Sacred Temple of Emperor Quang Trung

(Baonghean) - With the aim of preserving historical milestones of great significance about Emperor Quang Trung, on April 28, 1962, the complex of scenic relics of Dung Quyet Mountain and Phuong Hoang Trung Do was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a National scenic relic.

With the approval 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 ancestral land 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.

Quang Trung Temple - an attractive tourist destination in Vinh City.

Nestled in a poetic pine forest at an altitude of 97 m above sea level, the Quang Trung Emperor Temple is located on Dung Quyet Mountain, Trung Do Ward, Vinh City, and is 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 history of our country...

Going up 1 km of winding mountain road, visitors will enjoy the fresh air of nature and the sky. Climbing up all 81 steps, the temple architecture appears majestic, imposing, and ancient, typical of temple architecture in Vietnam. The temple has a four-pillar gate architecture, 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 stele houses facing each other, parallel to the main axis, the stele house on the left side includes 1 large drum and a stele engraved with the achievements of Emperor Quang Trung recording the brilliant milestones in the great career of the Emperor.

l Comrade Ho Duc Phoc introduces the stele at Quang Trung temple for Professor - Academician Ho Hoang Mat. Photo: Sy Minh

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 wings, consisting of 3 rooms and 2 wings made of ironwood. The right wing house is the house to welcome delegates and visiting delegations. The left wing house is the gallery displaying documents and artifacts related to the life of Emperor Quang Trung and the Tay Son Dynasty. Between the two houses is a 1,500m2 wide yard with a garden of banyan trees, bodhi trees and bonsai pots blending into the space of a poetic pine forest.

Travel companies survey Quang Trung Temple (Vinh City). Photo: Dao Tuan.

The lower hall, middle hall, and upper hall 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 rooms, a 2-story 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 back. The altar of Buddha Sakyamuni is solemnly arranged in the middle room of the front hall, where Buddhists pay their respects to Buddha. On the left side is the altar of the Four Palaces and the Three Holy Mothers. On the right side is the altar of the Governor of Nghe An during the Tay Son period, Nguyen Than.

Tug of war at the Quang Trung Emperor Temple Festival. (Photo by Thanh Thuy).

Every year, the Quang Trung Emperor Temple has two major holidays: July 29th of the lunar calendar - the death anniversary of Quang Trung Emperor 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, the Quang Trung Emperor 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.

Mr. Vu Hong Duc - Head of the Quang Trung Emperor Temple Management Board said: This year's Quang Trung Emperor's death anniversary will take place on August 31, 2016 (July 29, Binh Than) at Quang Trung Emperor's Temple - Dung Quyet Mountain - Trung Do Ward - Vinh City. The death anniversary has two main parts: The ceremony includes a sacrificial ceremony, incense offering, flower offering, and thanksgiving; The festival part includes traditional martial arts performances... All these activities aim to commemorate the merits of Quang Trung Emperor, educate the young generation about patriotism, and at the same time introduce the cultural and historical values ​​of Quang Trung Emperor's Temple to people inside and outside the province.

PV