Visit Cung Temple on the banks of Ma River

Cung Temple is a place of spiritual activities for the people of Cam Tu commune and tourists from all over.

The divine record of the consecration was issued on July 25, the 9th year of Khai Dinh reign, 1924, recorded the story of the god worshiped at Cung temple. In this divine record of the consecration, it is written: In the past, in the village, there were two old men who dreamed at night that they saw two immortals who called themselves Thuong Ngan Dao Nguyen Princess Le Mai Dai Vuong and Son Tien Dai Vuong Ngo Lien walking on the earth. Seeing the charming scenery here, they stopped to stay... After waking up, the two elders told the villagers about their strange dream. Thinking that it was a sign that a holy fairy had descended, the people in the area contributed their efforts and money to build a temple at the foot of Lien Son mountain to worship Thuong Ngan Dao Nguyen Princess Le Mai Dai Vuong. On the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, the villagers came to the temple to burn incense, pray for blessings and peace.

According to the elders in Lien Son village, Cung temple was formerly built majestically with 5 front rooms and 3 back rooms. The temple frame was made of wood, the walls were built of bricks, plastered with lime, the wooden parts of the architecture were carved and decorated with traditional sculptures. Over time and historical events, the temple deteriorated, and in 1953 it completely collapsed. In the 1980s, Cung temple was rebuilt. In 2023, with the attention of the State, Cung temple continued to be renovated and embellished with items such as the road to the temple, the festival yard, the parking lot...

Coming to Cung Temple, visitors can find peace of mind, relax and admire the poetic natural landscape with long sandy beaches and watch the Ma River flowing gently in the dry season, fiercely in the flood season; discover and experience the beauty of Lien Son Mountain located right behind the temple. With its historical, cultural, scientific and aesthetic values, in 2012, Cung Temple was recognized as a provincial historical and cultural relic.

Mr. Truong Van Trong, the caretaker of the Cung Temple historical and cultural relic, said: "Cung Temple is a sacred place, the pride of the people of Cam Tu commune. For many years, I have volunteered to look after and protect the temple, burning incense on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, holidays and Tet. I hope that in the future, the State will continue to pay attention to restoring and embellishing this place to be worthy of being a provincial historical relic."

To preserve and promote the value of Cung Temple relic, in recent times, Cam Tu commune has mobilized people to participate in protecting, contributing efforts and money to renovate the grounds of the relics; cleaning the environment around the temple; respectfully burning incense on the first days of the month, full moon days... From 2021, Cung Temple Festival has been organized by Cam Tu commune annually on the 24th day of the first lunar month. In addition to the ceremony, there is also a festival with unique folk games and performances of the Muong ethnic people here, such as: hitting the raft, playing swings, pushing sticks, tug of war... attracting a large number of people and tourists from all over.

“Cam Tu commune continues to strengthen the management of preventing encroachment on the historical and cultural relics of Cung temple; actively propagate to raise people's awareness in preserving and promoting the values of the temple; mobilize resources to build auxiliary works to better serve people and tourists when they come to Cung temple to visit and sightsee. Thereby, contributing to building this place not only as a place for spiritual and cultural activities but also as a bond connecting the community in the commune", Mr. Pham Minh Vu, Chairman of Cam Tu commune People's Committee, shared.

Article and photos: Manh Hai

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tham-den-cung-ben-bo-song-ma-267318.htm