Unique Nine-Chamber Temple has 9 buffaloes kneeling in front of the temple

(NLDO)- The Nine-Chamber Temple has nine buffaloes kneeling in front of the temple, associated with the buffalo offering festival to worship the founder of the nine Muongs in the Thanh - Nghe region.

Located on Pu Pom hill, Thanh Quan commune, Nhu Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province, Chin Gian temple is a spiritual and cultural tourist destination of the Thai ethnic group.

Panoramic view of Chin Gian Temple with unique buffalo offering festival in Thanh Quan commune, Nhu Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province

Here, every early spring, a buffalo offering festival takes place to pay homage to the sky, a religious ritual to show gratitude to those who have contributed to building villages and towns, and those who have contributed to the country; praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, good crops, bountiful harvests, a prosperous and happy life.

According to the elders in the area, the temple used to be a 9-room stilt house. During festivals, Thai people from the West of Thanh Hoa - Nghe An gathered here to offer offerings to the gods. In the temple, one room was for buffaloes, one room was for shamans to perform rituals, and the remaining rooms were for people to gather and interact with each other.

In front of the temple, there are 9 buffaloes (6 black buffaloes, 3 white buffaloes) kneeling in worship.

The temple has a bamboo and thatched roof structure built by the people. Each room in the temple represents a village, and the villages bring offerings to pray for wealth, good fortune, favorable weather, and bountiful harvests.

Due to many factors, the old temple is no longer kept intact. The festival from 1948 to 2013 was also not held.

To restore this unique festival and commemorate the person who opened this land, the Nine-Garden Temple was renovated and embellished into a spacious two-story temple on the old foundation. In front of the temple yard, the image of nine stone buffaloes (six black buffaloes, three white buffaloes) and nine symbolic wells were also restored.

The temple was built on the foundation of the old temple on Pu Pom hill (Thanh Quan commune), below is the Ton stream flowing through.

The temple was newly built with concrete, covered with imitation wood paint and has 9 compartments.

The temple architecture is similar to temples in Que Phong, Nghe An province.

With its unique architecture, the Nine-Room Temple is a typical cultural and historical work of Nhu Xuan district.

In front of the 9 buffaloes are 9 symbolic wells.

Here, every New Year, the locality organizes a buffalo offering festival to the sky, a religious ritual to show gratitude to those who have contributed to building villages and muongs, and those who have contributed to the country.

The ancient Nine-Room Temple was called "Ten Xo Quai" or Hien Trau Temple.

The magical scenery of the Nine-chamber temple in the mountainous district of Thanh Hoa

In addition to the buffalo bathing and procession rituals; buffalo offering and worshiping the gods, at the temple there are also many cultural and sports activities creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere such as: Thai people's rain-praying custom, love songs, bamboo dancing, gong beating, cotton tree dancing, and con throwing...

Source: https://nld.com.vn/doc-dao-ngoi-den-chin-gian-co-9-con-trau-quy-goi-truoc-den-196250301162458048.htm