Bac Le Temple

Bac Le Temple is a group of shrines on a hill in the southern part of Bac Le hamlet, Tan Thanh commune. Its founding date is unknown, but two steles dated 1919 and 1932 record five restorations since the early twentieth century. The 1919 stele says it was once a small shrine often damaged by fire, until villagers paid to rebuild it as a three bay house with three sanctuaries. Repairs in 1933 and 1940 added a rear sanctuary and a tall three entrance gate outside the steps. The main temple still stands on its original site, three bays covering 125 square metres, with a small shrine to the young lady of Bac Le and an open air altar to the Five Tigers outside. Like other mother goddess temples it honours the Four Palaces, with special regard for local deities. It keeps 19 statues, mostly wooden, along with two steles and many lacquered boards and couplets.