In the first days of the Binh Ngo New Year, the Doc Cuoc Temple area (Sam Son ward, Thanh Hoa province) is crowded with people coming to enjoy spring, offer incense, and worship.
From the foot of Truong Le mountain, following the stone steps leading up to the temple, groups of visitors stretched out, creating a bustling but solemn atmosphere in the first days of the new year.
As a special national historical and cultural relic, Doc Cuoc Temple has long become a familiar spiritual destination for people in Thanh Hoa and tourists from all over every spring.
This year, favorable weather, light sunshine, Sam Son blue sea further increases the attractiveness of the relic complex located on Co Giai island (also known as Miet Canh island), belonging to the Truong Le mountain range, (Sam Son ward, Thanh Hoa province).
From early morning in the early spring days, the Temple grounds are already crowded with people. Many families take advantage of the Tet holiday to bring their children and grandchildren to worship, praying for a peaceful and favorable new year. On the winding stone steps leading to the top of the mountain, the flow of people moves slowly, holding offerings neatly and respectfully.
According to records, in the first days of the year, the number of visitors increased sharply compared to normal days. Many families choose Doc Cuoc Temple as a stopover at the beginning of the year in their spring travel journey. Preliminary statistics show that in the first days of the year, there are 5,000 - 7,000 visitors/day to pilgrimage and sightseeing.
Ms. Tran Thi Anh (born in 1998, Nam Sam Son ward) shared: Doc Cuoc Temple is one of the historical and cultural relics, a famous spiritual tourist destination throughout the region, attracting many tourists from near and far every spring.
Like many others, I and my relatives come here to worship and pray for a new year of good health, everything is smooth, good, and lots of luck. The space of the Temple is also very beautiful, standing from the mountains, looking down at the sea, the scenery is very poetic and charming" - Ms. Anh shared.
Doc Cuoc Temple was built during the Tran Dynasty, restored and embellished during the Le and Nguyen dynasties. The most recent restoration was in 2006. Doc Cuoc God is a demi-body God (one leg) with the name Saint "Doc Cuoc Chan Nhan" or "Son Tieu Doc Cuoc", it is said that the God split himself in half, half guarding the East Sea, half on the shore destroying evil spirits to protect innocent people.
According to the introduction introducing Doc Cuoc Temple, Doc Cuoc God has many transformations. The God has manifested himself to help King Tran Nhan Tong suppress the invaders. The Le and Nguyen dynasties appointed the God as "Thuong Thuong Dang Than" and he is ranked among the immortal gods of Vietnam.
Currently, the Temple still retains 8 imperial decrees for the Gods through dynasties. This is truly an extremely precious asset that needs to be carefully preserved by posterity.
According to published documents, the 44th Canh Hung decree dated July 26 wrote: Doc Cuoc is the most sacred saint in the ranks of Saints that no one can compare to. He uses that sacred talent to protect the borders for the country, protect the people and all things. Punish evildoers severely, truly a saint full of benevolence".
The regulations on management and incense offering of Doc Cuoc Temple relic area of the Public Service Supply Center of Sam Son Ward said: The Relic Management Board opens its doors every day of the year to welcome local people, villages and tourists from all directions to offer incense and sightsee in the relic. The Management Board is regularly on duty at the relic, opens its doors to welcome guests, and guides visitors from all directions to offer incense according to their spiritual wishes and admire the sacred beauty of the relic complex.
The Management Board especially strictly prohibits those who take advantage of relics to predict, fortune-telling, practice superstition, gambling, and harass customers. If detected, please report to the Management Board for timely prevention measures" - the regulations stated clearly.
