The temple in Nghe An preserves many precious ancient royal decrees and sacrificial objects.
(Baonghean.vn) - Located on the slopes of Quai Bai mountain, Thong Chinh temple in Thuong Tan Loc commune (Nam Dan) is one of the relics that still preserves many artifacts related to the life and career of Duke Tong Tat Thang.
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| Currently, in the temple grounds, there are items, three-door gate, worshiping hall, main hall, stele house... These structures are all solidly concreted with traditional architectural style. The stele house on the right has an ancient stone stele. This stele was erected in 1853 and engraved with nearly 400 Chinese characters. The authors of the stele text are the third-ranked Nguyen Van Giao and the first-ranked Nguyen Huu Lap, famous scholars of the "Nam Nam" region. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The content of the stele praises the merits of Nghia Quan Cong for his homeland and country, including a passage (roughly translated): "Three hundred and fifty years have passed but his upright spirit still resounds, making people admire him even more, making us still feel as if he is still in this world, we can still meet him here, on the golden list of imperial examinations his name is at the top... Rivers can dry up, mountains can wear away, but his loyal example will forever be as clear as the water of Dam Thuy Lake". Photo: Huy Thu |
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| According to the Temple Management Board, during the fierce war, the temple was degraded, and local people did not have the conditions to take care of and restore it, so Phu Tho village (former Nam Tan commune) was in charge of worship at that time and moved the altar and brought the sacrificial objects to the Nguyen Huu family temple in the area. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Currently, the ancient sacrificial objects as well as the royal decrees granted to Thong Chinh Temple by the Vietnamese feudal dynasties are still kept and preserved almost intact by the family. The set of 19 royal decrees is a valuable document related to the life and career of Nghia Quan Cong Tong Tat Thang. Of the 19 royal decrees, 10 were granted by the Le dynasty, 9 were granted by the Nguyen dynasty. The oldest royal decree was granted in 1670 under the Le dynasty, Canh Tri reign, the newest was in 1924 under the Nguyen dynasty, Khai Dinh reign. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| In the collection of precious ancient artifacts of Thong Chinh Temple, there is a metal worship hat, elaborately and delicately crafted, decorated with dragons and phoenixes, and beautiful patterns. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Like the ancient hat, the ancient sandals are also made of metal. The sandals are black and about 0.4m high. The sandals are decorated with patterns and inlaid with shiny gold metal. Both the hat and the ancient sandals are carefully preserved in wooden boxes. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Metal sacrificial objects such as gongs, trays, cups, cakes, wax stakes, cranes, bells, or wooden sacrificial objects such as dragon thrones, dragon palanquins, swords, spears... are quite intact. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Due to historical conditions, the Thong Chinh Temple, which worships Duke Tong Tat Thang, has gone through many ups and downs. After more than half a century, only traces remain. The temple has been restored and built on Quai Bai Mountain, but the ancient sacrificial objects are being worshiped, stored, and preserved in a family temple in the area. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Shortly after its restoration, Thong Chinh Temple was recognized as a provincial-level Historical-Cultural Relic and is one of the important relics related to the life and career of the famous person Tong Tat Thang in Nam Dan district. Photo: Huy Thu |
