Society

The hundreds of years old ancient features of the temple of Duke Dinh Bat Tuy

Annam • December 14, 2024 09:51

Existing for hundreds of years, through many restorations and embellishments, the temple of Duke Dinh Bat Tuy in Hung Trung commune (Hung Nguyen) has an ancient and majestic beauty.

bna_1..jpg — Dinh Bat Tuy (1516 - 1589), from Bui Ngoa village, Bui Khong commune (Hung Trung commune), was one of the "famous generals and good officials" of the Le dynasty, whose contributions to protecting the country and the people were recorded in history as "The first meritorious official". After his death, the Le dynasty court built a temple in his hometown. Over hundreds of years of existence, the temple has been restored and embellished many times. Currently, the temple grounds are 10,000 m2 wide.²There are main structures: Tam Quan gate, ceremonial gate, 3 lower, middle and upper halls, stele house, waiting room... Photo: Huy Thu

bna_2..jpg — The temple's three-entrance gate was built long ago. During the restoration in 1991, the gate had the architecture as it is today. The three-entrance gate has 3 entrances. The main gate in the middle is 3 stories high, elaborately decorated with vivid relief images of dragons, lions, flowers and leaves... In the photo: The front of the upper part of the main gate. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_3(1).jpg — Each floor has a different door style (arched, hexagonal, round). The roof of the main gate is curved with curved tiles. Both sides of the main gate are built with stepped pillars and decorated with parallel sentences in Chinese characters. In the photo: The back of the upper part of the main door. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_4..jpg — Behind the three-entrance gate, right in front of the lower courtyard, is the ceremonial gate with two stepped pillars on top of which are carved with two lions facing each other in the middle made of lime mortar and porcelain pieces. The architectural space of the temple from front to back is arranged in a harmonious symmetry. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_5(1).jpg — The lower hall of the temple and the stele house are structures with special structures. The front of the lower hall is built with walls and arched doors, decorated with images of scrolls, two dragons facing the moon, carp, etc. The doors are limited by stylized pillars with Chinese characters and statues of lions. The stele house in front, to the right of the lower hall, is built like a dragon palanquin with 4 doors leading to 4 sides. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_6(1).jpg — Inside the stele house, there is a stone stele with elaborate carvings. Mr. Dinh Bat Trang - a member of the relic management board said: This is an ancient stele that has existed for a long time. The stele text in Chinese characters talks about the life, career, and achievements of Minister, District Duke Dinh Bat Tuy. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_7(2).jpg — Although restored many times, the shrines still retain their original architecture. The upper shrine is a 2-storey, 8-roofed match house. On the wooden frame of the shrine, some wooden structures are carved quite beautifully. Photo: Huy Thu

The back of the lower hall connects to the central hall, creating a majestic worship space. The two pillars behind the middle room of the lower hall are embossed with coiled dragons. In front of the pillars hang ancient parallel sentences. The roof is decorated with beautiful paintings of dragons and phoenixes. Photo: Huy Thu

The painting of a phoenix with sharp, soft strokes, the colors are still fresh after hundreds of years. Photo: Huy Thu

The upper hall of the temple is decorated with three altars: in the middle is the altar of Minister and Duke Dinh Bat Tuy; on both sides are the altars of his children and grandchildren. Here, many ancient banners and large inscriptions are hung, stained with the color of time. Photo: Huy Thu

Having existed for hundreds of years, the temple still preserves many ancient sacrificial objects, such as incense burners, thrones, tablets, parallel sentences, mirror stands, clothes, hats, swords... along with 37 royal decrees bestowed by Vietnamese feudal dynasties. The temple was ranked as a National Historical Relic in 1991. Every year, there are two major holidays at the temple: April 17th of the lunar calendar is the death anniversary of Duke Dinh Bat Tuy and February 11th of the lunar calendar is the Dinh Spring Festival. Photo: Huy Thu

The beauty inside the temple of Duke Dinh Bat Tuy. Video: Huy Thu

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