The Goddess Chầm Temple

22/12/2024 32 0
Narration

The Goddess Chầm Temple is located in Phùng Giáo Commune, Ngọc Lặc District, Thanh Hóa Province. It is an important historical and cultural site closely connected to the spiritual life of the local people. The temple was built to honor Goddess Chầm, a deity revered by the people for her contributions in protecting the community from natural disasters and diseases, as well as bringing prosperity and peace to the region.

Image: The Temple of Goddess Chầm

According to legend, Goddess Chầm was a concubine of King Lê Lợi. On one occasion, while visiting her hometown and holding a memorial for her mother, she traveled in a large dragon boat up the Âm River. As she and her entourage sailed along the river, they encountered a storm at the Hón Vắng area, which caused their boat to capsize, and she tragically passed away there. Her body was buried on a high hill (Lăng Hill). To honor her contributions to the people and the nation, King Lê Thái Tổ ordered the local people to build a temple at the site of her death, called the Temple of Goddess Chầm, enshrining her as the protective deity of the village.

The temple was built with traditional architecture, presenting a simple yet dignified beauty. The temple's space blends harmoniously with the surrounding natural scenery, creating a peaceful and sacred atmosphere. In front of the temple is a large courtyard, often used for folk festivals, especially during major annual holidays when people from far and wide come to offer incense, praying for health, prosperity, and peace.

The Temple of Goddess Chầm not only preserves cultural and historical values but also serves as a spiritual destination, an important pillar of support for the people of Ngọc Lặc and visitors from near and far. It is a symbol of the tradition of remembering those who have contributed to the community and honoring their legacy.

According to the elders in the village, the temple was built in the 16th-17th centuries. During the years 1958-1960, as part of the movement to eliminate superstitions, the locals dismantled the temple, using the stone foundation for public works. Today, the remnants of the old temple are limited to a few stone foundations, along with some ritual objects. In memory of her contributions, in 1997, the local people, along with the Lê family, led by Mr. Lê Trung Phú, gathered funds to rebuild the temple on the original site to continue honoring Goddess Chầm

The Temple of Goddess Chầm was officially recognized as a Provincial Historical and Cultural Monument by Decision No. 315/QĐ-CT on January 28, 2004, by the People's Committee of Thanh Hóa Province.

Here are some images of the interior of the Temple of Goddess Chầm:

Image source: Collected.

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