Ong Temple (Vietnamese: Chùa Ông) is one of the ancient temples in Can Tho, famous for its unique architecture. The temple also plays an important role in the spiritual lives of the Hoa community (Chinese people living in Vietnam) in the Southwest region. During the war, the Ong Temple served as a base for revolutionary forces fighting against American troops, contributing to the country’s unification. With those heritage values, visiting the temple is a thing to do in Can Tho.  

How Ong Temple is unique?

According to existing woodcarving documents, Ong Temple began construction in 1894 and was completed in 1896, covering an area of 532 m². Most of the materials to build the pagoda were brought from Guangdong, China.

Ong-Temple-Can-Tho

The temple was founded by a group of Chinese people from Guangzhou and Zhaoqing, so it is named “Guang – Zhao Assembly Hall (廣肇會館)”. It became an area for worship, exchange, meeting fellow countrymen, helping each other do business & settle down in the region’s new land, and organizing their own cultural activities.

Ong Temple in Can Tho

The Ong Temple has an architectural layout shaped like the Chinese character for 國 (meaning “Nation”), with a roof of yin-yang tiles. The joining materials are blue ceramic edges, creating an ancient look. The middle of the roof is decorated with ” two dragons flanking a pearl”.

Ong-Temple-Can-Tho

This is a fairly common decoration style at the Chinese temples in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Other motifs decorated with colored pottery, such as fish transforming into a dragon, phoenix, palaces, and human figures, showing scenes of festivities of the Chinese people. These decorations were brought from Guangdong, clearly showcasing the handmade ceramic art of Chinese artisans of the Qing Dynasty.

Ong Temple in Can Tho

The temple reflects the architecture of Chinese temples and shrines, with a pair of unicorns flanking the main door, suggesting peace and prosperity. Besides the dragon and phoenix symbols, there are also statues of Yue Lao, who holds the Sun and the Moon, which symbolize yin and yang.

Ong Temple in Can Tho

Chinese temples are usually not surrounded by gardens like Vietnamese and Khmer temples. Instead, it is surrounded by brick walls. The center of the building is an empty space on the roof called the sky well.

Ong Temple Can Tho

From the courtyard to the main hall, there is a row of three incense tables made of grinding stone. This is a place where pilgrims prepare offerings, burn incense, and pray. 

Worshipping at Ong Temple

The worship temple is divided into three parts. The front worship area is dedicated to the God of patron of the land (Vietnamese: Phúc Đức Chính Thần), placed on the right; General Mã Tiền and the Red Hare on the left.

Ong Temple in Can Tho

In the main hall, in the middle of the temple, worships Lord Guan Yu, a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. His virtues are honored by the Chinese people. On the right worships Mazu; on the left worships poinsettias, Đồng Vĩnh, and Caishen – God of Wealth.

Ong Temple Can Tho

 In addition, there is also a space to worship Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. The Ong Temple attracts many domestic and international visitors who come here to visit, admire, and pray on the 15th of each lunar month and Tết (Lunar New Year). However, there are 02 special festivals held each year by the Hoa community. That is Guan Yu’s festival (on June 24th of the lunar month) and God of Wealth (on March 15th of the lunar month). During this period, many events take place, such as the unicorn, lion, and dragon dances, as well as the lantern auction for humanitarian purposes.

festival in Ong Temple

The money from the auction is used to build Chinese schools and cemeteries, support handicapped children, fund orphanages, and study and maintain this temple. With such historical and artistic value, Ong Temple was recognized as a “National Monument” on June 21, 1993.

Useful information about Ong Temple in Can Tho

Source: collected by An

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