To the residents of Hoi An it is known as the Ong Pagoda while the Chinese refer to it as Trung Han Quan. Quan Cong Temple built in 1653 is dedicated to Quan Cong who served during the times of the Han Dynasty and was considered as an exemplary and visionary general who functioned during the period of the ‘Three Warring Kingdoms.’ The original structure of the temple has witnessed many a restoration effort, all part of showcasing this fine structure which was bestowed with the honour of a ‘National Historic and Cultural Site’ in 1991.
Comprising of three sections; namely the open yard, front hall and the sanctuary (back hall), the shrine is now one of the most visited tourist destinations in all of Hoi An. Its structure is segregated into lines of houses and the roofs are beautifully adorned in green glazed tube tiles while the top edges are made complete by patterns of unicorns and dragons.
Venture into the sacred premises of the front hall where the mesmeric site of the altar dedicated to the guards of Quan Cong is found. Additionally a series of ritual objects and weapons are kept on both sides of the altar while an enormous drum and half-a-bell gifted by King Bao Dai remain which have been known to capture the attention of the traveller.
However one must take time to examine the iconic statuette of Quan Cong himself. This 3 metre high statue is dressed in a green robe and is pictured riding a white horse while looking down at his two fostered children. One must also call at the main sanctuary of the temple as it leads to wooden board on which the words of a poem written by famed poet Duke Nguyen Nghiem are inscribed. The words are found to praise and honour the great general.
Currently various religious ceremonies are conducted at Quan Cong Temple and should you want to discover the sights and sounds of ancient China, then consider coming over for a holiday when the Ong Pagoda Festival is held. If such is the case, a pleasing Hoi An hotel would be the need of the hour. Offering the finest of local hospitality and an array of world class amenities, Anantara Hoi An Resort which is rated as a Hoi An spa resort must definitely be given some thought.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
