Visiting Thiet Cuong communal house and temple.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - The Thiet Cuong communal house and temple, a historical, cultural, and architectural relic, is located in the ancient land of Ai Chau, formerly part of Thiet Cuong village, Do Xa commune (Nong Cong district), now Dan Quyen commune (Trieu Son district). This is a relatively well-preserved historical, cultural, and architectural relic from the Nguyen dynasty. Besides its function as a place of worship, the communal house and temple also serve as a center of cultural and spiritual life for the people living along the Hoang Giang River.

Thiet Cuong communal house and temple were built in the architectural style of the Nguyen dynasty. (Photo: Khac Cong)

According to historical records and the stories of the village elders, Thiet Cuong communal house and temple, besides its official name, has many other names. It is a place of worship for the local tutelary deity Cao Minh Dai Vuong, the Two Holy Deities, and Phuong Anh Phu Nhan. Legend says that Cao Minh Dai Vuong was the eighth son of King Le Dai Hanh. During the Ly Dynasty, when invaders attacked Vietnam, the court issued a decree to recruit virtuous scholars to assist the king and the country. He volunteered to fight the invaders. With his innate military talent, he won every battle he fought. After returning victorious, the king appointed him to govern the western border, but he refused, instead requesting two boats and some soldiers to patrol the border. Upon reaching the mouth of the large river (Hoang Giang River) in Thiet Cuong village, Dan Quyen commune today, he ordered his soldiers to stop and build a fort and huts at Ba Wharf to train the local people in martial arts. After some time, he bid farewell to the people of Thiet Cuong and returned to his hometown. While at sea, he encountered a storm and perished in that calamity. As for Lady Phuong Anh, she was the daughter of King Tran, a talented writer who helped the people in all matters.

In remembrance of his contributions, after his death, the people of Thiet Cuong submitted a petition to the imperial court, which granted him a royal decree for worship and bestowed upon him the title of "Duong Canh Thanh Hoang Cao Minh Dai Vuong" (Great King Cao Minh, the local tutelary deity). The Thiet Cuong temple and shrine are dedicated to him and his wife, Phuong Anh.

Located southwest, Thiet Cuong communal house and temple sits on a plot of land approximately 2,800 square meters in size. Measuring 16.9 meters in length and 10.15 meters in width, it comprises five bays and two wings, intricately carved in the style of Nguyen Dynasty wood carving from the first half of the 19th century. Despite numerous restorations throughout history, it has now deteriorated.

According to Nguyen Tien Duc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dan Quyen commune: “Thiet Cuong communal house and temple has been classified as a provincial-level historical, cultural, and architectural relic and serves as a place for educating local people about patriotic traditions and for their cultural and spiritual activities. However, over the years of war and the erosion of nature, the relic has seriously deteriorated. The walls are cracked, peeling, and covered in moss; the red brick floor is sinking, cracking, and damp; the wooden columns, roof frames, beams, purlins, and rafters are warped, cracked, and rotten; the tiled roof is broken in many places; the eaves and gutters are cracked, covered in moss, some decorative patterns are peeling and broken, and the dragon heads on the roof are broken... In particular, a corner of the communal house and temple is leaking, rainwater is flowing down and rotting the ends of the rafters. The local government has requested old tiles from the people to repair the roof and hired workers to reinforce and support points at risk of breaking to preserve the original architectural state of the relic.” Therefore, the authorities and people of Thiet Cuong village in particular, and Dan Quyen commune in general, request that all levels and sectors promptly develop a plan for proper restoration and preservation to enhance the historical, cultural, and architectural value of the Thiet Cuong communal house and temple.

Khac Cong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ve-tham-dinh-den-thiet-cuong-252005.htm