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Au Co Mother Temple is one of the prominent spiritual destinations, containing many long-standing cultural values. This is a place where visitors come to pay their respects, immerse themselves in the sacred atmosphere, and explore meaningful historical stories. Let's start a wonderful journey to Phu Tho with NVK Travel in the article below.
Au Co Mother Temple is an important spiritual structure of the ancestral land, located in Hien Luong commune, Ha Hoa district, Phu Tho province. The temple was established during the Later Le dynasty and has undergone many renovations but still retains its solemn and ancient characteristics. This is one of the most attractive destinations for tourists in Phu Tho thanks to the harmonious combination of historical, cultural, and artistic architectural values.
Overview of Au Co Mother Temple in Ha Hoa, Phu Tho
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Au Co Mother Temple is associated with the legend of "the hundred eggs", telling the story of Mother Au Co who gave birth to one hundred children, of which fifty followed their mother to the mountains to cultivate the land. The eldest son is honored as Hung Vuong, the first king who initiated the Van Lang era.
To commemorate the contributions of the National Mother, the people established a temple to honor her and named it Au Co Mother Temple. Entering the sacred space of the temple, visitors can easily feel the majesty emanating from the nearly two-ton bronze statues, symbolizing Mother Au Co along with the Lac Hau and Lac Tuong. In addition, the items inside the temple such as the incense altar, the gate, and the decorative curtains are painted in red and gilded.
Inside the temple currently worships National Mother Au Co
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Au Co Mother Temple is not only a structure linked to folk legends but also a monument with profound historical and cultural values, existing for over half a millennium. Through many fluctuations of time, the temple has maintained its important position in the spiritual life of the people of the ancestral land and has been recognized by the state multiple times.
According to historical records, in 1465 under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the temple was granted a decree and construction was initiated to expand its scale, becoming a solemn structure as it appears today. During the Nguyen dynasty in the 19th century, the temple was once again granted a decree, reaffirming its special position in the worship of the National Mother of the nation.
Previously, the temple had also been granted decrees multiple times
Entering modern times, the value of the temple continues to be reinforced by national titles. On August 3, 1991, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) ranked Au Co Mother Temple as a national historical and cultural monument. On January 23, 2017, the worship of Mother Au Co was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, affirming the immense spiritual value that the temple brings to the community.
The temple preserves long-standing cultural values
In particular, in 2019, the statue of Mother Au Co at the temple was classified as a National Treasure by the Prime Minister. This is a clear testament to the artistic value and sacred significance of the structure. Au Co Mother Temple is currently part of a complex of monuments including Linh Phuc Pagoda and Duc Ong Communal House, creating a harmonious cultural and spiritual space that attracts thousands of visitors.
Visitors from afar when traveling to Phu Tho should not miss this centuries-old temple. Besides its historical values, most visitors are very fond of the ancient architecture and exquisite carvings.
The temple possesses ancient and intricate beauty
Au Co Mother Temple in Phu Tho features a characteristic traditional architectural style, harmonizing simplicity and refined artistry. The entire structure is arranged in a rectangular layout, covering an area of over 150m², surrounded by a solid wall system.
The roof is covered with yin-yang tiles, and the railing running around the temple is finished with famous Thanh Hoa green stone. The railing panels are also intricately carved with images of the Lac bird along with many depictions of folk activities. The interior space of the temple consists of five main compartments, constructed with large lim wood columns.
The characteristic traditional architecture of ancient Vietnamese people
The temple roof is designed in the "dragon scale" style - a familiar architectural style of Vietnamese temples, both beautiful and spiritually significant. Most of the worship items and interior details are intricately carved, reflecting the harmonious combination of the worship of the National Mother and traditional sculpture art.
The most attractive point for visitors when entering the main hall is the statue of National Mother Au Co - a statue symbolizing the entire complex. The image of the Mother is depicted with a gentle and kind face.
The statue is placed on a throne nearly two meters high, creating a solemn and respectful atmosphere. In addition to the main statue, the temple also preserves many other worship statues such as the statue of Duc Ong, statues of Lac Hau and Lac Tuong, along with a series of valuable artifacts.
The temple preserves many valuable artifacts
In addition to the sacred landscape and ancient architecture, Au Co Mother Temple is also known for the traditional festival held annually after the Lunar New Year. This festival, often called the Tien Giang festival, is a major cultural event that attracts a large number of local people and visitors.
Before the main festival day, the local people have begun to organize preparation rituals such as offering incense, conducting ceremonies, and rehearsing the procession. The main festival takes place early in the morning on the 7th day of the first lunar month, marking the beginning of important rituals. In the morning, a ceremony to worship the Village Guardian will be held at the communal house with the participation of a team of male worshippers, symbolizing the spirit of respect and preservation of tradition.
The festival is seen as a beauty in folk beliefs
At the hour of the Dragon (around 7-9 AM), the procession begins to move from Duc Ong Communal House to the temple courtyard. The procession is led by the Bat Am troupe with the sounds of lute, flute, two-stringed instrument, drum, and clapper,... The worship team consists of 12 women who will offer prepared offerings including 100 sweet cakes, 100 rice cakes, vegetarian dishes, five fruits, and colorful paper money,...
The festival lasts for three days, from the 7th to the 9th of the first lunar month. Besides the solemn rituals, the festival is very lively with a series of unique folk games such as swinging, cock fighting, human chess, and to tom,... On the last day, the procession will bring the palanquin back from the temple to the communal house, officially closing the Tien Giang festival with a joyful and meaningful atmosphere.
Many other activities are included in the Tien Giang festival
From Hanoi, the journey to Au Co Mother Temple is quite convenient and easy, suitable for day pilgrimages. You start from the city center, head towards Nhat Tan Bridge, then enter the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway (CT05). Continue straight along the expressway until you reach the turn-off to National Route 3C.
From here, visitors only need to travel a short distance to reach Hien Luong commune, where Au Co Mother Temple is located. The temple is right near the main road, so after stopping the car, you only need to walk a few dozen meters to enter the temple grounds.
The travel route for visitors when visiting the temple
Au Co Mother Temple is one of the unique cultural and spiritual destinations that visitors should not miss when visiting the land of Hung Kings. Let your Phu Tho travel journey become more complete by contacting NVK Travel today. Visitors will receive attentive and thorough advice on quality tour services for a wonderful trip.
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