Dinh Thi

22/12/2024 44 0
Narration

The Thi Temple relic is located in Trung Thanh Village, Yen Le Commune, now Trung Thanh Ward, Yen Cat Town, Như Xuân District, Thanh Hóa Province. This is the most significant historical relic of the Thổ ethnic community, dedicated to the worship of Phúc Thần Lê Phúc Thành, who played an important role in the Lam Sơn uprising against the Ming invaders in the 15th century.

Image: Thi Temple relic, Như Xuân District, Thanh Hóa Province.

The temple enshrines two deities: “Đương Cảnh Bạch Y Thượng Đẳng Tối Linh Thần” (The Highest Spirit of White Robes) and Đương Cảnh Thành Hoàng Lê Phúc Thành (The Village Guardian God Lê Phúc Thành). Inside the temple, there is a throne, an incense table, and various religious artifacts, all gilded. Among the relics associated with Thi Temple are four silk banners decorated with patterns from the late Lê Dynasty to the early Nguyễn Dynasty art style. Additionally, there are two royal decrees granted during the reigns of Kings Khải Định and Bảo Đại.

The temple is nestled against a mountain, with its front facing a rice field (also called Đồng Sẹt), giving it a majestic and imposing appearance. To the south is Mount Mùn Tượng (locally called Mount Chóp Nón), and to the north lies Mount Đồng Cổ. Behind the temple is the Lánh field and the village below. The main building of Thi Temple is constructed in traditional architecture, mainly from wood, with three rooms, a front hall, and a rear sanctuary.

In recent years, with the attention of local authorities, the historical and cultural site of Thi Temple has been renovated and restored with various enhancements to match its significance. It is hoped that the temple will not only serve as a center for spiritual and cultural activities but also as a bond connecting the community of villages, contributing to the development of the region. This helps preserve the cultural identity of the various ethnic groups and maintains the rich cultural heritage of both Thanh Hóa and Vietnam as a whole.

The Thi Temple Festival is held every five years, with a grand celebration, and one of the most significant rituals is the buffalo sacrifice. According to local elders, in preparation for this ceremony, the head of the Lê family will have the villagers select a young male buffalo, which is then carefully tended by unmarried young men. The buffalo is bathed and groomed daily, and women and children are forbidden from approaching it. The day before the ceremony, the buffalo is led to the temple, where the head of the family will offer a prayer to the Village Guardian for the buffalo's sacrifice. The ritual leader holds three incense sticks and a cup of wine, praying to the deities for permission to perform the buffalo sacrifice. Afterward, the leader walks around the buffalo nine times, sprinkling wine and incense on its head, a ritual known as "Lễ Tỉnh Sinh" (the ritual of awakening the spirit).

On the main day of the festival (at midnight on the 16th of the 3rd lunar month), the sacrificial buffalo is bound, and its blood is collected in a bamboo tube, while its meat is prepared for the offering to the Village Guardian. The offerings include the buffalo's head, blood, liver, heart, and tail, along with a feast including sticky rice, chicken, sweet cakes, and square cakes. In addition to the offerings from Sẹt Village, other villages such as Pheo, Thi, Thường, and Thượng Cốc also bring their own offerings to the deities.

After the sacrifice, the offerings and feast are shared with the villagers. From the 10th to the 16th of the lunar month, the ritual proceeds from one village to the next. The ceremonial rites are conducted with solemnity and devotion, reflecting the community’s faith in the Village Guardian, praying for favorable weather, good harvests, and prosperity.

Thi Temple is not only a valuable cultural monument but also a symbol of the spirit of solidarity and community. Visitors to the site have the opportunity to learn more about the history, culture, and people of Như Xuân District, Thanh Hóa. The historical and cultural site was recognized as a provincial heritage site by Decision No. 98/QĐ-VHTT on April 12, 1995.

Some images from the Thi Temple Festival :

Source: Collected

 

 

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