What is attractive about Dong Quan Temple?

Unique carvings

Based on the results of surveys, fieldwork, sacred relics, royal decrees, parallel sentences, and preserved large characters, Dong Quan communal house was built in the Later Le Dynasty (18th century), and was largely restored in the Nguyen Dynasty (19th century).

From the outside is the main gate. There are no auxiliary structures such as a guest house or a dance hall in the yard, so all attention is focused on the main hall.

This is a building with a strong Nguyen Dynasty art style, "Dinh" letter architecture. The wooden structure includes horizontal and vertical beams.

The horizontal beams consist of 4 traditional “stacked beam” trusses. The trusses are elaborately constructed, each truss has details such as: eaves, columns, armpits, main columns... fitted together tightly by a mortise and tenon system. The vertical beam system consists of roof beams, roof leaves, roof panels, upper beams... In particular, the horizontal system is square-shaped and runs evenly across the compartments.

The main worship hall still preserves many valuable carvings. The relief carving technique is shown at the top of the beams. The curves of the beams' leaves combined with the straight lines of the pillars create a beautiful wood carving. The beams are placed on square bases, with lotus-shaped carvings at the bottom.

With the skillful hands of folk artisans, each extra head is “transformed” into a dragon supporting the first beam of the house. The special thing is that the dragon has two legs stepping on the top of the column, as if trying to reach the center, with its beard and hair flying backwards. The entire body of the dragon passes through the top of the main column, leaving its tail on the other side of the column. At the two main rafters in the central room, folk artisans skillfully replaced the side beams with four beams. These four beams are continuously carved on both sides, not only having the function of bearing the weight and supporting the beams, but also being valuable works of art.

It can be said that the carvings on the rafters of the main hall are both soft and sturdy, the details are bold but not messy, the more you look at them, the more you admire the talent of the decorators. From chrysanthemum branches, apricot branches, and leaf handles, they can also be transformed into dragons and phoenixes. The carvings on the rafters not only remove the stiffness of the wood but also make them soft and free. These are very valuable assets left by the ancients.

Keep

Dong Quan Communal House was built in the center of Dong Quan residential area, with many trees creating a peaceful beauty for worship. The relic is located on a "dragon" shaped land, the two dragon eyes are two communal ponds and close to the main road, creating favorable conditions for traveling and organizing festivals.

Dong Quan Communal House worships four village tutelary gods, three of whom are brothers: Trung Liet Dai Vuong, Vien Duong Dai Vuong, Thanh Do Dai Vuong and Left General Hoang Tuy Cong Dai Vuong, who helped Dinh Bo Linh suppress the 12 warlords and unify the country.

According to legend, in the 10th century, in Yen Vi village, Huong Tich cave, Hoai An district, Tuan Thien prefecture, Son Nam province, there was a man who was good at literature and poetry, rich in filial piety named Pham Hoang, his wife was Truong Thi Trach. He and his wife cultivated virtue all their lives, making medicine to cure people and doing charity work. Although they were old, they did not have children. From then on, they used all their assets to help the poor, wholeheartedly for everyone. One day, he and his wife prepared offerings and went to a pagoda in Huong Tich cave to worship Buddha. Later, she became pregnant and gave birth to 3 children named Trung Liet, Vien Duong and Do Cong.

The country was unified, Dinh Bo Linh ascended the throne, proclaimed himself Dinh Tien Hoang, established the capital in Hoa Lu cave, and took the reign name Thai Binh. The king appointed Trung Liet as Trung Liet Dai Vuong, Vien Duong as Vien Duong Dai Vuong, and Do Cong as Thanh Do Dai Vuong.

After they passed away, to remember their merits, the king immediately granted them the titles of: "First-class Trung Liet Dai Vuong", "First-class Vien Duong Dai Vuong", "First-class Thanh Do Dai Vuong". He allowed the Hong Lieu page to worship them forever.

After many ups and downs, today the Dong Quan communal house festival is organized more compactly than before. From January 13 to 15, early in the morning, villagers send people to the communal house and 3 temples: Ca temple, Ben temple and Con Ca temple to clean, wipe the worshiping objects, stack the palanquins and hold a ceremony to report to the Thanh Hoang to ask for permission to hold the ceremony and festival. Currently, the Dong Quan communal house festival still retains folk games such as human chess, cockfighting... In the evening, there are Tuong and Cheo singing performed by the village's art troupe.

"Through the vicissitudes of time and many restorations, the unique and distinctive features have been preserved. This is a precious communal house. The architecture of the communal house shows the level and skills of our ancestors. If it is recognized as a national relic, the building will have better conditions to be preserved and protected," said Mr. Nguyen Van Lap, an elderly person living in the area.