Discover the temple with unique architecture over 600 years old worshiping the son of King Ly Cong Uan
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 08:00 AM (GMT+7)
Nen Temple was built in the 15th century in Thach Ha district ( Ha Tinh ) to worship Ly Nhat Quang (the 8th son of King Ly Cong Uan). According to the assessment, this is one of the most beautiful and sacred ancient temples of Ha Tinh with harmoniously arranged artistic architecture, a beautiful three-door gate system with Ly dynasty structural motifs.
Clip: The temple has unique architecture and is over 600 years old, worshiping the son of King Ly Cong Uan.
Nen Temple (also known as Ca Temple, Tam Toa Dai Vuong Temple) is located in Viet Tien Commune, Thach Ha District (Ha Tinh), built in the 15th century to worship Ly Nhat Quang as Thanh Hoang (the 8th son of King Ly Thai To). The temple has a unique and sacred architecture and is a place for spiritual activities of the people in the area.
Ly Nhat Quang (995-1057). In 1039, he was appointed by King Ly Thai Tong (Ly Nhat Quang's eldest brother) to oversee taxes in the Hoan Chau region (now Nghe An and Ha Tinh). During his 16 years of reign in Nghe Tinh, Ly Nhat Quang had great contributions in opening up the people, establishing villages, expanding, keeping the border safe, developing the economy, consolidating and building this place into a key base, a solid fortress in terms of military and economy and a solid support not only for the Ly dynasty but also for the Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties later.
In 1057, when he died, local people built many temples to commemorate his contributions.
Nen Temple is one of the four most ancient and beautiful temples of Nghe - Tinh land. According to the ancients, it is ranked in the "Tu Linh Tu" (four temples famous for their sacredness) of the ancient An Tinh land, now belonging to the two provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Nen Temple is designed on a rectangular plan with the overall architectural components symmetrical and harmonious, following a main axis (also known as the sacred axis) in the middle, the main architectural components of the relic. The architectural components of the overall Nen Temple relic complex are all arranged in a closed overall layout by a system of surrounding continuous walls, it follows a strict rule of the typical architecture of the Le - Nguyen period.
The symmetrical architecture converging on a focal point on a rectangular architectural plan of the architectural components in layers and layers gives us a feeling of both ancient and majestic of an architectural work imbued with Confucian religious spirituality during the Le Dynasty.
Despite existing for centuries, Nen Temple still retains its original architectural components with sophisticated carvings by talented craftsmen and ancient artisans.
The temple's three-entrance gate is considered the most beautiful in Ha Tinh, with a two-story, eight-roofed architecture, and both sides are engraved with parallel sentences in Chinese characters bearing the structural motifs of the Ly Dynasty.
Nen Temple uses many dragon images that are repeated many times, which can be carved on rafters, beams, columns or panels, or embossed on each structural part of Nen Temple. The graceful and soulful dragon image in each carving on stone and wood by ancient artisans is a symbol of authority and spirituality of ancient Vietnamese people.
Inside the main hall is a wooden dragon head that is over 600 years old.
The worshiping hall is surrounded by a row of banyan trees. According to local elders, there used to be a banyan forest at the temple. Over time, only the remaining trees cling to some parts of the temple, creating a rare ancient look. The banyan tree roots are hundreds of years old.
The stele records the biography and contributions of Ly Nhat Quang to Nghe Tinh land.
At the entrance are two stone elephants built hundreds of years ago, meant to protect the temple. In August 2009, thanks to the historical and architectural values of the Nen Temple relic, the Nen Temple was ranked as a National Historical Relic.
Talking to PV Dan Viet, Mr. Phan Viet Thi-Thu from Nen Temple said: "The Nen Temple relic is also a unique and valuable architectural work that still exists today in Ha Tinh, bearing the spiritual character of a religious architectural work. The temple is often chosen by local authorities as a place to hold some festivals in the region. Currently, the locality still maintains the Nen Temple Festival held on March 6 (Lunar calendar), the death anniversary of Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang. The temple welcomes thousands of visitors to burn incense, visit, and study history, architecture and religion every year."
Tap Thoa
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