Majestic relic cluster of Bao Sai communal house, temple and pagoda

Bao Sai Communal House is being renovated to meet the cultural and spiritual needs of local people and tourists.

According to the ancient genealogy compiled by the Han Lam Academy Grand Scholar Nguyen Binh Phung during the Hong Duc period of the Le Dynasty (1572), Bao Sai communal house was built to worship the village's tutelary god Truong My, a famous general during the Hai Ba Trung period. He was born and raised on Bao Sai land in Binh Lao Trang in the past. Truong My's father was Truong Nghiep, his mother was Dao Thi Vi from Ai Chau. Truong Nghiep and his wife were virtuous people, practicing medicine, treating and saving people. From Ai Chau, they both came to Binh Lao Trang to do business and live. Here, they had a son named Truong My. My Cong grew up with a brilliant mind, remembering everything he learned. By the age of 18, he was well-versed in literature, martial arts, loved reading books, and archery.

When the Trung Sisters raised the flag of uprising in 40 AD, Truong My gathered friends, militiamen, and young men in Binh Lao village and neighboring areas to kill buffaloes and cows as a sacrifice for the army, then went straight to Hat Mon Giang to meet the Trung sisters. The king saw that My Cong had a dignified and majestic appearance and was pleased and said: "Heaven has given birth to a talented person to help the country for our royal family". Trung sisters appointed Truong My as the Commander-in-Chief, then divided the army into two groups to attack the Han army. The Commander-in-Chief Truong My commanded the navy and set up a camp at Bach Dang Giang. When To Dinh was defeated, Trung sisters reclaimed 65 citadels and appointed Truong My as the Commander-in-Chief of Dong Giang. Truong My bowed in gratitude but asked to return to his hometown to enjoy peace. When he died, the people of Binh Lao sent a memorial to the king. Trung sisters were extremely saddened, ordered the villagers to build a temple right at the village, worship him twice a year in the spring and autumn, and appointed him as "the supreme god of fortune" so that he would enjoy the country's blessings forever.

The temple to worship King Truong My was built on the old house foundation, with a T-shaped architecture facing the lake. Until 1961, the temple still existed, but was later demolished, and the sacrificial objects were moved into the communal house. Each dynasty had a royal decree, and the communal house still retains 10 royal decrees, the earliest of which was from King Le Canh Hung. It is still unclear when Bao Sai communal house was built, but it is known that the communal house has been restored many times by local people. The communal house still has a restored stele dated Canh Hung 6 (1745), a communal house pillar dated the restoration under King Duy Tan of the Nguyen Dynasty (1912), and the foundation of the rear palace still has some rows of bricks that are believed to be 500 years old. The communal house faces southeast, with a T-shaped architecture consisting of 5 rooms and 2 wings. The rear palace has a simple structure in the style of smooth planking and sharp nails. In the middle of the palace is a large altar to worship the memorial tablet of King Truong My, on which is a hat and a pair of shoes symbolizing the spirit of the general.

Bao Sai Temple worships Princess Tien Dung

Behind the communal house is Bao Sai Temple and Pagoda. This arrangement dates back to the Le Trung Hung period, in the style of "first God, then Buddha". Bao Sai Temple, also known as Thanh Hu Dong, worships Princess Tien Dung, daughter of the 18th Hung King. According to legend, Princess Tien Dung met and married a poor man named Chu Dong Tu while traveling on the river. Currently, around the temple area, there are about 400 households of the Chu family. The temple architecture is shaped like a "T" letter, the rafters are made in the style of "con cuon dau sen". The beams, "con cuon" and "con cuon" are also carved with patterns. In the middle of the front hall hangs a red-lacquered and gilded arched door, carved with plum and bird motifs with delicate lines. In the middle of the back hall is a red-lacquered and gilded altar. Above are two thrones, one of which worships a statue of Princess Tien Dung. The statue is in a sitting position, with a kind face, showing a pure heart.

Next to the temple is Bao Sai Pagoda. Through the design and architectural motifs, it can be determined that the pagoda was built during the Nguyen Dynasty. The rafters are also made in the lotus-shaped style. The top of the rafters is carved with stylized dragons. At the junction between the front hall and the back hall hangs a double-arched door. The upper part is carved with a tiger, surrounded by four sacred animals.

The Bao Sai communal house, temple and pagoda relic complex was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic since 1993. Over time and war, most of the artifacts in the relic complex were lost, and the items and structures were degraded. As society developed, the surrounding houses gradually grew higher, and the Bao Sai communal house, temple and pagoda area became a place where water stagnated. Therefore, from 1992 to 2013, the relic management board mobilized people to donate and contribute to renovate many items such as replacing communal house pillars, repairing gates, renovating the roof... In 2003, a well and a shrine to the mother of King Truong My were built. Currently, the communal house is 30 cm higher, the pagoda and temple are 70 cm higher, creating solemnity and grandeur for the relic complex, meeting the cultural and spiritual needs of people and tourists. Bao Sai communal house and temple are also being renovated with a total cost of 1.6 billion VND.

To commemorate the great merit of King Truong My, every year on the 10th day of the second lunar month, people hold a festival with many rituals and folk games that are preserved and maintained. Mr. Nguyen Huy Dan, Deputy Head of the Management Board of the relic cluster, said that Bao Sai communal house, temple and pagoda are not only associated with spiritual life but also demonstrate the patriotism and national pride of the local people. Therefore, although the pace of modern life has changed a lot, people are still sincere, respectful and preserve the relics with deep cultural and spiritual significance and national pride.

STRONG