Minh Thien Temple

Location: Thien Temple (also called Minh Thien Tu, Thon Temple) is located close to the foot of Tien Tan dike, in Co Ngua village, Lien Minh commune.

Worshipped figures: Unlike many relics, Thien Temple is a typical evidence of the interweaving and convergence of the thought "Three religions with the same origin" Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism combined with local beliefs. The temple worships: Jade Emperor, Confucius, Hung Dao Dai Vuong (Tran Hung Dao), Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Guanyin, Nam Tao, Bac Dau, Holy Mother Lieu Hanh, Earth God, and also predecessors who contributed to building the temple.

2. History of Formation

Origin: The temple originated from a small shrine belonging to the family of Mr. Hoang Van Doi, a poor but studious local Confucian scholar.

Construction process: In the Quy Ty year (1893), Mr. Doi, his wife, and three other elders (Nguyen Van Bich, Hoang Van Tinh, Nguyen Van Dat) together built the temple on a mound in the middle of a pond. In 1933, descendants in the association rebuilt the Rear Sanctuary and the eaves. In 1941 (the 16th year of Bao Dai), the scale was expanded with five additional Front Hall bays.

Restoration: After a long period under the subsidy system when it had to be worshipped together with the village pagoda, causing the structure to deteriorate, the government and local people carried out a major restoration in 1997. In 2006, due to hail damage, the temple continued to be renovated to achieve the spacious architectural layout it has today.

3. Outstanding features of architecture, art, and relics

Architecture: The temple faces northeast and includes a screen, Front Hall, and Rear Sanctuary.

Front Hall: It consists of five bays built with closed gable walls; inside hangs a horizontal plaque reading "Dao cao thien co".

Rear Sanctuary: Uniquely designed in the "front blade, rear gable" style with a two-tiered overlapping roof. In particular, the eave section in front of the forbidden chamber is designed in an arched style to separately place the Earth God altar and the Mother Goddess altar.

Artifacts: The temple preserves a rich collection of artifacts strongly bearing the artistic style of the Nguyen period, such as horizontal plaques, parallel couplets, dragon thrones, spirit tablets, a diverse system of worship statues (wood and earth), and especially a set of 32 woodblocks.

4. Festival and religious activities

Previously, the relic organized a procession of the Mother Goddess, but due to destruction by war, major rituals have faded. Currently, the temple mainly maintains regular spiritual and religious activities.

Main festival: It is set on the 28th day of the 3rd lunar month annually (this commemorates the day the temple was roofed in the Tan Ty year 1941), with rituals of offering and memorial presentation.

Thanksgiving ceremony: In particular, the temple maintains a death anniversary to remember the merits of the Hoang and Nguyen families who contributed to establishing the temple. The offerings are very rustic and traditional: round glutinous rice cakes and steamed rice rolls.

In addition, the temple still maintains the ritual of presenting memorials and offerings on commemorative occasions of Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh and the death anniversary of Saint Tran.

Minh Thien Temple was recognized and ranked as a historical-cultural relic and scenic spot in Hanoi City under Decision No. 4866/QD-UBND dated September 18, 2024.