The oldest temple of Mother Au Co in Vietnam in Hung Yen

Every March 10th, when everywhere in the S-shaped strip of land bustles towards the nation's roots, in Hung Yen, a sacred address is always bustling, that is the Temple of Mother Au Co - an ancient temple recognized by the Vietnam Record Organization as the oldest Temple of Mother Au Co in Vietnam.

Every March 10th, when everywhere in the S-shaped strip of land bustles towards the nation's roots, in Hung Yen , a sacred address is always bustling, that is the Temple of Mother Au Co - an ancient temple recognized by the Vietnam Record Organization as the oldest Temple of Mother Au Co in Vietnam.

Au Co Temple Festival (Photo courtesy)

Located in Tan Hung village, Hung Cuong commune, Hung Yen city, the temple of the National Mother Au Co and the Hoang Xa pagoda are a unique and ancient relic complex. This place is not only a place to worship the National Mother but also to honor the 24 Dukes who fought alongside King Le Dai Hanh in the war against the Song invaders in 981.

According to ancient genealogy, in the spring of 981, on his way to fight the Song invaders, King Le Dai Hanh stopped his boat here to take shelter from the rain. That night, the king dreamed that the Queen Mother Au Co told him that the next day 24 talented generals would come to help. Sure enough, the next morning, 24 young men from Hoang Xa village appeared and asked to follow the king to battle. They achieved glorious feats, helping the king defeat the enemy and protect the borders of the Southern country. To thank the Queen Mother, King Le built this sacred temple, to be passed down forever.

The ancient temple is more than a millennium old, built in the Tien Le Dynasty, restored under the Nguyen Dynasty, still preserving the pristine beauty of ancient architecture and the quiet spiritual space. Every time you step into the temple, you will have an indescribable sacred feeling. The small path leading to the relic complex is like a bridge taking us back to the past, where the soul of the nation converges. Before my eyes, the temple appeared with an ancient appearance, moss-covered tiled roof, sturdy ironwood pillars, and sophisticated carvings imbued with the fine art style of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The space in the temple is solemn with the scent of incense spreading, the oil lamps shimmering on the large Chinese characters carved on the panels, honoring the merits of the Mother Goddess. The ancient statues, horizontal lacquered boards, and parallel sentences are still preserved intact, as evidence of many later generations' devotion to their ancestors.

Every year, the Au Co Temple Festival is usually held in the beginning of the third lunar month with many solemn traditional rituals. In particular, the sacred water procession, incense offering ceremony, sacrifices and cultural and artistic exchange activities attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. In 2024 alone, a special highlight of the festival is the cake making event to offer to the Mother Goddess with 7-ton Chung cake and 3-ton Day cake, made by Buddhists and local people. The giant cake not only has the meaning of gratitude to ancestors but also shows the spirit of solidarity and joining hands to preserve the beauty of national culture.

Au Co Temple Festival (documentary photo)

After more than a thousand years, despite the dust covering the mossy tiled roofs and the many historical changes that have taken place, the Temple of Mother Au Co still stands tall, a witness to the devotion of the Vietnamese people.

In 2014, the Vietnam Record Organization officially recognized the record: Mother Goddess Au Co Temple - the oldest temple to worship Mother Goddess Au Co in Vietnam. In 2020, Mother Goddess Au Co Temple was recognized as a provincial historical relic.

Since ancient times, people have passed down the song:
"A sac of one hundred eggs, the Lac Hong breed
One womb gives birth to thousands of children and grandchildren."

Visiting the Temple of the Mother Goddess Au Co is not only a spiritual journey, but also an opportunity for each Vietnamese person to remind themselves of their roots. Here, in the ancient space, amidst the silent incense smoke, our hearts suddenly calm down, blending into the sacred flow of the nation's history. And in each stick of incense offered to the Mother Goddess, we send a word of gratitude, a pride in the immortal Lac Hong race.

Vi Ngoan

Source: https://baohungyen.vn/den-tho-to-mau-au-co-co-nhat-viet-nam-tai-hung-yen-3180409.html