Discover the festival at Ba Chua Kho Temple

Borrow wealth at year's start, return to Bac Ninh to pay rights at year's end, seeking the Queen's blessings for a prosperous home. Every lunar year-end, crowds flock to Ba Chua Co Temple to offer their thanks. Today, we will explore this temple in detail to discover what makes it so profoundly sacred. Please follow me inside as we begin our tour. Ba Chua Co Temple is a renowned site within the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship. Built on Co Mountain in Co Mi Village, Bac Ninh, by the scenic Ca River, it enshrines the Queen as its primary deity. Legend says she managed the Lai army's provisions during the Song resistance and was later deified for her heroic sacrifice. After climbing the stone steps, we reach the three-arched entrance gate, known as the Gi Mon. Flanking the gate are two guardian deities protecting the temple's sanctity. This threshold marks the boundary between the mundane world and the sacred realm of the gods. The gate features a central bell, flanked by a bronze drum and a bronze chime. Usually, before entering the temple grounds, many worshipers bow sincerely at the gate as a gesture of respect to the guardian deities before proceeding. The rule when passing the gate is to enter through the right-hand door and exit through the left-hand door. Historically, the central door was reserved solely for royalty, scholars, and officials. Once you pass through the gate, the temple complex unfolds before the visitor. The layout consists of several buildings, each dedicated to the worship of different deities and saints. The central chamber is the main hall, dedicated to the mother goddess Pantheon and the Queen. To the right are the mountain, maiden, and youth shrines, to the left, the heaven and earth mother altars. If you have brought offerings, please head to the preparation area on the left. Once prepared, bring your offerings to the main incense burner before the Queen's altar. Here, offer three sticks of incense with sincerity to present your prayers to the deities. Afterward, proceed to place your offerings in the main sanctuary. The altar layout reflects the traditions of mother goddess worship. The first is the communal altar for all deities. It honors all saints and spirits within the three and four realms. After paying respects here, we move to the inner chambers. This area contains various dedicated altars. The center features five statues of the great mandarins. Known as the five great mandarins. The first mandarin of heaven, in red. The second mandarin of the highlands, in green. The third mandarin, in white. The fourth mandarin, in yellow. And the fifth mandarin, in purple. Behind the great mandarins lies the altar of the three holy mothers. Hosting the three statues of the holy mothers. The first holy mother of heaven in red. The deity presiding over the heavens. The second holy mother of the forest in green, overseeing the mountains. The third holy mother of water in white, governing the rivers. The innermost chamber is the inner sanctuary, or the queen's palace. This chamber is typically kept closed. Inside sits the statue of the treasure queen. Flanked by the great duke and her attendants. This is the temple's most sacred and vital space. The temple also houses four royal princes of the mother goddess pantheon. To the left are the twin prince and the tenth prince. To the right are the third prince and the seventh prince. To the left of the main hall is a smaller room. Housing altars to the god of wealth and earth deity. Once you have completed your prayers in the main hall. And waited for the offerings to be cleared. You may move left to pray at the nine-tiered heaven and earth mother altars. The nine-tiered heaven mother, or celestial mother, is known as princess Tan Van. The nine-tiered heaven represents the nine celestial levels of the divine realm. The nine-tiered heaven mother is often confused with mother Lu Han, they are distinct deities. The earth mother, or princess Kuang Kung, governs the realm of the underworld. After praying here, we move to the right of the main hall. That is the mountain sanctuary, also known as the mountain palace or cave. This chamber is decorated like a cave, housing the mountain queens and maidens. Presiding here is the trio of mountain queens. These three queens date back to the Hung King era. All three are considered incarnations of the forest mother. The forest mother governs the 36 caves, 12 fairies, and 8 mountain spirits. The sanctuary is divided into 12 ethnic groups of man, muang, and tribal origins. Hence the name, 36 caves, encompassing 82 forest and 72 sea portals. The 8 spirits include 8 male generals, while the 12 fairies comprise 12 female leads. Outside the mountain sanctuary are the shrines for the young maiden and youth. These are also revered deities within the mother goddess faith. The maiden and youth shrines serve as symbolic worship spaces. Though many such spirits exist, only one symbolic statue is placed here. Beside the mountain sanctuary is the toad shrine, symbolizing the three-legged toad. This altar is commonly dedicated to bringing wealth and prosperity. Right next to it is the altar for the mountain god. Once you have finished praying at all altars at Ba Chua Ko temple, you may then remove your offerings to the burning area. Visiting today, I see so many offerings being burned. Some even bring three full sacks of boat of money to burn. The tradition of borrowing and repaying is a core spiritual practice. But avoid superstition, don't let cultural customs turn into fanaticism. That covers the main areas of Ba Chua Ko temple. I hope this guide makes your pilgrimage easier and more meaningful.