The Mai King Temple (full name: Mai Hac De Temple) holds significant historical and cultural value. It was established centuries ago by the people to commemorate the great contributions of King Mai Hac De (Mai Thuc Loan), Mai Thieu De (Mai Thuc Huy – son of Mai Thuc Loan), and the generals who fought for national liberation, escaping the Tang Dynasty's rule; and building and protecting the nation's independence for 10 years (713-723). The Mai King Temple complex includes: the mausoleum and temple of King Mai Hac De and Mai Thieu De in the Ram Valley, Hung Son Mountain, in Ha Long Hamlet, Nam Dan town; and the temple of King Mai Hac De in the center of the former Sa Nam area, now in Mai Hac De Hamlet, Nam Dan town.
In addition, there are other relics: the tomb of King Mai's mother (at De Mountain, Nam Thai commune); the temple of King Mai's mother (at Con Chen Cave, Nam Thai commune); the Nam Son Temple - Duc Ong Temple, dedicated to the civil and military officials of the Van An court (at Nam Bac Son block, Nam Dan town); the shrine of Mai Thieu De (on Dun Mountain, Nam Dan town); the Kha Lam communal house in the former Nam Thuong commune, now Hung Son block, Nam Dan town; and the Van An Citadel relic in Nam Dan town. These relics form the Mai Hac De Temple complex – a place preserving evidence of the heroic years of King Mai Hac De and his generals in the Hoan Chau uprising more than 13 centuries ago.
Mai Thúc Loan was born in the year Canh Ngọ (670), originally from Mai Phụ village, Thiên Lộc district (now Mai Phụ commune, Lộc Hà district, Hà Tĩnh province). During her pregnancy, Mai Thúc Loan's mother moved to Ngọc Trừng village, Đông Liệt commune, Nam Đường district (now Nam Thái commune, Nam Đàn district) to live. Witnessing the suffering of the people due to the harsh and exploitative colonial policies of the Tang dynasty, with the aspiration to regain independence and self-determination for the nation, in the year Quý Sửu 713, Mai Thúc Loan raised the banner of rebellion to overthrow the ruling apparatus established by the Tang dynasty in Hoan Châu; liberated the entire Ái Châu (present-day Thanh Hóa) and captured Tống Bình city (now Hanoi).
With the country free from foreign invasion, Mai Thúc Loan ascended the throne, proclaiming himself Mai Hắc Đế (Emperor Mai Hắc Đế), and proceeded to build a government apparatus from the central to the local level, issuing many important decrees: abolishing the taxes, levies, and fees imposed by the Tang dynasty; ending all tribute payments for the people of the provinces and districts; each village cultivated its own land, and whoever worked it enjoyed the fruits of their labor…
The Hoan Chau Uprising, with its ten years of independence (713-723), held immense significance. It was a crucial milestone in the struggle for national independence after 1,000 years of Chinese rule; a powerful historical testament affirming the nation's aspiration for independence and self-reliance in the face of foreign invasion and domination. It served as a powerful inspiration and source of strength for generations of people in Nghe An province and the entire Vietnamese nation to inherit and develop this aspiration in the struggle to protect, build, and develop their homeland and country over the past thousand years.
The King Mai Temple, since its construction, has endured thousands of years of ups and downs, undergoing numerous restorations and repairs, yet the location of the relics remains unchanged. The site currently houses 378 artifacts made of various materials such as stone, wood, paper, and porcelain; among them are 34 valuable ancient artifacts, notably the system of royal decrees, statues, thrones, and ancestral tablets.
To commemorate and express gratitude for the merits of King Mai Hac De, Mai Thieu De, and their generals, every year, the Party Committee, government, and people of Nam Dan district solemnly organize a festival at the King Mai Temple relic site from the 13th to the 15th day of the first lunar month. This activity contributes to promoting the historical and cultural values of the King Mai Temple relic site.
This year's festival will be held over three days, from February 22nd to 24th, 2024 (corresponding to the 13th to 15th days of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon), with many special activities. The festival aims to educate the public about patriotic traditions, fostering national pride and love for the homeland. Organizing the festival also serves as a cultural and spiritual activity; promoting and showcasing the unique cultural beauty of Nam Dan district to tourists from within and outside the province…
With that purpose and significance in mind, Comrade Vuong Hong Thai – Member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Dan District, stated: The 2024 King Mai Temple Festival will continue to maintain traditional cultural and religious activities at all four historical sites (the tomb and temple of Mai Hac De, Duc Ong Temple, Kha Lam communal house, and the mausoleum and temple of King Mai's mother), from February 22nd to 24th, 2024 (corresponding to the 13th to 15th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon). These activities include: the water procession; the purification ceremony; the announcement ceremony; the procession and grand sacrifice ceremony; the opening ceremony and incense offering in commemoration of Emperor Mai Thuc Loan; the lantern release ceremony; and the thanksgiving ceremony.
The festival includes many rich and attractive activities, reflecting the strong traditional cultural identity of Nam Dan. These include youth camps; traditional wrestling competitions; an open men's volleyball tournament; and folk games such as card games, cockfighting, and Ferris wheel rides.
A new feature this year is that Nam Dan district is organizing a cultural exchange night featuring amateur performing arts groups from communes and towns throughout the district. This aims to stimulate and promote cultural and artistic activities among the people. This year's festival also includes an online competition to learn about the life and career of King Mai and the Hoan Chau uprising. This activity contributes to preserving and promoting historical values and educating the public about traditions, patriotism, and national pride. Nam Dan district is also organizing stalls to display, introduce, and promote local specialties, providing opportunities for visitors to shop and enjoy local products.
With thorough preparation, Nam Dan district hopes that the people and visitors from all over will be able to immerse themselves in a vibrant cultural space, rich in national identity, while also experiencing the unique characteristics of Nam Dan's homeland at the 2024 King Mai Temple Festival. They will also have the opportunity to experience and participate in activities commemorating the merits of King Mai and his generals, and to pray for good fortune for their families and loved ones. In the coming years, Nam Dan district will continue to strive to attract resources to preserve, restore, and upgrade the historical site, while organizing the annual King Mai Temple Festival with more distinctive features, contributing to the development of spiritual and cultural tourism in the district.
