On the morning of the first day of the lunar month, people ask for auspicious calligraphy at Quả Sơn Temple.
Thanh Quynh•January 29, 2025 11:58
Located at the foot of Quả Mountain, beside the Lam River in Bồi Sơn commune (Đô Lương district), Quả Sơn Temple is one of the "four sacred temples" of Nghệ An province. In the early days of the year, many people eagerly come here to celebrate the Spring Festival, offer prayers for peace and ask for blessings, hoping for good fortune and luck in the new year.
According to documents from the People's Committee of Do Luong District, the Qua Son Temple is dedicated to Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang (the 8th son of King Ly Cong Uan), who served as the Governor of Nghe An from 1041 to 1057. In his capacity, Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang achieved many glorious accomplishments in fighting invaders, defending the border, and building Nghe An into a prosperous region and a reliable base for the imperial court. Because of his great contributions, after his death, the people of Nghe An erected many temples in his honor, including the Qua Son Temple. The Qua Son Temple festival is held annually from the 19th to the 20th of the first lunar month. The temple was classified as a National Historical Monument by Decision No. 05/QD-BVH dated February 12, 1999. Photo: Thanh QuynhOn the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the crowds flocking to Quả Sơn Temple grew larger and larger. On the left side of the temple courtyard, many visitors stopped at a calligraphy stall. Although there are two main styles of calligraphy – Vietnamese and Chinese – most visitors preferred Vietnamese calligraphy for its free-flowing, approachable, easy-to-understand style, and for expressing love for their national script. Many families living outside the province also made pilgrimages to Quả Sơn Temple to pray for peace and good fortune in the new year, and not forgetting to "ask for blessings" in the form of calligraphy at the beginning of the year. Photo: Thanh QuỳnhThe process of creating a calligraphy piece. Clip: Thanh QuynhSince 2018, the Department of Culture and Information of Do Luong District, with the desire to spread the beauty of traditional culture to tourists from near and far when they visit Qua Son Temple, has invited Mr. Nguyen Hoc Ha (born in 1983) to write calligraphy at the beginning of the year, creating a highlight for people visiting the temple. Mr. Nguyen Hoc Ha is a member of the Fine Arts Committee of the Nghe An Provincial Association of Literature and Arts and has been involved in the field of calligraphy for many years. Photo: Thanh QuynhMr. Hoang Huu Thanh (born in 1956), a native of Luong Son, said that asking for calligraphy at the beginning of the year has become a tradition for him and his descendants during Tet (Lunar New Year). “Every year, after performing ancestral rites at home, our family makes a pilgrimage to Qua Son Temple. For Mr. Thanh, asking for calligraphy is also a way to pass on traditional values and the profound meaning of the custom to his children and grandchildren. “Seeing my grandchildren eagerly waiting for the new calligraphy, I feel the connection between generations and the love of family,” he said with joy. (Photo: Thanh Quynh)
For many tourists, they also desire calligraphy that is a work of art, incorporating both characters and illustrations. To fulfill this desire, calligraphers often create meaningful paintings themselves to highlight the message of the calligraphy. (Photo: Thanh Quỳnh)
