700-year-old stone temple in the heart of Trang An heritage

In the heart of Trang An, Tran Temple makes a strong impression with its monolithic green stone architecture, intricately carved with four sacred animals, lasting over 700 years of history.

Explore Tran Trang An Temple. Video : Dinh Minh.

Tran Temple is located in the Trang An scenic complex, originally called Noi Lam Temple. In the 13th century, King Tran Thai Tong renovated it and changed its name to Tran Temple as it is today. Photo: Dinh Minh.

From Trang An wharf, following route number 1, visitors will spend more than 1 hour by boat, then climb 175 stone steps to the top and then go downhill, only then will they reach Tran Temple. Photo: Dinh Minh.

Tran Temple worships Trung Hung General Quy Minh, the general who guarded the border of Son Nam, and Hoang Quy Nuong, his wife. According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Hung, the keeper of Tran Temple, General Quy Minh was a talented general who defeated the enemy under the reign of the 18th Hung King. Photo: Dinh Minh.

The architecture of Tran Temple is in the shape of the Chinese character “nhi”, consisting of two adjacent buildings. The outer building (anterior worshiping area) consists of 3 compartments and 2 aisles. Photo: Dinh Minh.

The front hall has two rows of stone pillars, the first row has 4 pillars made of monolithic green stone, measuring 20x16 cm, 1.47 m high. Photo: Dinh Minh.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Hung, the keeper of Tran Temple, said: The highlight of Tran Temple is the 4 green stone pillars that are elaborately carved according to the legend of the "four sacred animals", in which, Long represents power, Ly represents good luck, Quy represents eternal life, Phuong represents purity and transcendence. Photo: Dinh Minh.

Although the temple is small, it contains many unique artistic values ​​of stone carvings shown on the crossbeams, steps, columns and eaves of the temple. Photo: Dinh Minh.

Passing through the front hall is the back palace. Here, there is a three-level altar made of a single block of green stone. Inside the dragon palace is a statue of King Quy Minh and his wife Princess Minh Hoa. Photo: Dinh Minh.

Every year, on March 18 (lunar calendar), the traditional festival of Saint Quy Minh Dai Vuong is held at Tran Temple with solemn rituals, praying for favorable weather, national peace and prosperity. Photo: Dinh Minh.

With its intricately carved monolithic stone architecture, Tran Temple is a living testament to the craftsmanship of Hoa Lu stonemasons from over 700 years ago. Photo: Dinh Minh.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/ngoi-den-da-700-nam-tuoi-giua-long-di-san-trang-an-10308239.html