PHUONG CUONG TEMPLE – NGHI LOC

The relics of Phuong Cuong temple is located in Nghi Phong commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province, are the place to worship "Duc Thanh Tran".

Duc Thanh Tran is Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan (also known as Tran Hung Dao), a national hero, who commanded three times to defeat the Nguyen - Mong invader in the 13^th century, a famous general not only of Vietnam but also recognized by the whole world. Legend has it that, in this land, a naval battle took place between the Tran army and the Toa Do army from the South to the North. When the country was at peace, to commemorate the merits of the generals of the Tran dynasty, typically Tran Hung Dao, the People built a temple and honored him as the village god.

Phuong Cuong Temple faces the West, with traditional architecture, ancient appearance. The temple consists of two buildings: worship house and the harem.

Worship house is built in the style of four pillars, including 5 main compartments and 2 small rooms, height of 5.5m, length of 15m, width of 6m, with 24 columns made of ironwood, decorated with delicate and beautiful patterns and motifs. The harem consists of 3 compartments and 2 gables, with 14 columns placed on green rocks.

Phuong Cuong Temple is located in a discreet, quiet and convenient location, so the Trung Ky regional Party Committee, Nghi Loc District Party Committee, Dang Xa Canton Party Committee have chosen it as a center for communication, meeting, printing and hiding documents of the Party in the years 1930-1931. This is the place where the joint party cell was established, including the villages: My Chiem, Phuong Cuong, Van Trach, Phu Ich, Yen Lac led by comrade Nguyen Van Phan as Secretary.

During the period 1936-1939, 1939-1945, at Phuong Cuong Temple, it took place many important meetings of the Viet Minh which discussed policies and strategies for revolutionary struggle, and it was the basis for directing the people to seize the government during the August Revolution in 1945 in the Southeast area of Nghi Loc.

From 1956-1963, Phuong Cuong temple became the working headquarters of Nghi Phong commune, the army delivery station of Nghe An province in 1964-1968 and the stationing place of the Nghe An tank unit in 1971-1973.

Every year, at Phuong Cuong Temple, there are many festivals such as the tree-lowering ceremony on January 7^th and the Sacrifice Ceremony on January 15^th of the lunar calendar. In addition to the traditional ritual, the villagers also organize many folk games such as card flags, human flags, etc., imbued with national cultural identity, attracting a large number of people to participate.

With great historical values, Phuong Cuong Temple was recognized as a national historic Site by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1997.