Ky Cung Temple has witnessed many ups and downs of the history of the border region of Lang. Up to now, the temple architecture has had a combination of tradition and modernity. With the annual Ky Cung temple festival, this is an irreplaceable spiritual symbol of the people of Lang Son.
A corner of Ky Cung temple on the occasion of the festival (Photo: collectibles)
Ky Cung Temple is a spiritual place not to be missed when traveling to Lang Son . This place preserves many long-standing values and is also a sacred place to pray for favorable rain and wind all year round. Therefore, the festival season of Ky Cung Temple in Lang Son always attracts a large number of tourists.
1. Where is Ky Cung Temple?
Ky Cung Temple (also known as Quan Lon Tuan Tranh Temple in Lang Son) is located at the junction of the three directions going to Huu Nghi Gate and Dong Kinh Market, near the bridge on the left bank of the north bank of Ky Cung River. Along with Tam Thanh Pagoda and Mother Dong Dang Temple , this place is also an outstanding sacred place in the journey to discover the spiritual culture of Lang.
- Address: Tran Dang Ninh Street, Vinh Trai Ward, City. Lang Son
- Opening hours: not specified
- Ticket price: free
Ky Cung Temple is spacious at present (Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper)
In 2019, the temple completed its renovation and wore the current striking “purple shirt” color. Because purple is the soul of Quan General Tuan who is worshiped here, the color change enhances the sacred value of the temple.
Ky Cung Temple has both spiritual and historical value (Photo: VTV)
According to the historical stele inscribed in the temple, this place did not have a construction year, only the remodeling milestones in 1928, 1931, 1967. In 1993, Ky Cung temple was certified by the State as a historical – cultural relic site. national level. Every year, this place holds a bustling festival and welcomes visitors from all over the country.
2. Who is Ky Cung Temple in Lang Son worshiping?
According to local documents, before the new construction, the old earthen temple was quite small, inside worshiping the god Giao Long. He is the god of rivers, responsible for governing the whole region and blessing the rain and wind.
Currently, Ky Cung Temple in Lang Son worships Quan Lon Tuan Tranh (Photo: Lang Son Newspaper)
During the Tran Dynasty, Ky Cung Temple had a special legend, so it was changed to worship Quan Lon Tuan Tranh . Legend has it that Tuan Tranh was sent by King Tran to guard Lang Son. After defeating the enemy, he was falsely accused by his courtiers of lewdness, so he jumped into the Ky Cung River to commit suicide to prove his innocence.
Feeling the injustice and the heart of Tuan Tranh, the god allowed his soul to become two gods, Mr. Coc – Mr. Dai, who resided at the Temple to govern the river. The injustice of Tuan Tranh’s mandarin later was also cleared by Admiral Than Cong Tai (Le Dynasty general).
The main hall of Quan Lon Tuan Tranh temple (Photo: collectibles)
Today, when visitors come in, they will see Quan Lon Tuan Tranh being worshiped in the main hall. In addition, the sub-chambers are also used to worship Mother Buddha, Quan Am, Tam Toa Thanh Mau and other gods.
3. Visit Ky Cung temple: architectural monuments, art – folk beliefs of the Vietnamese people
Ky Cung Temple has a simple architecture but bold art of Vietnamese spiritual culture. As mentioned, due to being completely rebuilt from the old temple foundation and repaired many times, the temple now has a very spacious coat.
Tourists visit Ky Cung temple in Lang Son with unique purple paint (Photo: collection) 
In general, the architecture of Ky Cung temple is designed in the style of the word “nail”, including 3 arched doors with 2 square brick pillars. Above each entrance, there is a decorative embossed pattern pointing up to the three qi on the dome (the three qi includes the top and the flower vase on both sides).
Two square brick pillars in front of the temple follow the traditional architecture (Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper)
The architecture of Ky Cung temple has 2 large and majestic square brick columns. Visiting inside, you will admire many worship items dating from the Le dynasties (1783) and the Nguyen dynasties (King Khai Dinh – Bao Dai) such as bells, thrones, canopies, parasols, bronze tops and ancient statues. . All of them have very high historical and aesthetic value.
Some worship items have historical value from the Le and Nguyen dynasties (Photo: Lang Son Newspaper)
In front of the temple, there is also a beautiful stone wharf – called Ky Cong Thach Do. This is one of the 8 beautiful scenes of Lang land recorded in the “Tran business of bowls” by the famous Ngo Thi Si. Whenever it is mentioned, not only people in Lang Son are proud but the whole country is also proud.
4. Ky Cung Ta Phu Lang Son Temple Festival
Referring to Lang Son festival , many people often think of good. However, Ky Cung temple festival is also one of the most sacred events in Lang that visitors should experience.
Tourists and locals attend the festival in large numbers (Photo: collectibles)
Ky Cung Temple Festival in Lang Son is held from January 22 to 27 (lunar calendar), divided into 2 parts:
- Part of the ceremony: conducting the procession of Mr. Tuan Tranh’s palanquin from Ky Cung temple to Ta Phu temple – the place of worship of Mr. Than Cong Tai, 1km apart. This re-enacts the old legend and shows the gratitude of Mr. Than Cong Tai – who cleared the wrongdoing for Tuan Tranh mandarin. On the last day of the festival season (January 27 of the lunar calendar), people will bring the case back to the way it was.
- Part of the festival: local people will organize many folk fun activities such as burning firecrackers, human flags, dragon dance, glider singing, etc.
Participating in this festival, visitors will feel the spiritual life imbued with Vietnamese identity. Moreover, each ritual and activity on this occasion contains the values of truth – goodness – beauty of the people of Lang.
To make your trip more enriching, you should visit a combination of places near the temple such as the Mac citadel , Dong Kinh market, Ky Lua market… and buy Lang Son specialties as gifts. If it is a long trip, from the city center, you can move further to the southwest to visit Ai Chi Lang , or to the northeast to visit the majestic Mau Son mountain tourist cluster.
After attending Ky Cung festival, remember to visit Dong Kinh market to buy specialties (Photo: collectibles)
Source: Collected internet.