TL;DR: Cờn Temple, in the former Quỳnh Phương ward, now Quỳnh Mai ward, Nghệ An province, worships the Four Holy Ladies: Empress Dowager Yang of the Southern Song, two princesses and a wet nurse. The Đại Nam nhất thống chí records that Emperor Trần Anh Tông, passing the Cờn estuary on a campaign against Champa, was helped by the spirit in a dream, won, and conferred the title "Quốc gia nam hải đại càn thánh nương". The festival runs from the 19th to the 21st of the first lunar month, with a palanquin procession to the sea for a fishing prayer; in 2016 it was recognised as national intangible cultural heritage.
Who is worshipped at Cờn Temple?
Cờn Temple worships the Four Holy Ladies (Tứ vị Thánh nương): Empress Dowager Yang (Dương Nguyệt Quả) of the Southern Song, two princesses and a wet nurse; the temple also honours Emperor Bing of Song and officials such as Zhang Shijie[1]. It stands in Quỳnh Phương ward of the former Hoàng Mai town, Nghệ An province; the inner sanctuary sits on Diệc mound facing the Mai Giang river[1]. Since 2025, Quỳnh Phương has belonged to Quỳnh Mai ward, Nghệ An province.
This is not a temple of the four Holy Mothers of the Three or Four Palaces. Even so, Cờn Temple lies on the pilgrimage network of Mother Goddess practitioners: mediums and followers visit temples such as Mẫu Tam Đảo, Bảo Hà, Đông Cuông, Cờn in Nghệ An and Sòng in Thanh Hóa[4].
How do the chronicles record the legend of the Four Holy Ladies?
The Đại Nam nhất thống chí records that in the 12th year of Hưng Long under the Trần, Emperor Anh Tông led a campaign against Champa; passing the Cờn estuary, he dreamed of a spirit who said she was a Song court lady, driven here by enemies, made a sea deity by the Lord on High, and offered to help him defeat the enemy[2]. On waking he ordered offerings; the sea was calm, his army reached the citadel of Chà Bàn and won a great victory; on his return he conferred the title "Quốc gia nam hải đại càn thánh nương" and had the temple enlarged[2].
The newspaper Pháp luật Việt Nam dates that campaign to the 19th year of Hưng Long (1311) and gives the title as "Đại Càn quốc gia Nam Hải Tứ vị Thánh Nương"[1]. The same book also records that in the first year of Hồng Đức, Emperor Lê Thánh Tông passed the Cờn estuary on his Champa campaign and found calm seas[2].
When is the Cờn Temple festival held?
The Cờn Temple festival runs from the 19th to the 21st day of the first lunar month[1]. In the Đinh Mùi year it falls on 24 to 26 February 2027.
The temple was recognised as a national cultural relic in 1993; in 2016 the Cờn Temple festival was recognised as national intangible cultural heritage[1].
How does the palanquin procession at Cờn Temple take place?
The ritual part includes the opening rite, the offering rite and the grand offering; folk games follow, among them the custom of chạy Ói, a feature of this festival[1].
The highlight is the procession of palanquins to the sea. In 2019, on the morning of 25 February (the 21st day of the first month of Kỷ Hợi), four palanquins, each carried by 18 to 20 young men of the Quỳnh Phương fishing village, went along the beach to the site of the fishing prayer; the young men tossed the palanquins high on Quỳnh beach[3]. The fishing prayer asks for favourable weather and a good catch[3].
What are the key facts about Cờn Temple?
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Former Quỳnh Phương ward, now Quỳnh Mai ward, Nghệ An province |
| Worshipped | The Four Holy Ladies; Emperor Bing of Song, Zhang Shijie |
| Title according to the Đại Nam nhất thống chí | Quốc gia nam hải đại càn thánh nương |
| Festival dates | 19th to 21st day of the first lunar month |
| Festival in 2027 | 24 to 26 February 2027 |
| National cultural relic | 1993 |
| National intangible cultural heritage | 2016 |
Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: what to keep in mind at the Cờn Temple festival?
The procession to the sea starts early in the morning and draws large crowds, so arrive early and stand somewhere safe while the young men toss the palanquins. Dress modestly in the inner sanctuary; incense, flowers and fruit are enough as offerings.
If you follow an old map, look for Quỳnh Mai ward, Nghệ An province, instead of Quỳnh Phương ward, Hoàng Mai town.
