Unique ancient temple dedicated to King Mai
(Baonghean.vn) - Having existed for hundreds of years, Phuc Xa communal house in Ngoc Son commune is the only ancient communal house in Thanh Chuong district and a rare one in Nghe An province that worships the village's tutelary deity, Mai Hac De.
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| According to the site records,templePhuc Xa temple in Lam Hong hamlet, Ngoc Son commune, was built during the Nguyen dynasty and includes the following main structures: the temple gate, the main hall, and the side gate. The temple gate consists of two large pillars (over 5 meters high, with bases measuring 1.4 meters on each side) adorned with bas-reliefs of the "four mythical creatures" made of lime mortar and ceramic fragments. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The front and back of the pillars bear numerous couplets in Chinese characters. A distinctive feature of the pillars is the art of sculpting dragons and mythical creatures (Nghê) in vivid detail atop each pillar. Photo: Huy Thư |
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| Phuc Xa communal house is a five-bay structure situated along the Ru Dang hill. According to elderly residents, in the past, the three outer bays of the communal house contained three sets of platforms for officials and common people to sit on during ceremonies. The two inner bays were used for worship, separated by a wooden partition with two doors on either side, which were only opened during religious ceremonies. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The temple has a massive wooden frame, using construction materials and assembly techniques.traditionalThe house is decorated with delicate, graceful carvings. The roof truss is constructed in the "upper beam, lower purlin" style. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Compared to many ancient communal houses in the province, where the building materials are usually brick and blue stone, Phuc Xa communal house is different; the original walls are built of laterite stone, and the base stones supporting the columns are made of rough stone... Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Phuc Xa village communal house worships the tutelary deity Mai Hac De - a national liberation hero who led an uprising in Hoan Chau to overthrow the Tang dynasty's rule in the 8th century, maintaining Vietnam's independence for nearly 10 years (713 - 722). Besides worshipping other deities...King Mai(Mai Thanh Dai De, Mai Thanh Thieu De), the temple also worships the gods Cao Son, Cao Cac, Nam Son, Kim Son, Phuc Son, Bach Son, Lam Son, deities who contributed to the country and helped the people, and are revered by the people in the region. Photo: Huy Thu |
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Before the August Revolution, Phuc Xa village had communal rice fields on the Lay Huong hill for people to cultivate, with the annual harvest used to hold a memorial ceremony for King Mai. During the French colonial period, the communal house was used to imprison and interrogate revolutionary activists. On the day of the "seizure of power," the local revolutionary committee worked at the communal house. During the resistance war, the communal house was used to organize literacy classes for the people; it also served as the headquarters of the provincial political school. American planes once bombed Phuc Xa village, causing a corner of the communal house to collapse. Next to the communal house stands an ancient banyan tree that has stood alongside the ancient structure. Photo: Huy Thu |
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After decades of being in ruins, driven by the desire to restore the traditional values of their homeland, in 2014, the people of Phuc Xa village joined hands and contributed their efforts to restore and renovate the ancient communal house. During this restoration, some damaged wooden structures were replaced, and the gate was reinforced. Every year, on holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), the villagers hold feasts for the elderly, celebrate longevity in the spring, and gather for meetings and social events at the ancient communal house. (Photo: Huy Thu) |
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| Especially on the 16th day of the 9th lunar month each year, the people of Lam Hong hamlet solemnly organize a memorial ceremony to commemorate King Mai at Phuc Xa communal house. This year, due to the complicated developments of the pandemic, the memorial ceremony for King Mai was held in a simpler but no less solemn manner. Phuc Xa communal house has been recognized as a Provincial-level Historical and Cultural Relic. Having existed for a long time, this ancient communal house is not only a vivid historical testament, a place that embodies and reflects the beautiful traditional values of the locality, but also a place of education and pride, "igniting the flame" for many generations. Photo: Huy Thu |
