The temple dedicated to the snake god.

TPO - Kinh Ha Temple was built during the Nguyen Dynasty, where the Snake God is worshipped as the village's guardian deity, one of the earliest beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese people.

February 9, 2025 | 7:16 PM

TPO - Kinh Ha Temple was built during the Nguyen Dynasty, where the Snake God is worshipped as the village's guardian deity, one of the earliest beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese people.

Kinh Ha Temple was built at the beginning of the Nguyen Dynasty in Kinh Ha village, now part of Tien Hung neighborhood (Thach Hung ward, Ha Tinh city). The temple was renovated in 1919, 1920, and 1921 during the reigns of Emperors Khai Dinh and Bao Dai of the Nguyen Dynasty.

At the main shrine dedicated to the Snake God - Dragon King (Water God), a belief with ancient origins among agricultural communities is associated with the worship of the Snake God and the River God, with the hope of favorable weather and abundant harvests.

According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Tu, the caretaker of Kinh Ha Temple, the temple was established during a period when the worship of water deities was flourishing in ancient Vietnamese agricultural communities. Kinh Ha Temple worships the Snake god as the village's guardian deity, a very rudimentary form of belief among the indigenous people, closely associated with the custom of worshipping water deities.

According to Mr. Tú, Kinh Hạ Temple previously had nine royal decrees issued by the Nguyễn Dynasty kings, but due to time, natural disasters, and wars, only three copies of these decrees remain.

The people of Kinh Ha village have embraced the mythical model of popular belief as their spiritual asset. This represents an integration into the shared spiritual life and consciousness of the entire nation, and also affirms the vibrant vitality of spiritual life as a key factor in uniting the village community.

Kinh Ha Temple boasts ancient architecture, including the Upper Hall, Lower Hall, a system of triple gates, side gates, left and right side buildings, an outdoor altar, and a kitchen.

Kinh Ha Temple is a living testament to the enduring vitality of Vietnamese folk culture and beliefs.

Kinh Ha Temple was granted the status of a historical and cultural relic by the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province in 2008. Every year, Kinh Ha Temple holds two major festivals: the Khai Ha Festival on the 7th day of the first lunar month and the Ky Phuc Luc Nguyet Festival on the 15th day of the sixth lunar month.

Hoai Nam

Source: https://tienphong.vn/ngoi-den-tho-than-ran-post1715547.tpo