Cua Ong Temple, also know as Dong Hai Linh Tu, is located on a hill overlooking Bai Tu Long Bay, a national historical relic with unique architecture and long-standing cultural values. The sacred temple is also marked by the majestic beauty of the mountains, forests and sea.
Who is worshiped at Cua Ong Temple?
Before worshiping Tran Quoc Tang, the Cua Ong Temple area only had the Hoang Tiet Che Temple. At that time, worshiping Hoang Can, a regional hero who had made great contributions in fighting against invaders and pirates, and the emperors bestowed upon him the title “Khâm Sai Đồng Đạo Tiết Chế” (Courageous General Defending the Eastern Sea).
A statue of Tran Quoc Tang
Since the beginning of the 20th century, people have upgraded (destroyed and rebuilt) Hoang Tiet Che Temple into Cua Ong Temple, from which people worship Tran Quoc Tang, the third son of Tran Quoc Tuan who was very brave in defending the border of Cua Suot gate.
Beside worshiping Tran Quoc Tang as the main deity here, the temple worships the entire family members of Tran Quoc Tuan, brave generals of the Tran Dynasty during Mongol invaders in the 13th century such as: Yet Kieu, Da Tuong, Tran Khanh Du, Pham Ngu Lao…and also mother-worship cult.
Unique architecture of Cua Ong temple in Quang Ninh
The new temple was built at the beginning of the 19th century. It includes a lower temple (den ha), a middle temple (den trung) and an upper temple (den thuong). In the lower temple, people observe the mother-worship cult while the upper temple is dedicate the cult of Tran Quoc Tang.
This unique temple is sacred to the cult of the whole family of Tran Hung Dao. There are 34 statues and statuettes, elaborately and meticulously carved, and with striking engravings depicting various scenes. The statues are of: Tran Hung Dao, his wife (Thanh Mau), the two princesses (Tran Hung Dao’s daughters), Tran Quoc Tang, Tran Anh Tong, Tran Khanh Du, Yeu Kieu, Da Tuong, Pham Ngu lao, Le Phu Tran and Do Khac Chung.
Cua Cong temple was built from many different materials such as: cast stone, Bat Trang bricks, baked clay floor tiles and baked terracotta tiles. In addition, the architecture of Cua Ong Temple is also completed with decorative motifs of the “Four Holy Beasts”: Dragon, Qilin, Turtle, and the Phoenix.
The interior of the temple uses durable and beautiful wood. The house frames are built in the following ways: rafters, bridges, paths, pillars and are decorated with reliefs, banners, and parallel sentences. The patterns are painted red and gilded, creating a splendid and solemn space.
Not only has a beautiful architecture, Cua Ong Temple also attracts visitors by its quiet, solemn landscape and fresh, cool space. The temple is arranged on a gentle hill, interspersed with ancient trees, miniature landscapes, and flower gardens. In front of the temple is Bai Tu Long Bay with diverse large and small islands, creating a beautiful natural picture.
Source: collected by An
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