Inside the ancient temple bearing the strong Chinese imprint in Sa Dec land

Kien An Cung ancient pagoda is a unique architectural work, preserving the cultural and historical values ​​of the fertile Sa Dec land along the Tien River.

The ancient Kien An Cung Pagoda (also known as Ong Quach Pagoda) is located on Phan Boi Chau Street, Sa Dec Ward, Dong Thap , and was built in 1924. This is not only a religious facility but also a place for community activities, connecting Vietnamese people of Chinese origin in this land. With its special architectural, cultural and historical values, the project has been recognized as a national cultural and historical relic.

The ancient Kien An Cung Pagoda was designed in the architectural style of the letter "cong", including 3 compartments: the east wing, the west wing and the main hall, connected through a quiet courtyard. The pagoda does not use rafters but is connected by mortise and tenon beams and three layers of overlapping beams, creating solidity.

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The interior of the temple stands out with its elaborate carvings, from the panels, frames, column heads to wooden lanterns carved with pheasants and chrysanthemums.

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In front of the main hall is a pair of green stone unicorns guarding the gate, majestic and lively.

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The main door does not have a horizontal lacquered board but has a wooden plaque with three embossed words "Kien An Cung", gilded with brilliant gold even though it has been a century.

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Inside, the main red color covers the wooden panels, parallel sentences, and wooden trellis, expressing the Chinese concept of luck and prosperity.

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The special thing about Kien An Cung Pagoda is that the worship focuses on the gods with the scepter, stone cranes, and pillars, which have many similarities to Vietnamese temples.

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On both sides of the temple walls are many ink paintings with diverse content such as promoting good deeds and exorcising evil spirits, Phong Than stories, Tam Quoc Dien Nghia, Tay Du Ky... with graceful, sharp strokes, full of meaning and depth.

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One of the things that makes this temple look more beautiful is that inside there are many lanterns of different types hanging.

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The characteristics of the Fujian Chinese assembly hall are clearly shown in the boat-shaped tiled roof, with two curved ends, both majestic and graceful. The roof is covered with three layers, the top creating soft waves, decorated with ceramic statues, reliefs of dragons worshiping the moon, fish transforming into dragons, and delicate patterns of mosaics of ceramic and porcelain pieces.

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Every year, Kien An Cung Pagoda organizes two major festivals: on the 22nd of the 8th lunar month to celebrate King Quach's enlightenment and on the 22nd of the 2nd lunar month to celebrate his birthday. On this occasion, many people, regardless of Chinese or Vietnamese, come to burn incense and pray for blessings, creating a unique cultural beauty of the Sa Dec region.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ben-trong-chua-co-mang-dam-dau-an-nguoi-hoa-o-vung-dat-sa-dec-185250917162056601.htm