The gate of the national-level relic temple in Hai Duong was demolished and replaced with an iron gate

Talking to PV VietNamNet this morning (March 22), leaders of the Hai Duong Provincial People’s Committee confirmed that they understood that the gate of An Liet temple was removed and replaced with an iron gate. This happened many years ago. The province will direct the branches to solve and find ways to restore.

Gate of An Liet Temple before and after being restored

An Liet temple in Thanh Hai commune (Thanh Ha district) was ranked as a national relic in 1995. Over time, the temple deteriorated, so local people and Thanh Hai commune proposed to restore the monument. The restoration of the monument is permitted by the Ministry of Culture.

In 2019, the relic was restored to the harem, the middle courtyard, the courtyard area.

The image of the gate of An Liet temple before it was demolished

However, the ancient temple gate of great cultural, historical and architectural value was completely demolished by this locality. After that, the iron gate was erected in its place to this day.

According to local people in Thanh Hai commune, the complete demolition of the gate without having to maintain and protect a part of the relic makes them very sad. Now, passing through the communal house, you can see the sketchy iron gate, emotionless, no different from an ordinary cultural house or a new house built later.

Image of the current temple gate, after the restoration in 2019

Talking to PV, the leader of Hai Duong Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained: In 2018 this relic was degraded. The locality has been restored and repaired. In which, the subject (gate) has the phenomenon of lime and mortar falling off, and the item is degraded. Therefore, the subject will be lowered and restored according to the original architecture. But due to lack of funds to repair, temporarily leave the iron gate as it is today.

Ancient temple, after the overhaul, every item looks new and colorful

Point a, Clause 1 and 2, Article 34 of the Law on Cultural Heritage clearly stipulates: “The preservation, repair and restoration of relics must ensure maximum preservation of the original elements constituting the relic, and limit interference intervention to reduce or change the characteristics and value of the monument, and at the same time give priority to preserving and reinforcing it, and then renovating and embellishing it”.

Considering this regulation, the Hai Duong functional branch has violated regulations on the preservation and restoration of relics.

Nguyen Thu Hang