Unique architecture and sculpture at the most sacred temple in Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - Bach Ma Temple in Vo Liet Commune, Thanh Chuong District is not only a famous historical relic but also a unique architectural and artistic work, considered one of the four most beautiful and sacred temples in Nghe An.
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| Bach Ma Temple is located in Tan Ha village, Vo Liet commune, built during the Le Dynasty, worshiping Phan Da - a talented general who made great contributions in the cause of repelling the Ming army to liberate the country in the 15th century, and was posthumously honored as "The Great Emperor Bach Ma, the Supreme God of Fortune". Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The temple is a massive structure, consisting of the three-door gate, the ceremonial gate, the lower hall, the middle hall, the upper hall, the left wing, and the right wing. The three-door gate on the left of the temple stands majestically with two symbolic pillars and large walls embossed with images of animals such as tigers, elephants, horses; unicorns, dragons, etc. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Nghi Mon is over 7m high, has 2 floors and 3 doors. The main gate is 3m wide, on the two opposite sides are statues of two civil and military mandarins, embossed with a majestic appearance. The left and right doors are connected to the main gate by a wall system, above the wall there is a built-in edge, attached with roof tiles to form a roof. Nghi Mon has a harmonious and symmetrical beauty. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The lower temple has a rather unique architecture compared to the other buildings in the overall relic site, with a four-pillar structure, one room and two sides. The lower temple was built in the style of an eight-roofed matchbox, standing firmly on four square pillars, and the roof tiles are all decorated with curved edges. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The entire wooden frame inside the lower palace is painted red, decorated with a unique white dragon playing with clouds. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The central and upper halls each have 3 rooms, 4 rafters, and are roofed with fish-tail tiles. The wooden parts of these two structures are elaborately carved and painted with beautiful images of dragons, phoenixes, clouds, rain, and water waves. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| In particular, the eaves of the middle and upper halls are elaborately carved and sculpted. Each wooden detail is a unique work of art depicting traditional themes such as the Eight Trigrams, the dragon and phoenix holding a scroll, the fish transforming into a dragon, the turtle wearing a lotus flower, the dragon horse, etc. The work of art demonstrates the level and talent of the ancient artisans in sculpting and carving. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The columns on the two outer gables of the lower and upper halls are also elaborately crafted. However, the sculptures and carvings behind and on both sides of the temple remain the original wooden parts. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The temple still preserves many ancient artifacts of historical, cultural and artistic value such as bells, statues, dragon thrones, dragon palanquins, eight treasures, bronze statues, gold houses, silver houses, incense bowls, etc. Under the feudal regime, Bach Ma Temple was listed as an "international ritual" and was granted more than 100 royal decrees. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| As one of the most beautiful and sacred temples in Nghe An "First Con, second Qua, third Bach Ma, fourth Chieu Trung", Bach Ma Temple was ranked by the State as a National Historical, Cultural and Architectural Relic in 1994. Photo: Huy Thu |