Mr. Thach Nam Phuong, Head of the Professional Department of the Ca Mau Provincial Museum, said: “In the South, each communal house and temple has its own screen, with architecture deeply rooted in folk religious culture. The screen has the meaning of protecting the house, preventing negative forces and energies, and preserving the sacredness of the communal house and temple. Between the screen and the communal house is a courtyard (phuong dinh), next to which is an incense burner where elders, dignitaries, and people… step in to prepare themselves before entering the main hall and performing the annual rituals of the communal house and temple…”.

Commonly sculpted symbols on the screens include dragons, tigers, and mythical creatures (common in the North)... all serving as gatekeepers (gate deities). Large temples use large screens, while smaller temples use smaller ones; the goal is harmony and balance.

According to our ancestors, looking from the gate, you will see a screen wall in front, shielding the entire temple or shrine – this is considered the golden ratio in the construction of screen walls by our forefathers.

Located in Tan Thanh Ward, Ca Mau City, the temple is nearly 200 years old. Over time, and through the ups and downs of history, the temple has been restored and renovated many times. In early 2009, Tan Thanh Temple was recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic by the People's Committee of Ca Mau Province.

Mr. Pham Dinh Lien (Tu Lien), residing in Hamlet 3, Tan Thanh Ward, has been associated with the temple for over 25 years, responsible for offering incense to the deities within the temple to show respect; and cleaning the temple grounds… “The most prominent architectural feature on the outside is the temple's screen wall. Previously, the screen wall was located far from the main hall, but after road construction, it was moved further inside, while still retaining the temple's traditional architecture; outside the screen wall is a fence encompassing the entire front of the temple,” Mr. Tu Lien shared.

On either side of the screen are statues of two sacred turtles (turtles) lying at the bottom, showcasing the screen's grandeur and nobility. The architectural art of the screen at Tan Thanh communal house is quite aesthetic, like a painting. The back side displays all the elements: birds, a river, lush trees… Symbolizing a place where “good land attracts birds,” conveying a message of peace for the village and bountiful harvests for the people… The front side introduces the historical dates of the communal house.