Folk beliefs of the Chinese community in Tay Ninh

Lantern Festival at That Phu Meeting Hall (Trang Bang town)

Currently in Tay Ninh, there are several religious sites of the Chinese community such as That Phu Hội Quan, Nhi Phu Hội Quan, Minh Nghia Hội Quan of the Minh Huong people (Trang Bang town); Thanh An Palace (Go Dau district); Quan De Thanh Temple, Quang Dong Hội Quan, Ngu Thanh Temple (Tay Ninh city).

The Thất Phủ Assembly Hall in Trảng Bàng is the oldest temple dedicated to Guan Yu (Quan Thánh Đế Quân) of the Chinese community here. It was built on a small scale around the mid-18th to early 19th centuries. In 1828, the assembly hall was rebuilt to its current scale in Lộc An neighborhood, Trảng Bàng ward, Trảng Bàng town. Besides Guan Yu, the hall also worships Thiên Hậu Thánh Mẫu (Goddess of Heavenly Fortune) and Phước Đức Chánh Thần (God of Blessings).

The Nhi Phu Assembly Hall was established in the first year of the Quang Tu era (1875) at a location approximately 100m west of its current site. In 1936, with contributions from the Fujianese community in Trang Bang, Go Dau, Long Hoa (Tay Ninh) and Cho Lon, the Nhi Phu Assembly Hall was moved to its current location (Loc Thanh neighborhood, Trang Bang ward, Trang Bang town). The main deity worshipped at the assembly hall is Quang Trach Ton Vuong and many other deities in Chinese beliefs such as Quan Thanh De Quan, Thien Hau Thanh Mau, and Phuoc Duc Chanh Than.

That Phu Meeting Hall (Trang Bang town).

The Minh Nghia Assembly Hall in Trang Bang was established around 1881. It served as a religious center and meeting place for the Minh Huong people, dedicated to Quan Thanh De Quan and also to Kim Hoa Nuong Nuong, Ba Mu, and Ngu Hanh Nuong Nuong. All three assembly halls were built close together in the Trang Bang market area (now the old Trang Bang market), the area with the largest Chinese population living and doing business in the region.

Thanh An Temple, built in 1907, was formerly located on the banks of the Vam Co Dong River in Go Dau District. With the support of some Chinese expatriates in Go Dau, Thanh An Temple was moved to Ward 1, Go Dau Town, for the convenience of local people. The name Thanh An Temple was given by the locals, signifying peace and safety for the Chinese residents of Thanh Phuoc village. It houses shrines dedicated to Thien Hau Holy Mother, Kim Hoa Holy Mother, Quan Thanh De Quan, Phuoc Duc Chanh Than, and many other deities from the folk beliefs of the Chinese community.

In Tay Ninh city, a group of Fujianese Chinese established a temple dedicated to Quan Thanh De Quan in 1860, located in Ward 4, Precinct 2. Besides Quan Cong, there are also shrines dedicated to Ba Chua Thai Sanh and Phuoc Duc Chanh Than.

The Guangdong Assembly Hall (located in Quarter 3, Ward 2) was founded around 1887 by a group of Chinese people of Cantonese, Teochew, Hainanese, and Hakka origin. Initially, the hall was a makeshift structure with thatched roofs, bamboo, and leaves; in 1905, it was rebuilt with precious wood and tiled roofs, and after several major renovations in 1955 and 1993, it has the impressive appearance it has today. The main deities worshipped at the Guangdong Assembly Hall are the Goddess Thien Hau, Kim Hoa Nuong Nuong, Long Mau Nuong Nuong, and other characteristic deities commonly found in Chinese assembly halls.

Statue of Quan Thanh De Quan at Ngu Thanh Temple (Tay Ninh City).

The Quan Thanh De Temple and the Quang Dong Assembly Hall (Thien Hau Temple) are two religious establishments of the Chinese community that have been recognized as provincial-level historical and cultural relics. In addition, in Ward 2, Quarter 3, there is the Ngu Thanh Temple – also established very early by the Chinese merchant community in Tay Ninh City, dedicated to five deities (also known as the Five Saints): Quan Cong, Quan Binh, Chau Xuong, Vuong Thien Quan, and Truong Tien Dai De, and also worshipping the God of Wealth.

In particular, each association hall has a solemn altar in the back hall dedicated to the founding ancestors and prominent figures who contributed to the Chinese community, demonstrating the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source."

The Chinese people have great reverence for Guan Yu and consider him a patron deity for their business and trade, so they worship him in their homes. Along with Guan Yu, the two Earth Gods, the God of Wealth, and other protective deities are also worshipped by the Chinese in their homes and workplaces. This clearly demonstrates the cultural exchange between Vietnam and China.

Quan Thanh De Temple (Tay Ninh City).

The Qingming Festival of the Chinese community in Trang Bang.

In particular, the Chinese community in Tay Ninh also strongly believes in Linh Son Holy Mother. In 1951, the Chinese and Minh Huong communities at the That Phu Association in Trang Bang donated a horizontal plaque to Linh Son Holy Temple with the following inscription: 千秋聖母.恭賀歲次辛戼年八月吉日造,洪恩七府和安會本會仝敬拜 (Thousand-year Holy Mother. Inscription: Cong hi tui thu Tan Mao nien bat ngoat kiet nhut mo, Hong hun That Phu Hoa An Hoi bon hoi dong bai).

The Chinese community and their associations also visit and pay respects at Vietnamese religious sites such as the temple of the Five Elements Goddess and the temple of the Goddess of the Land... The Chinese residents, along with the Vietnamese in Trang Bang, hold the venerable Dang Van Truoc in high regard, calling him "Ông Cả" (Mr. Ca) or "Ông Chủ chợ" (Mr. Chu Cho). On the days of his commemoration at the temple or communal house, a large number of people come to pay their respects.

Buddhism, along with migrants during the southward expansion, arrived in Tay Ninh very early. The Chinese community visited temples to worship Buddha, participate in Buddhist ceremonies, and take refuge in the Three Jewels. In their homes, Chinese families also had a solemn altar in the center of the house, dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, or Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. Tay Ninh was also considered a "sacred land" of the Cao Dai religion, so a large number of Chinese people converted to the religion and participated in religious activities at local temples.

Phi Thanh Phat

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/tin-nguong-dan-gian-cua-nguoi-hoa-o-tay-ninh-a181985.html