Unique tree roots "hug" the entire column of an ancient temple more than 600 years old in Ha Tinh

Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang – the 8th son of King Ly Thai To, who had great merits in developing the ancient Nghe Tinh land (now Nghe An and Ha Tinh).

Nen Temple was built in the Ly dynasty and embellished in 1724 during the Late Le period, located on a 5-hectare site in Phuc village, Viet Tien commune, Thach Ha district (Ha Tinh province) today.

Legend has it that Ly Nhat Quang is intelligent, studious, and talented. In 1039, he was sent by his father, King Ly Thai To, to look after the taxing in the Hoan Chau area, ie Nghe An, Ha Tinh today. He was continuously promoted, in 1044 held the position of Uy Minh Vuong, head of Nghe An town, replacing the king to decide all political affairs in the land of Nghe.

Ly Nhat Quang is recognized by history books as a simple man, close to the people, who contributed to the development of agriculture; building roads and waterways for trade with regions; opening many schools; establishing monuments and temples.

Under Ly Nhat Quang, the court did not have to send troops to the garrison, but the forces built by him on the spot were capable of undertaking the defense of the border of Nghe such as the “iron walled bronze citadel”. During 16 years of working in Nghe An, Ly Nhat Quang built this land into a solid fortress in both military and economic terms. In 1057, when he died, people in the area built many temples to remember his merits.

The temple has a unique architecture with a rectangular layout, including three buildings of the upper, middle and lower halls. The architectural complex outside the temple also has a worshiping house, a bell house, a stele house, a sacrifice house, a lotus pond and a garden…

On the roofs of palaces and small temples, the dragon image is always featured. The dragon is intricately carved, a symbol of authority (Photo Than Ba).

According to Mr. Phan The Thi (65 years old, Viet Tien commune), who received the task of looking after the temple, every year a large number of people come to worship, especially on the 1st and 15th of every month.

One of the special features at this temple is the worshiping house surrounded by a row of si trees. According to Mr. Phan The Thi, formerly there was a forest of delusion at the temple. Over time, only trees remained on some items of the temple. The si trees cling to the 6 pillars of the temple, creating a rare and ancient look.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Viet Tien commune (Thach Ha district, Ha Tinh province) said that the Nen temple is more than 600 years old. A year, at Nen temple, there are 3 ceremonies, including: Holy anniversary, about to be sealed, and 12/6. In the photo, the sycamore trees are tightly wrapped around the pillars of the house of worship.

With historical, cultural, spiritual values as well as unique architecture, Nen Temple was ranked as a national historical and cultural relic in 2009. Follow(Dan Tri)