Hoàng Minh Tự Temple, Sầm Sơn City

21/12/2024 43 0
Narration

Located in Trường Sơn ward, Sầm Sơn city, Thanh Hóa province, the temple, commonly known as "Hoàng Minh Tự," is named after the historical figure. Geographically, the temple is referred to as the Lower Temple or the Third Temple (it is called the Lower Temple because it is located at the foot of Trường Lệ Mountain). At the foot of the mountain, there is the Central Temple (dedicated to Tô Hiến Thành), while at the mountain's peak, there is the Upper Temple, also known as the Độc Cước Temple.

Hoàng Minh Tự, whose surname is Hoàng, was from the Baiyue ethnity of the southern region of the Yellow River (China). He moved to Vietnam and settled in a commune in Hậu Lộc district, Thanh Hóa. Around the Long Khánh period of the Trần Dynasty (1373 - 1377), the Champa Kingdom invaded. The King of the Trần Dynasty personally led the army to fight the invaders. Hoàng Minh Tự, standing on the road, requested to join the military campaign. The King appointed him to manage the military supplies. He successfully completed the task and was honored by the King, who granted him the title "Minh Tự." As a result, the people commonly referred to him as "Hoàng Minh Tự." After his death, the royal court ordered the people to build a temple to honor him in Thanh Hóa. According to records, there are several places dedicated to him, including: the Uy Hồ commune in Đồng Lạc village, Xuân Lôi village (now part of Xuân Kỳ and Lộc Tân communes, Hậu Lộc); Trường Lệ village, Du Vịnh commune; Sơn village, Quảng Xương district. The main temple, known as Hoàng Minh Tự Temple, has been worshiped for over 700 years, and it is located at the foot of Trường Lệ Mountain in Trường Sơn ward, Sầm Sơn city today.


 

                         Image of the Hoàng Minh Tự General’s Temple (Collected Image)

The “Hoàng Minh Tự” Temple features the traditional "chuôi vồ- paddle-like" architectural style. It consists of three main components: the front hall, the middle hall, and the inner sanctuary. This is the earliest style of temple architecture in Vietnam, and not many ancient artifacts remain from the temple’s original structure. Only a few relics survive, such as the incense altar, the royal throne, and a large plaque (a lacquered wooden plaque with golden characters in Chinese that reads "Tối linh từ," meaning the temple is very sacred). The temple also houses four royal decrees, a ceremonial palanquin, and a set of ceremonial robes. These artifacts are well-preserved (currently stored and preserved at the Độc Cước Temple, awaiting transportation back to the Lower Temple).

Based on the inscription on the stone columns and the front hall, the most recent restoration was in the third year of the Bao Đại reign (1928), marking it 80 years ago. The entire structural framework of columns, beams, and rafters is made of reinforced concrete, designed in a rectangular shape. The decorative details, such as the patterns on the beams, pediments, and other elements, feature cloud and leaf motifs. Two statues of martial generals are made from lime and sugar.

The god "Hoàng Minh Tự" is worshipped in six places in Thanh Hóa, according to researchers. However, we in Trường Sơn Ward take pride in having the main Hoàng Minh Tự Temple. The deity “Hoàng Minh Tự” symbolizes the perfect spirit of community unity, diligent and creative labor, resistance to evil forces, and a peaceful life for the people. This is an ideal that each generation should strive to emulate.

The god Hoàng Minh Tự is a noble figure who does not seek fame or fortune but works for the peaceful life of the people. It is something that we all should learn from. Let us light a stick of incense, solemnly offering it to the divine and our ancestors, reminding ourselves: Let us shed the bad and the hidden, and do more good deeds, contributing to building and beautifying this life, making the present and the future even better.

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