Bach Ma The holiest temple in Nghe An

Bach Ma (Bạch Mã) - The holiest temple in Nghe An

Bach Ma temple; which is located in Tan Ha (Tân Hà) hamlet, Vo Liet (Võ Liệt) commune, Thanh Chuong (Thanh Chương) district, Nghe An province; is believed to be of the holiest temples with Con (Cờn) temple, Qua (Quả) temple,

and Chieu Trung (Chiêu Trưng) temple (now belongs to Ha Tinh province).
This temple worships the General Phan Da (Phan Đà), a young talent who greatly contributed to the victory against Ming aggression in early years of the 15th century led by King Le Loi (Lê Lợi).

According to some records and orally-told stories, Phan Da is from Chi Linh hamlet, Vo Liet commune, used to be a talent since his early ages. In 1424, Lam Son (Lam Sơn) insurgent army led by Le Loi headed for Nghe An to set up their general headquarters, he asked for permission to join the army and was soon assigned to important function. In a battle, Phan Da had a spoil of a valuable white horse named "Thiên lý mã" (thousand-mile horse). Since then, to every battle, he used to rise this horse, in his white armour, to rule battles. His fame widely spread. People respectfully called him White-horse God. After his death, his spirit many times blessed and saved his people and country. As a result, a temple was set up to worship this general.

The temple consists of 5 palaces with three-door gates, fringe, and blocks for civil and military mandarins, lower (upper, middle) palaces, which are all in harmony to bring about solemnity and respect. Almost all wooden details are carved with metamorphosed fish into dragon; phoenixes holding in their mouth imperial edict, two dragons flanking a moon, etc. There store in this temple a lot of rare and valuable exhibits such as: golden house, silver house, copper tintinnabulum set (38 pieces), statue of phoenix trimmed with gold, etc. Annually, rituals and offerings are held on 9th and 10th in lunar February.