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Who is Quan Cong or Guan Yu?

Guan Yu (160-220) was a famous general of China during the Three Kingdoms period (222-265). This was the time when China was divided into 3 separate territories under the rule of the feudal dynasties of Shu, Wei, and Wu. In China, if Confucius is seen as the Saint of Culture, then Guan Yu is seen as the Saint of War. People admire Guan Yu’s fighting skills, loyalty, and sense of justice, so after his death, he was deified and worshiped by the Chinese people until now.

Why is there Quan Cong Temple in Hoi An?

In the 17th century, in China, there was a transition of power between the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Qing dynasty overthrew the Ming dynasty and ruled over China. As a result, many Chinese people who supported the Ming and opposed the Qing dynasty migrated from China to the South. in which, a large part has settled down in Hoi An. They lived and did business with local people here. In fact, they also preserved their own culture and together with local people built the Quan Cong temple to worship one of the most well-known figures in Chinese history. Quan Cong Temple is not only a place where the Chinese remember his merits and talents, but also a place to connect people who come from the same homeland.  

In the past, whenever people in Hoi An did business with one another, they often went to Quan Cong temple to discuss and make a deal. It is believed that if those who do something wrong and do not keep their promises, they will be punished by Quan Cong. It shows that people always put trustworthiness as the top priority when doing business.

What is special about Quan Cong Temple?

The layout of the Quan Cong temple was built following the shape of the character “Quoc” (國) in Chinese. It means “nation” and includes four sections: a front hall, right and left rows of houses, and the main shrine.

These houses are linked together by rafters and roofed with colorful glazed pipe-shaped tiles and their top edges are carved with sculptures of holy animals such as dragons and unicorns. In the main shrine, you will easily notice the Quan Cong statue depicted with a red face, long beard, and a heavy blade. The red face represents bravery, loyalty, and righteousness. Legend has it that his blade is as heavy as 5 gallons of water.

The festival about Quan Cong Temple

Every year, on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month, Quan Cong Mieu in Hoi An holds a ceremony to worship Quan Thanh De Quan (Quan Cong). This is one of the big festivals, a religious activity that attracts the majority of people from Hoi An as well as nearby cities such as Hue and Da Nang.

Especially, in the lunar new year, many people come here and pray. They wish for a happy new year to come along with health, luck, and prosperity.