Where First laureate Le Ich Moc opened a talent training school
Quang Cu Temple is one of 2 relics in Le Ich Moc ward commemorating the first laureate in Hai Phong land - laureate Le Ich Moc.
Le Ich Moc (1458-1538) was born and raised in Rang village, Kinh Mon prefecture, Hai Duong town, now Le Ich Moc ward, Hai Phong city. He passed the Trạng nguyên khoa Nham Tuat (1502) under King Le Hien Tong.
According to the History of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, in his childhood, Le Ich Moc was a smart, studious and obedient boy, loved by his villagers. Every night, under the light of the late moon, Le Ich Moc diligently worked on the scriptures. He poured sand on the tray to smooth it out, and used his fingers to write on the scriptures to read. After three years, he fully understood the doctrines and teachings of the diamond scriptures.
About 5 years later, Le Ich Moc fully understood Buddhist scriptures, and his fame spread throughout the village. Every day Le Ich Moc ate vegetarian food and recited Buddha's name at Rang Pagoda, diligently studying.
In the spring of the year Nham Tuat, the year of Canh Thong 5 (1502) of the Le Hien Tong dynasty, the court held a contest to select talented people. That year's examination passed 61 people, Le Ich Moc passed the Trang Nguyen exam and became an official to the position of Ta thi lang. He entered the life of an official when the prosperous period of the early Le dynasty was no longer there. In 1527, the Mac dynasty ascended the throne, Le Ich Moc handed over the seal from mandarin to scholar at his hometown.
Recalling his poor days, Le Ich Moc spent money to repair and expand Rang Pagoda (now Quang Cu Temple), taking the initial name Dien Phuc Tu and opening a school to teach and train talents for his homeland. Dien Phuc Pagoda, thanks to Le Ich Moc, became a talent training and education center of a large area.
He and the people of Rang village reclaimed the swampy area along the river, planted trees and forests. Le Ich Moc personally planted a green and lush Lim forest, and local people benefited from it from generation to generation.
On the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1538, Trang Nguyen Le Ich Moc passed away at his home, at the age of 80. Trang Nguyen Le Ich Moc's life and career are a bright example for generations to continue striving to study. To commemorate the merits of Trang Nguyen Le Ich Moc, people have built a temple to commemorate him.
Preserving traditional academic values
Although it is not a large-scale project with simple architecture, Quang Cu Temple contains typical values, is one of the rare cultural heritages remaining, contributing to the study of academic tradition in Hai Phong in history. In 1992, Quang Cu Temple was ranked as a historical and cultural relic by the state.
According to information from the e-Portal of Le Ich Moc ward, to date, although there are no historical records accurately recording the time of construction of Quang Cu Temple, according to folklore, the temple has existed for a long time, when Trang Nguyen Le Ich Moc passed away to become a scholar, he invested in major repairs. Quang Cu Temple was then restored twice by the state and people in 1991 and 2020 with traditional ironwood materials.
The temple is located on an area of more than 3,200 m2 with a Dinh-shaped architectural style, including 3 front halls and 1 rear palace. The temple is facing South, with airy architecture, ancient tiled roof, both solemn and mysterious, and creating the familiar warmth of Vietnamese villages.
Having gone through time and harsh conditions, the remaining worship items are very few, including: a bronze bell, incense burner, a wooden bed, a bowl of offerings, two wooden thrones and a statue of Le Ich Moc... In the temple grounds, there is still an ancient stele "Ho Than" built on November 7, 1822.
The Quang Cu Temple Festival takes place on November 8th and January 9th of the lunar calendar every year, attracting a large number of people and visitors from all directions to participate in cultural, artistic and sports activities such as: the procession of the gods, Chinese chess, cockfighting, volleyball, Cheo singing...
Along with the Nguyen Le Ich Moc Memorial Area in Quang Thanh 3 residential group, Quang Cu Temple is not only a cultural and spiritual activity point for people in the area and visitors from all directions, but also a place to express gratitude for Nguyen Le Ich Moc's contributions and awaken the tradition of studiousness and the spirit of overcoming difficulties among the people.
