Gin Temple is located in a 3,290m2 campus in Nam Minh commune, Ninh Binh province. In 1962, Gin Temple was recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a national historical and cultural relic.
This ancient temple is a place where local people worship and express gratitude for the merits of General Kieu Cong Han, who contributed to helping Ngo Quyen defeat the Southern Han army on the Bach Dang River in 938.
Mr. Pham Van Dung (Gin Temple Venerable) said: "According to recorded records, the temple was built and passed down to this day for thousands of years. It has been built for a long time, so the temple has been restored, upgraded, and repaired many items many times.
The national historical and cultural relic Gin Temple is a large-scale architectural work, still preserving almost the entire old architecture in the artistic style of the Later Le Dynasty, 17th - 18th centuries.
At the relic, many ancient artifacts are preserved, especially antiques from the Later Le and Nguyen dynasties such as: relics, imperial decrees, incense tables, thrones and tablets, worship statues, stone statues...
Every year, at the national historical and cultural relic Gin Temple, a festival takes place with a unique carp worshiping ritual. The festival is held for 3 days, from the 8th to the 10th day of the twelfth lunar month.
The procession during the official taboo day at Gin Temple (December 10th of the lunar calendar) is the most important ritual, with the largest number of palanquins, about 30 palanquins. In particular, among the offerings are black carp offerings weighing from 10 - 30kg/fish, offered by people in hamlets and villages in the locality to worship the Saint.
According to local people, the carp worshiping custom is to reminisce about the legend that local people offered carp salad to General Kieu Cong Han before becoming a god. In addition to carp, there is also a Ngoc tray, fruits, cakes and a elaborately prepared chicken sticky rice offering ceremony.
