The sacred temple and the heart of a businessman
(Baonghean) - This Spring of the Year of the Dragon, people of Vinh Son commune and neighboring communes of Anh Son district have another "spiritual address" to send their wishes for a peaceful life, favorable weather, happiness, prosperity, longevity, health and peace. That is Ly Nhat Quang temple, a construction that has just been restored thanks to the efforts and heart of businessman Nguyen Sy Ngoc, a successful son of his hometown in the capital.
According to Nguyen Dinh Tung (100 years old, currently living in Vinh Son), around the year 1057, on the way to pursue the Ai Lao invaders who invaded Dai Viet's territory, Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang (the 8th prince of King Ly Thai To, appointed as Tri Chau Nghe An) was seriously injured and had to retreat to his headquarters (Bach Duong commune, Nam Duong district, now Boi Son commune, Do Luong district). On the way of retreat, wherever his blood spilled, the people there immediately built a temple to thank him for taking care of and protecting a peaceful life.
The upper hall of Ly Nhat Quang temple and reception room
Since then, the people of Vinh Son have taken care of Ly Nhat Quang temple with incense all year round. At the beginning of Spring, the village elders and officials hold ceremonies to pray for peace and prosperity for the people in the village and commune. The local people always feel secure in living and working, because in their minds, they always believe that the spirit of Uy Minh Vuong protects and blesses them. Until the early 20th century, when Vinh Son land was under the domination of the French colonialists, then went through two fierce wars, Ly Nhat Quang temple was degraded and then collapsed. Although it no longer exists on Vinh Son land, the sacred temple still exists in the minds of many generations of people here. And many people dream that one day the temple will be restored...
As a son born and raised in Vinh Son, having experienced difficult and arduous years, Nguyen Sy Ngoc (born in 1962) always cherished the desire to do something useful for his homeland. Currently the General Director of Tan Truong Son Import-Export and Construction Joint Stock Company, successful in business, but Ngoc cannot forget the memories of his hard-working childhood in a poor countryside on the left bank of the Lam River. Those were years of intense hunger, having to use corn and bo bo instead of rice, waiting for the ferry until midnight to cross the river...
Recently, every time he returned, seeing that his hometown had changed somewhat but still had many difficulties, Nguyen Sy Ngoc was determined to do something truly useful for his fellow countrymen. After consulting with the elders in the commune and discussing with his partner, a woman originally from Hanoi, Nguyen Sy Ngoc decided to invest and donate to restore the Ly Nhat Quang temple.
He said: "Restoring a temple is really not easy, besides the financial issue, you also need to have a passion for spiritual culture. I decided to restore the temple with the hope that the people of my hometown will enjoy a peaceful, healthy and prosperous life." To restore the temple, he had to return to his hometown many times to discuss with the authorities and the people, then invite feng shui masters and psychics to determine the location and perform the ceremony.
Ly Nhat Quang Temple was restored next to the peaceful and poetic Lam River, including the main items: the upper hall, the back hall, the shrine to the divine doctor and the guest house. The temple grounds are quite spacious and are interspersed with rows of green trees. The project started in early 2009 and was inaugurated in early 2012.
It is known that, according to the initial estimate, the project cost about 3.5 billion VND. Later, due to many arising issues, the total value of the project was up to more than 5 billion VND. Most of this cost was invested by businessman Nguyen Sy Ngoc, local people contributed working days and some materials. Mr. Ngoc added: "When the temple is inaugurated, I will hand it over to the Commune People's Committee for management. And I also plan to open a clinic here, inviting good doctors to examine and treat people for free every month. After that, open a reading room to contribute to raising the people's knowledge and improving the spiritual life of the people in my hometown".
The temple of Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang is located majestically and reflects on the Lam River. In early spring, people from all over the country come here to burn incense to commemorate the merit of the person who opened up and developed Nghe An land and to express their pride in a cultured homeland. In the fragrant smoke of incense, everyone prays to receive good luck and good things...
Cong Kien
