[Audio] Promoting the application for recognition of Tranh Temple as a special national monument

Comrade Trieu The Hung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested departments, branches, sectors and localities to closely coordinate in building a scientific dossier on the special national relic of Tranh Temple.

On the afternoon of March 22, comrade Trieu The Hung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and delegates attending the meeting agreed on the policy of establishing a scientific dossier on the special national relic of Tranh Temple, Dong Tam Commune (Ninh Giang).

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trieu The Hung directed Ninh Giang district to preside over the construction of the dossier. The dossier needs to have a suitable approach, highlighting the value of the relic. Ninh Giang district People's Committee presides over and coordinates the review of the protected area of ​​the relic. Urgently remove difficulties in land management and planning. Select a qualified consulting unit. Assign the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to advise on the establishment of a Steering Committee for the construction of the relic dossier with the participation of cultural figures, scientists, businessmen... to accompany, support and help to carry out this work well.

The leader of Ninh Giang District People's Committee said that the district is urgently coordinating to build a scientific dossier on the special national relic of Tranh Temple.

Tranh Temple, also known as Quan Lon Tuan Tranh Temple, is an ancient temple located near Tranh ferry. According to legend, during the Tran Dynasty, at the confluence of the Tranh River and the Luoc River, people built a temple to worship the water god who ruled this section of the river. The temple was originally a small temple, also known as Tranh Giang Dai Vuong ancient temple, located close to the river wharf, so it was often affected by tides and whirlpools. Because the riverbank was often eroded, in 1935, people built a new temple in Tranh Xuyen village.

Based on the system of inscriptions at the temple, in the fifth year of Tu Duc (1852), the temple was restored and embellished on a large scale, with elaborate and sophisticated carvings, including a statue of Quan Lon Tuan Tranh. In 1887, the French occupied Hai Duong and Ninh Giang, they stationed troops in Do Giang citadel (now Ninh Giang town) and used a number of architectural works as a military base, including Tranh temple, although they did not dare to destroy the temple because they heard that the temple was very sacred. Later, the people built a new Tranh temple in the middle of the street of Ninh Giang town in the style of "inner public, outer private", with a three-door gate donated by Mr. Dao Lang in Van Hoi commune. The temple had a total of 127 rooms on a 4-acre plot of land in the North. In 1946, when the resistance war against French colonialism broke out, the scorched earth resistance was carried out, the temple was destroyed, leaving only 3 forbidden rooms.

In 1954, Tranh Temple was restored to meet the religious needs of the people. In 1966, due to the need to expand the military barracks, local people and Brigade 513 (Military Region 3) moved the temple to its current location.

Tranh Temple worships the water god of Tranh River, called Quan Lon Tuan Tranh. This is a folk belief of people who work on the river, then spread to traders, hoping that everything will go smoothly, and business will be lucky. Through this form of belief, we can understand more about our ancestors' fight against natural disasters.

Tranh Temple is currently a national monument and carries unique historical, cultural, religious and architectural values.

On March 25, 2009, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ranked Tranh Temple as a national architectural and artistic relic. Every year, Tranh Temple has two festivals: a spring festival and an autumn incense offering ceremony. The performance of worshipping the Saints and singing have become unique cultural features of the Tranh Temple Festival - intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO.

The art of singing Chau Van and practicing the worship of the Three Palaces Mother Goddesses has become one of the outstanding cultural features at the Tranh Temple festival.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposes that from May to September 2023, a scientific dossier will be prepared for the Tranh Temple relic, and a scientific workshop will be held to solicit opinions from central and local scientists to complete the dossier. From October to November 2023, the dossier will be completed, including a map of the relic's protection zone, a history of the relic, a diagram of the arrangement of artifacts, films, documentary photos, etc. In December 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Cultural Heritage Council will propose to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

TIEN HUY