Close-up of the unique Am Thap in Ha Tinh, using molasses to bond the stone slabs

(VTC News) - Ancient artisans mixed molasses and lime to bind the stone slabs to form Am Thap. Up to now, the project has been over 500 years old but still retains its ancient beauty.

(VTC News) - Ancient artisans mixed molasses and lime to bind the stone slabs to form Am Thap. Up to now, the project has been over 500 years old but still retains its ancient beauty.

Close-up of an ancient stone tower more than 500 years old in Ha Tinh

Am Thap (also known as Cam Due Tower) was built in the 16th century on an area of ​​2,450 square meters in Quang Trung village, Cam Due commune, Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh. Am Thap is worshiping Le Am - a mandarin of the Le Dynasty.

History books record that Le Am was an intelligent, virtuous person who accomplished many great deeds. King Le Loi granted him the privilege of choosing a birth portion (choosing a portion of land while he was still alive). After his death, the king bestowed on him the title of "Blessed God and Tutelary God of Phuong Cai Village". Right after that, Le Am chose a high hill in My Due village (next to Ngan Mo river) where the Ho Mai family anonymously changed to the Le family, the place where he was born and raised him to become a safe place. bury yourself.

Am Thap is one of the unique works of art, built during the Le Dynasty and still retains its intact, ancient architecture despite more than 500 years of history.

The entrance gate to Am Thap was newly built in 2011, in the form of a three-entrance gate. The top of the gate's roof is designed in the shape of a dragon and phoenix with stylized patterns.

Entering the yard, there is a pair of horses and elephants carved in stone, placed symmetrically.

Go through the large yard to the altar house (or worship house), followed by the shrine. Inside the shrine, there are tablets, coffins and incense bowls to worship the three Le brothers.

Behind the shrine is Am Thap over 3m high, built according to a square structure. Not including the base, base and top of the tower, the tower has 3 floors.

The first floor inside is decorated with incense bowls and a place to place offerings. The second floor still retains 5 ancient Chinese characters on the embossed circular background "Thien Co Than Duc Tao" (virtuous people, diligently create the foundation). On the third floor, inside there are two statues cast in stone, outside there are three embossed Chinese characters "sun and moon" with the meaning of praising the heart as bright as the sun and moon of the ancients.

The top of the tower is made of block stone, the body of the tower is made of flat, square, sharp edges, without lime or mortar, and is made of liver-colored stone slabs.

According to the elders in the village, the Am Thap area initially only had a temple and a stone tower. After that, people built more city walls, tower gates, temples and many other structures.

"When visiting Am Thap, viewers do not detect signs of lime or mortar because in the past, artisans mixed molasses and lime to bond the stone slabs. This mixture of molasses and lime is hidden inside the rocks, so when we observe it, it is difficult to recognize it," said Quang Trung villager.

In the tower grounds, there is also an almond tree nearly a hundred years old, covering a corner of the yard.

The walls covered with moss add to the ancient look of the tower.

The arches and curved roofs, spire arches, and tower tops are also made of block stone, forming a very beautiful cohesive block.

In 2006, the project was ranked as a national architectural and artistic monument. Every year, Am Thap welcomes thousands of visitors to burn incense and study historical values ​​of architecture and religion.

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Update day : 10/12/2023