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Cùng Temple – Ngọc Well is a well-known spiritual site in Diem village, now part of Hoa Long ward, Bắc Ninh city. During the early days of spring, locals and tourists flock here for spiritual contemplation.
Cùng Temple – Ngọc Well, the Spiritual Oasis at the Beginning of Spring in Bắc Ninh
Cùng Temple – Ngọc Well is a sacred place, embodying the worship of the Three Palaces Mother from ancient times. The sacredness of Cùng Temple has been famous throughout folklore since the Ly and Early Lê dynasties. Whenever the royal troops fought invaders, they came to pray here and always defeated the invading army.
Today, this place attracts a large number of not only locals but also visitors from far and wide to visit, seeking health, love, career success, and more.
Passing through the triple gate of Cùng Temple, visitors can admire the ancient and harmonious architectural complex. The spacious temple space with many old trees provides cool shade for visitors.
Nestled within the courtyard of the Cung Temple lies the Jade Well. After touring the temple and offering prayers, visitors always remember to request water from the Jade Well to drink, to brew tea.
The Jade Well takes on a crescent shape, roughly 20 square meters wide, comprising 11 brick steps, 4 stone steps, and 1 teakwood step at the well's edge. Beneath the well lies a natural limestone layer, about 10 meters deep; the water of the Jade Well is a pristine jade green, exceptionally clear, allowing one to see all the way to the bottom.
To fetch water, visitors must leave their shoes on the shore and walk barefoot. The water scooped from the well can be consumed directly, a naturally sweet, refreshing water like no other. It is likely that the water flows from the mountains, seeping through layers of limestone, thus imparting its unique sweetness and coolness.
Therefore, the villagers of Diem come to the Cung Temple - Jade Well often to fetch well water to brew tea for guests, to make wine, and to use on significant occasions. For the locals and visitors alike, the Jade Well water is not just for quenching thirst but also for invigorating the spirit, enhancing clarity. Hence, many bring containers to collect well water to take home with hopes of good fortune.
Diem Village is the birthplace of Quan ho folk songs, hence the belief among the locals that drinking water from the Jade Well is the secret to singing Quan ho songs with intoxicating passion. Those who have heard Quan ho songs here will easily recognize the distinctive sweetness in the voices of the singers.
From ancient times to the present, even during drought seasons, the Jade Well has never run dry. During days of low water levels, visitors will easily spot the three 'divine fish' at the bottom of the well.
No one in Diem Village knows exactly when these fish came to reside here. Villagers believe that the three 'divine fish' embody the spirits of two princesses, Ngoc Dung and Thuy Tien, along with a maid.
The Cung Temple is a place of worship for the two princesses from the Ly Dynasty, who founded the village and passed on their skills to the people. During the reign of King Bao Thai, a temple was erected on stone columns, whose traces still remain today.
The floods of 1957 and 1971 caused the well to overflow, yet the three old fish remained here without swimming elsewhere. Villagers have often released various species of fish and turtles into the well, but shortly after, they either died or swam away.
With the sacred stories passed down through generations, visitors come to the Cung Temple - Jade Well not only to seek luck for the new year but also to personally fetch well water to cleanse their bodies and rejuvenate their spirits for a year full of joy.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourDecember 1, 2022
