Mang Son Temple is the southernmost of the Five Palaces in the Ba Vi region. The temple is supposed to have been built in the 16th century and restored in the 18th century. Mang Son Temple worships Tan Vien Son Thanh, the main Saint in Vietnamese folk beliefs’ “four immortals,” who has merits to regulate water and safeguard crops so that people might have wealthy and happy lives. Every year on January 7, the temple’s traditional festival honours the merits of Tan Vien Saint. Previously, 5 communes from Phuc Tho canton participated in the festival. There is no lack of green jackfruit, also known as Son Dong jackfruit, in the fruit tray brought to the Saints, and there is no lack of wild meat dishes for the Saint’s feast on the savory tray. On the festival day, delegates from the five historic cantons, which include the communes of three modern-day districts: Son Dong, Son Trung (Son Tay town), Tuong Phieu, Trach Loi (Phuc Tho), and Thuan My (Ba Vi), are assigned to convey the offering items to the Son Trung communal house.The contribution is a hexagonal fruit box packed with eight levels carried by four individuals. The boys from the communes returned to the communal house and were assigned by the Organizing Committee to process three palanquins inside to the Tan Vien Saint’s ancestral tablet at Mang Son Temple, one palanquin for every eight people, one person to go outside, one person holding a flag and dancing to lead the way, one person beating the drums, clearing the crowd,…
Legend: The festival is an occasion to reenact Saint Tan’s story of hunting, killing animals, and spending the night in Bai Thay; communes bring wine to sing and celebrate the triumph.
Mang Son Temple still preserves many precious relics such as: 01 four-sided stone stele “Mang Son Tu Bi Ky“, quite large size, artifact of the 7th Canh Hung year (1746), a pair of wooden stilts standing on a square pillar with 17th century art style, a number of relics such as ordination, throne, tablet, incense bowl, Horizontal lacquered board dating from the early 19th century to the early 20th century…
Son Dong and Son Trung communal houses were most likely established at the same time as Mang Son temple to form a cluster of common local religious works. The two community residences now have the architectural style of the late Nguyen Dynasty after extensive restorations. Currently, the sets in Dai Bai retain the architectural structure and decorative designs of the first part of the twentieth century…
Mang Son Temple Festival
With such cultural and spiritual values, on April 15, 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 891/QD- BVHTTDL on the ranking of historical monuments and artistic architecture. National level art for the cluster of relics of Mang Son temple, Son Trung communal house and Son Dong communal house – Son Dong commune – Son Tay town – Hanoi city.
National Monument of Mang Son Temple
The relic protection area is determined according to the minutes and the map delineating the relic protection areas in the dossier. The People’s Committees of all levels where the relic is located, within the ambit of their duties and powers, perform the state management of the relic in accordance with the law on cultural heritage. All activities related to construction and exploitation in the zoned relic area are strictly prohibited.
The fact that the cluster of relics of Mang Son Temple, Son Trung Communal House and Son Dong Communal House is ranked at the national level will create a legal basis for local authorities and people to more effectively carry out the conservation and promotion of values. of cultural heritage.
Up to now, the whole town of Son Tay has 80/244 ranked relics. In order to preserve and promote the value of relics more effectively, in the coming time, Son Tay town will continue to promote propaganda, education, and raise awareness about the value of cultural heritages to all people levels, especially the young generation. The town will give priority to the restoration of seriously degraded relics; encourage the contributions of organizations and individuals in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage. At the same time, Son Tay will strengthen the inspection and management of relics closely associated with the responsibilities and lives of the people…
Thanh Thanh