Visit the sacred temple worshiping military generals of the Tien Le Dynasty in Hai Phong

Bi Temple is one of the five sacred temples of Tien Lang, including Canh Son Temple (Doan Lap Commune), De Xuyen Temple (Dai Thang Commune), De Son Temple, Gam Temple (Toan Thang), and Bi Temple (Doan Lap Commune). There is also a saying: "First is Bi Temple, second is Gam Temple" to refer to the sacredness of the relic.

Cong tam quan den Bi la mot dang kien truc cong lang co xua duoc dung lai vao nam 1997.

The three-entrance gate of Bi temple is an ancient village gate architecture that was rebuilt in 1997.

Bi Temple worships Bat Hai Long Vuong, a military general of the Tien Le Dynasty, under the reign of King Le Dai Hanh. The legend says: His given name was Hai, and he was from Long Bien citadel (now Hanoi). When the country was first established, King Le Dai Hanh issued an edict ordering the districts to nominate talented people to help the country. He was selected to take the exam and with his military talent and virtue, he was highly regarded by the king and appointed as the Commander-in-Chief.

The temple still preserves many ancient architectural relics, dating back hundreds of years. In 2024, Hai Phong City is completing the dossier to submit to the Ministry for consideration and decision to rank 4 national relics, including Bi Temple.

Den Bi hien nay la mot kien truc chu Dinh, gom mot toa bai duong va hau cung. Day la kien truc do nhan dan phuc dung lai vao nam 1995 theo loi tuong hoi bit doc, lop ngoi.

The current Bi Temple is a Dinh-shaped structure, consisting of a worship hall and a sanctuary. This is an architecture that was restored by the people in 1995 in the style of gable walls and tiled roofs.

Phia truoc den co mot dam nuoc goi la Dam Bi rong lon, do nuoc ra song Van Uc. Dam Bi la noi cung cap nuoc chinh cho san xuat nong nghiep cua vung.

In front of the temple there is a large lagoon called Dam Bi, which flows into the Van Uc River, which is the main water source for agricultural production in the region.

Entering inside is a large brick-paved courtyard, with symmetrical architectural arrangements from the main axis to both sides: on the outermost side are two stone elephants facing the temple. The elephants are made from a single block of stone. The elephants kneel on a stepped stone pedestal in a posture of letting go of their trunks, facing the temple. Following the stone elephants are two parallel stone altars.

The stone incense altar is cubic in shape, 100 cm long, 40 cm wide, 60 cm high, consisting of 3 parts: base, incense altar body and incense altar face. On the incense altar body, in the center there are decorative patterns, due to the long time the stone layer has faded but the decorative daisy pattern in a circular layout can still be recognized. The two corners of the incense altar body are also decorated with blooming daisy flowers facing the center. These relics and antiques are all 300 - 400 years old.

In addition to its historical and architectural value, Mr. Dao Van Binh, the caretaker of Bi Temple, said that Bi Temple is also the center of the rain-praying festival of the people in the region. The ancients have a saying: "When there is a flood, open the double culvert - When there is a drought, swim in Bi Pond". Every time there is a drought, people hold a rain-praying ceremony (dao vu), which usually lasts for 7 days. If it does not rain, they organize a boat-racing competition on Bi Pond, and it will rain.

The Dam Bi boat racing festival is an important part of the Ngu Linh Tu festival - a national intangible cultural heritage. After the boat racing festival, people in Tien Lang district return to their daily lives with the belief that they have been blessed by the gods, giving them more strength to work hard, produce, and promote their homeland's traditions. Photo: Tien Lang District People's Committee