Admire the most beautiful ancient ceremonial gate in the rice-growing region.
Huy Thu•August 12, 2024 20:20
With its long history, the ceremonial gate of Lang Danh Temple in Lang Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) possesses an ancient and unique beauty, making it a remarkable work of art.
Recently, the main hall and rear sanctuary of Lang Danh Temple have been restored and renovated due to severe deterioration, while the ancient ceremonial gate of the temple remains in its original state. Photo: Huy ThuReportedly, Lang Danh Temple, also known as Bao Son Temple, was built in 1816 and consists of three main components. The main gate is a representative structure with distinctive architecture, built in a three-tiered, eight-meter-high style. The first tier features an arched gateway with opening and closing doors – the main entrance to the temple. Photo: Huy ThuThe second floor has a front railing with a hexagonal ventilation opening in the center. The third floor has no windows. The walls of each floor are decorated with moldings, stylized patterns, reliefs, and vivid depictions of the "four mythical creatures." Photo: Huy ThưThe structure, built with bricks, mortar, earthenware, and porcelain, may not be massive in scale or architecture, but it possesses a purely Vietnamese aesthetic beauty. The two upper floors of the ceremonial gate are covered with scale-shaped tiles, the roofs curving softly, and the four corners of the eaves soaring upwards. Photo: Huy ThuAround the main gate, the walls and roof tiles are decorated with traditional motifs such as the "four mythical creatures," tiger-faced figures, dragon-horses, and flowers and foliage, all in dense arrangement and with high artistic value. On the upper floors, pairs of mythical creatures like lions and phoenixes, tiger-faced figures, etc., are often arranged symmetrically. Photo: Huy ThuThe three-tiered ceremonial gate is connected to two side walls, each with a stylized (doorless) side entrance built in an eight-roofed, tiered style, along with two majestic pillars symbolizing the ceremonial profession. This architecture creates a balanced and harmonious structure for the ceremonial gate. Photo: Huy ThuMany decorative details on the ceremonial gate have weathered and broken off, but what remains still allows viewers to appreciate the artistic value of an ancient structure. On either side of the arch, the dragons winding through the clouds are sculpted in relief with lime mortar, yet they are no less vivid and graceful. Photo: Huy ThuThe image of a phoenix is sculpted in relief on the ceremonial gate in the "phoenix dance" pose, with its wings spread wide and its head held high in sharp detail. Photo: Huy ThuThe front of the ceremonial gate features three embossed Chinese characters made of ceramic shards: "Bao Son Tu," while the back displays four Chinese characters: "Dai Duc Viet Sinh." Over time, the ceramic shards have crumbled, with some characters remaining intact and others not. The dragon motifs on the gate are quite varied, each position possessing its own unique beauty. Photo: Huy ThuOn the two pillars are sculpted figures of mythical creatures (Nghê) seated in a kneeling posture, with dragon heads and fish tails, and sharp claws on their feet. Below are sculpted figures of phoenixes and dragon-horses in graceful poses. Photo: Huy ThưDespite its long history and having withstood numerous floods and storms, the ancient ceremonial gate remains sturdy and majestic, contributing to the unique beauty of Lang Danh Temple - a provincial-level historical and architectural monument. Photo: Huy Thu
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