the front hall, where Buddhists pay their respects to Buddha. On the left is the altar of the Four Palaces and the Three Holy Mothers. On the right is the altar of the Governor of Nghe An during the Tay Son period, Nguyen Than.

Notable in the lower palace is the large inscription in Chinese characters, phonetically transcribed as “Nghe Duc Binh Sinh” which means: Nghe An is the fatherland, and Binh Dinh is where the hero in plain clothes was born and raised. The middle palace has a smaller area, 160m2 with 3 worship rooms, the middle room worships the mandarins and generals of the Tay Son Dynasty in general, the left and right sides worship the civil mandarins and military generals of the Tay Son Dynasty. The civil mandarin altar includes the memorial tablets of 3 people: Minister of War Ngo Thi Nham, Director of the Chong Chinh Institute La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep and the Northern Mission Pham Cong Tri. The military general altar includes the memorial tablets of 3 people: Admiral of the Navy Ngo Van So, Commander-in-Chief Tran Quang Dieu and the loyal female Admiral Bui Thi Xuan. The Central Palace also hangs three large Chinese characters, the middle one “Van co anh phong” means: “Heroic career will be famous forever”, the left one “Dia linh nhan kiet” means: “Sacred land gives birth to heroes and heroes”, the right one “Nhat nhung dai dinh” means: “Fighting a great battle to pacify the whole world”. The Upper Palace is where the altar of Emperor Quang Trung, his father Ho Phi Phuc and Queen Mother Nguyen Thi Dong is placed. The bronze statue of Emperor Quang Trung sitting, 1.5m high, is placed majestically in the middle of the harem.

Every year, Emperor Quang Trung Temple has two major holidays: July 29th of the lunar calendar - the death anniversary of Emperor Quang Trung, and January 5th of the lunar calendar - the Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da Victory Day. Especially on the occasion of the Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da Victory Anniversary, Emperor Quang Trung Temple organizes a ceremony to issue seal cards to bless and pray for everyone and every family to have peace and luck in the new year.

In addition to enjoying the spiritual and cultural values, admiring the beautiful natural scenery and the sacred and quiet atmosphere of the Quang Trung Emperor Temple, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy the special flavor of "Che Vang specialty" harvested by the Management Board from natural Che Vang trees on Dung Quyet Mountain where the temple is located.

Since the inauguration, the Management Board of Emperor Quang Trung Temple has been honored to welcome leaders of the Party, State, organizations, departments and branches from the Central to local levels, along with tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country, international delegations to burn incense in memory and express their admiration and gratitude to one of the outstanding heroes of the Vietnamese people in the 18th century.

Vu Hong Duc

(King Quang Trung Temple Management Board)