Cờn Temple - A highlight of Nghe An tourism.
(Baonghean)The spiritual destination of the Vietnamese people, featuring the Four Holy Mothers, is not limited to Cờn Temple, but this ancient temple remains a special cultural landmark that needs investment and preservation as an important highlight in the tourism development of Nghe An.
Cờn Temple (in Quỳnh Phương commune, Quỳnh Lưu district, Nghệ An province) worships the Four Holy Mothers and is considered one of the most sacred temples in Nghệ An. Historical records state that this temple was visited by King Trần Anh Tông in 1312 and by King Lê Thánh Tông, who wrote poems there twice, in 1470 and 1471.
Not only historically, its central position is also reflected in the cultural space created by a belief system that has spread along the entire northern coast, from Quang Ninh to Quang Binh. And to this day, it is very encouraging that these cultural values with tourism potential have received attention and investment from Nghe An province. This includes the restoration of the Cờn Temple festival. Every year, tens of thousands of people flock to Cờn Temple, especially on the 20th and 21st of the first lunar month. On those days, Quynh Phuong beach is packed with people praying for peace, a bountiful fishing season, and good fortune for their families, clans, and the entire community.
Along with focusing on organizing festivals, Quynh Luu district and Quynh Phuong commune have paid attention to renovating and restoring historical sites to make them more spacious and convenient for local worship as well as for tourists to offer prayers and make offerings. Recently, among the 13 tourism service projects included in the overall approval decision of Nghe An province, there is a project on the coastal culture of Quynh Phuong - Quynh Bang, showing that the province's tourism industry has paid attention to religious and cultural issues in tourism development.
However, investment has not been commensurate with the requirements. Restoring traditional festivals is not easy. This work requires a deep understanding of the historical origins and local culture. However, a common problem in many festivals is that while traditional rituals like sacrifices and ceremonies are solemn, the costumes are often gaudy and ostentatious. Furthermore, in many places, gambling and betting games have appeared, causing disorder and negatively impacting the sacredness of the festival. Some wholesome folk games and unique performances of the Cờn Temple festival, such as "pushing shrimp," "casting nets," "throwing fishing nets," or demonstrations of traditional occupations like "fishing, woodcutting, farming, herding, and the scholar, farmer, craftsman, and merchant," need to be preserved. Local authorities should restore these to enhance the traditional aspects of the festival. A creative combination of traditional and modern elements will attract both local people and tourists.
Another issue that needs addressing is the need to build infrastructure and restore historical sites to ensure their cultural and historical value. This should be done simultaneously with the improvement of the road system and the construction of new facilities to serve the needs of pilgrims, in a way that harmonizes with traditional historical sites. In reality, the road from National Highway 1 to Cờn Temple has deteriorated, hindering visitors from all over the country from coming to worship.
Furthermore, the organization and guidance for tourists at Cờn Temple have not been given sufficient importance. The management board has not been functioning effectively, so on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, especially during the Lunar New Year when there are many tourists from within and outside the province, the burning of incense, offerings, and votive paper remains chaotic and lacks proper guidance from the temple. Meanwhile, the local people are not yet aware of the cultural value of the area and are not yet prepared to preserve and introduce it to tourists. The sight of children pestering tourists and begging is quite common.
Like many other localities, the coast of Nghe An is always associated with historical and cultural relics that preserve traditional culture and serve as spiritual destinations for the Vietnamese people. The worship of the Four Holy Mothers is not unique to the Cờn Temple, but this ancient temple remains a special cultural landmark that needs investment and preservation as an important highlight in the development of tourism services in Quỳnh Phương, Quỳnh Lưu, and Nghe An province.
Thu Huyen