The "landmark" temple of sovereignty on the Vietnam

(Dan Tri) - Xa Tac Temple (in Quang Ninh) is not only a tourist attraction, a spiritual and cultural site, but is also considered a solid "milestone" affirming national territorial sovereignty .

Xa Tac Temple is located in a special location, next to the Ka Long River (Vietnam - China border), in zone 3, Ka Long ward, Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province.

In 2005, Xa Tac Temple was recognized as a provincial relic. By 2020, this temple was granted a certificate of national relic ranking.

According to the relic ranking records, the temple was built around the end of the 13th century, the beginning of the 14th century under the Tran Dynasty to worship the Xa Tac god - the local tutelary god of the ancient Mong Cai district. Here worships Xa Tac Dai Vuong, Hung Nhuong Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tang, Cao Son Dai Vuong, the local Long Than Tho Dia and the ancestors of the clans who had contributed to reclaiming this land.

According to the elderly living around this area, in the past, Xa Tac Temple was built on the edge of Thac Mang River with a fairly large scale including three rooms, facing south, roof covered with yin-yang tiles.

In the early 20th century, during a big storm, the Temple was eroded and the people moved it to the Whirlpool area on a smaller scale. Through the ups and downs of time, the Temple has been restored many times, the largest restoration was in 1879.

During the war to protect the northern border in 1979, the temple was destroyed, leaving only a few stone tablets and the old foundation. After 1989, the temple was restored on a small scale.

To meet the people's desire for a spacious and large-scale worship facility, in 2009, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province issued a decision to allow the restoration of Xa Tac Temple and assigned the People's Committee of Mong Cai city to be the investor of phase I and the Executive Committee of the Buddhist Sangha of Quang Ninh province to be the investor of phase II, implementing the project with socialized capital.

The temple was built on two floors and eight roofs with traditional, sophisticated carvings and patterns, and the roof was covered with fish-tail tiles. Currently, Xa Tac Temple still preserves three ancient steles dating from 1879, on which are recorded the names of those who contributed their efforts and money to the restoration and reconstruction of the temple.

Xa Tac Temple is a large-scale historical and cultural relic with a long history. The temple used to be a sacred place for religious and spiritual activities of Mong Cai residents and neighboring areas. Every year, the temple holds 5 main festivals: January 16, May 2, August 16, December 16, December 18 (lunar calendar).

Located at the headland of the Fatherland, Xa Tac Temple has been a place that has recorded many ups and downs of history. But no matter the time, whether it is extreme or prosperous, the people here still do not forget to burn incense and worship.

The temple is not only a tourist attraction, a spiritual and cultural site, but also a solid "milestone" affirming the national sovereignty. The temple marks the historical place where our ancestors pacified the border and affirmed the unique cultural and religious life of the Vietnamese people in the border of the Fatherland.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/ngoi-den-cot-moc-chu-quyen-o-bien-gioi-viet-trung-20240614105435299.htm