In the beliefs of the Thai people, Chin Gian Temple is a place to show the people's gratitude to Then Pha (heaven), Nang Xi Da (daughter of heaven) and Tao Lo Y - the founder of the land and settlement.
In the local language, the temple used to be called “ten xo quai” (buffalo offering temple). On the temple festival day, people held a buffalo sacrifice ceremony. Later, the locals called the temple “cau hoong” - meaning Nine Chambers. Each chamber represents a Muong in the Northwest region of Nghe An. The Chinh Gian Temple Festival takes place in the middle of the second lunar month. For the past 3 years, the temple has not held a festival due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The locality has only maintained ritual and religious activities to meet the wishes of the people in the area.
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The Nine-Room Temple is located on a mountain in Khoang village. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Procession at Chin Gian Temple in 2018. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Nine silver and black buffaloes in front of the Nine-Chamber Temple. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Stele of the Nine-Room Temple. Photo: Nguyen Book |
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| A religious structure in the grounds of the Nine-Chamber Temple. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Indigenous shamans perform Then Pha worship ceremony. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Offerings to Then Pha (heaven) and Nang Xi Da (daughter of heaven). Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Then Pha offering tray with local specialties. Photo: Sach Nguyen. |
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| Indigenous shamans in a Then Pha ceremony. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Buffalo sacrifice ceremony at the Nine-Chamber Temple Festival in 2017. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Nine-chamber Temple is a must-see destination for visitors to Que Phong district. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
