Dong Co Temple is one of the historical-cultural relics, where both the charming landscape and the myths associated with many stages in the history of the country have been made.
Dong Co Temple is one of the historical-cultural relics of Yen Dinh district, which is ranked at the National level (2001), from the City. Thanh Hoa 40 km northwest. Along with the relics: Lam Kinh, Nha Ho, Dong Son, Nui Do, Nui Nua ..., Dong Co temple is a spiritual tourist destination and source, forming a famous cultural - historical complex of Thanh has a long tradition of tradition. Tourists from TP. Thanh Hoa, up against Thong Thong bridge, passing Van Ha bridge (Chu river) to Quan Lao town, going about 12 kilometers to Yen Tho commune, is coming to Dong Co temple in Dan Ne village, Yen Tho commune, where the weather is located. charming scene, both myths associated with many stages in the country's history.

Legend has it that in the past, a king went to fight the enemy here and stayed for a night on Truong Chau wharf on the right bank of Ma river (now belonging to Yen Tho commune). In the dream, the king was told by a deity to be a god of the mountain of Co Dong, who dreamed that at the foot of the mountain, there were ancient bronze drums, digging up and using drums to chase the enemy. When the king woke, he heard the echoing bell from the temple at the foot of three mountains. The king followed what the goddess here told me. The enemy troops heard the sound of the sound of the drums, which were terrifying and ran away. From there, where the three rocky mountains stuck together, creating a strong position from solidarity strength as a tripod, became sacred. According to the suspension note in Thuong Dien: "Dong Co Temple was built during the Hung Vuong period (2569 - BC), to the Ly Dynasty (1020), the temple was remodeled, to the Le - Trinh period (1630), The temple was built more spacious and beautiful ... The temple of the god of Dong Co mountain - the god helped the dynasties to defeat foreign invaders and eradicate rebellion: Helping King Hung to defeat Ho Ton enemy; helping King Ly defeat the Chiem enemy and eliminate rebellion; helping King Le-lord Trinh to fight against Mac; The lives of Dinh, Ly, Tran and Le worship all fulfilled, helping to preserve the country ... ”.

Dong Co Temple is the place where rituals of our kings are held. In the temple there are many divine powers, ordained of dynasties. The Tran, Le and Trinh dynasties - Nguyen still maintained national ceremonies at Dong Co temple in Yen Dinh (Thanh Hoa) and Buoi ward (Hanoi). In the Tran dynasty, the vow of Dong Co was a large society, and the four people came to see the festival very large.

Festival at Dong Co Temple
At the original temple in Dan Ne there are three solid rocky mountains (called Tam Thai Son) covering a large area with a lake in the middle, creating charming scenery.

Tam Thai painting
In front of the temple, across the semicircle lake, there are two steles on the cliff of Xuan Mountain. A kanji is engraved with the epitaph written by Nguyen Quang Ban, the son of Quang Trung king, written in 1802, praising the charming landscape of the place, and recounting the story of an ancient bronze drum found and performed. into the temple. The other is in French, engraved in 1889, the content is written down to the text of Dan Ne villagers' respect for the temple. As for the inscription of the Chinese word, in the year of Canh Tuat (1790), Tuyen proclaimed that Nguyen Quang Ban obeyed his father's mandarin and commanded the governor of Thanh Hoa town. One night, he rested in Dan Ne village, and prayed in a shrine to worship the Son Than Ancient. After that, he realized by suddenly seeing the southern bank of the Ma River reveal an ancient bronze drum 9 meters wide and 4 meters high. It is argued that this is an old bronze drum that helped King Hung to make spiritual energy against the invaders. In the year of Nham Tuat (1802), when having the opportunity to go to the temple, Nguyen Quang Ban sent the bronze drum to find it before giving it to the temple. At the same time, writing beer (at that time a wooden beer) was recorded so that the next life would be clear.

According to the elderly in Dan Ne village, Dong Co temple used to have 38 rooms, and the back was leaning against Tam Thai Son (the villagers called in a wild way, Dong mountain range). In the past, the three rocky mountains surrounding the temple were dense primeval trees, large trees, many birds and animals. But, through many changes, now there are only rocky mountains with low-level regenerating trees.

There is Nghinh Mon temple consisting of 3 floors, 8 roofs, bearing the architectural style of the 15th century (Le Dynasty), 9 m high, 3 m wide, assembled with square stones (not using mortar), curled into arches. crumpled. According to the stone steps up to the ancient temple on Xuan Mountain, visitors can take in the wonderful scenery of the Ma River. In the middle of the vast banks of green corn fields, there is a flag, the river in dry season brings the color of peaceful jade. Far away, on the other side of the river is the shape of the Ho Dynasty (belonging to Vinh Loc district), hidden in the dim winter fog. At the foot of the mountain, Dong Co temple (rebuilt in 1996, consisting of only one space of two wings), is in green leaves. In front of the temple and Sell Nguyet lake, it is like a mirror reflecting the sky and the shadow of the mountain.

On February 23, 2010, the People's Committee of Hanoi City attached the sea of ​​works to celebrate 1000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi for relics of Dong Co temple in Dan Ne village, Yen Tho commune (Yen Dinh, Thanh Hoa). .

Three-door gate into the temple
Dong Co temple in Dan Ne (Yen Dinh) and Dong Co temple in Hanoi capital are really historical-cultural relics of special value to the Vietnamese people, it clearly shows the spirit of good and heart awake about the source, hope to respect the loyalty and patriotism of the Vietnamese people, promote the values ​​that follow the martial tradition of our people. This is also a place to visit, enjoy, visit the scene and pray for the prayers of domestic and foreign tourists.