THU XA

After being demolished by the US Army in 1972, from 1975, Thu Xa’s citizent returned to the old land to rebuild the village. Thu Xa was remembered by the villagers clearly, and the image of ancient Thu Xa street as well as Thu Xa’s cultural – historical tradition that become pride in every citizen.

Village elders talk about the ancient Thu Xa village in their memory with a passison of pride. According to the story, by the time of the French colonial rule, Thu Xa had changed, which was once an important socio-economic development place, the French colonialists built here many places of departure to govern: state governor, soldier station , post office, hospital, school,. .. and become a rapidly socio-economic center of Quang Ngai. Thu Xa Primary school, built before World War I, has raised many intellectuals from villages such as poet Bich Khe, Professor Le Hoai Nam, and Dr. Nguyen Van Tai, Vietnamese military generals like Tran Tien Cung and Phan Duong, … and they contributed to the revolutionary tradition of the Fatherland – Nghia Hoa commune.

Coming to Thu Xa today, travellers often visit Ong Pagoda (Quan Thanh Tu). This is a pagoda that retains its original architectural features, a blend of Chinese and Vietnamese architecture. The pagoda was built in 1821 by “four states of Minh Huong” (including Fujian, Zhaozhou, Hainan and Guangdong). The pagoda has triangular architecture, including three connected buildings: the front hall, the main hall and the harem. In the pagoda, they worshipe many statues of Tuong Cong, Chu Thuong, Quan Binh, Buddha Bà Quan Âm, and Thiên Hậu and Kim Đẩu. The highlight of Ong Pagoda is the sophisticated and lively wood carving and decoration art. It was a embossing technique, punctured on surface of dividers, worship rooms, pillars, timbers. The interior decoration theme of Ong Pagoda is quite a plentiful and valuable material, it is the vines motifs of plants, four sacred animals, eight treasures, pearl struggle of two dragons, apricot flowers, chrysanthemums. The most unique feature is the four pillars embossed dragon shaped in the Front Hall  with fire clouds and chrysanthemum carved under the surface. Although devastated by the war but also Thu Xa still retains some unique cultural.

 The Ong pagoda was ranked National Monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism – typical of the Chinese – Vietnamese architectural art that exists in Quang Ngai.

Besides, Thu Xa has many religions that are distributed intertwined. If the beliefs of Chinese people at Thu Xa are temples worshiping Quan Thanh and Thien Hau… worshiped at Ong pagoda, Hai Nam pagoda and Quang Chau pagoda (these two temples have moved to Quang Ngai City), then the beliefs of Vietnamese people here worship the Cá Ông (the Shrine to worship the fish has been destroyed, only the old historical relic remains, people calling this area is Gò Lăng), worshiping Thien Yana and some relics Vietnamese village. This makes Thu Xa has a unique cultural nuance, flexible receiving and interference between two Vietnamese – Chinese cultures. The most obvious manifestation is through the architecture and religious beliefs in temples and the economic activities of Thu Xa traditional

In addition, Thu Xa’s famous traditional handicrafts such as making mirror candy, mat weaving, making votive paper, making pharmacy, etc., are interested and facilitated by local authorities, contributing to ensuring the lives of people in Thu Xa village. In particular, the reconstructed Ong – Thu Xa temple festival contributed a part to the traditional culture of Thu Xa village.

SPIRITUAL VALUE

Ong Thu Xa Pagoda is one of the “five major locations” of Quang Ngai Province which was recognized as a National Monument in 1993.

The custom of “picking buds at the beginning of the year, asking for lucky cards for the New Year” has been deeply embedded in the cultural activities of people in many localities for a long time. It has become an activity of spiritual life with rich colors. Therefore, every Tet comes, or festivals and ordinary days like today, when there are desires or want to know their future destiny, the villagers come to Ong temple. They prayed, asked for cards, asked about their future. A large carpet is spread out under the statue of Mr. Guancheng, where bamboo pipes and rods are carved with numbers. People kneel down and shake bamboo pipes and withdraw their lucky cards. This is the spiritual life of Thu Xa villagers. The mission color of belief can be difficult to prove but the efforts of each person and community with optimistic spirit to believe in the future will be the internal force to help people overcome the storm and rise in life.

It can be seen that the relics of Ong pagoda contributed to bringing a large number of tourists to Thu Xa, both promoting the value of this monument and contributing to promoting the local economic development. It is said that his temple needs more attention and conservation because it is also to protect the spiritual life of the local people and contribute to connecting with Bai Dua  eco-tourism site and  village of Nghia Hoa  creates an attractive destination in Quang Ngai for tourists.

 

THU XA DON

The Don is shaped like a mussel but the shell is smaller, yellow or black. In Quang Ngai, it usually lives in the Tra and Hong Hong rivers, appearing only at the beginning of the year until the end of the summer. Every time the tide goes down, people go down to catch Don.

It can be said that Don is a typical dish of Quang people, not picky, cheap, natural sweetness that has created a specialty that is pride of Quang Ngai cuisine. Rural and rustic, Canh Don contains all the feelings, culture and people of this land

Special dishes consist of only a bowl of light yellow water, some small Don with onions and a crispy multi-sesame cake crumbed in a bowl. Simple but the food has gone deep into the mind of every Quang people when away from home.

After scratching, everyone soaked, washed and then put in a pot of boiling water, stirring vigorously and evenly. When Don open it’s mouth, it is also when the boiled water has all the most quintessential things. Boiled water is left to another pot, seasoned and eaten according to each person’s taste.

Wait until the crispy multi-sesame cake is hydrated, slightly soft, customers can enjoy the aromatic, sweet taste of the broth, rice paper, spicy taste of chili, pepper … All blend together to create a power Strange smoking, making everyone feel full of delicious, gentle taste of Don.

 This dish has the combination of Ly Son garlic cloves and the spicy aroma of chili will be extremely perfect.

To change your taste, you can make Don stir-fry simple but extremely delicious porridge.

If you have the opportunity to visit Quang Ngai, you can enjoy Don dishes at Cocoland River Beach Resort & Spa – Where Don is caught and processed directly from Vực Hồng River.