LOWER NHỒI ĐIẾM 1 (CỔ LOA COMMUNE – ĐÔNG ANH DISTRICT)
Ngày 25 tháng 12 Năm 2023

The Lower Nhồi Hamlet is located to the north of the Internal rampart, outside the old moat (now a pond, some sections have been filled). The Lower Nhồi Hamlet Điếm 1 - is the name according to the location of the relic. The relic can be called ”Lower Nhồi Hamlet Shrine”  or ”Lower Nhồi Hamlet Shrine Điếm”. However, in spoken language, it is also often called ”Lower Nhồi Hamlet Điếm 1”. The reason the number 1 is added is because there is another Điếm in the hamlet, so it is convenient to call people with numbers 1 and 2. But in essence then "Điếm" 2 is ”Ngõ Điếm” (Alley Điếm) of The Lower Nhồi Hamlet.

"Điếm" is also called Central Điếm, this name probably comes from the geographical characteristics of the hamlet. The Lower Nhồi Hamlet has 3 alleys. In the past, each alley had a ”điếm” (called Alley Điếm). In general, the Lower Nhồi Hamlet Điếm belongs to the whole hamlet and is the largest in scale, so it is called the Central Điếm.

The Lower Nhồi Hamlet Điếm 1

When the “Điếm” was built, no one currently knows. Before being majorly restored in 1996, The Lower Nhồi Hamlet Điếm had the shape of Chinese word "" layout, with 7 compartments, 8 sets of rafters, built in a “đầu hồi bít đốc tay ngai” style, each set of rafters had 4 pillars placed on a pedestal. According to the elders, “Điếm” used to have a floor when the resistance war against the French was demolished.

The new "Điếm" has been renovated in the style of the shape of Chinese word "" layout with 5 compartments and 2 hip compartments and 4 curved corners. The truss has 4 rows of pillar placed on a pedestal, the rafters follow a unified general pattern: “chồng giường, kẻ ngồi, tiền bẩy, hậu bẩy The floor and porch are tiled with Bat Trang bricks. Currently, the columns still have the mortises of the floor support beams.

The "điếm" is built with brick walls 220mm thick, in the front there are 3 compartments in the middle of which are 4-panel partition doors, on both sides of the wall there are barred windows, the two gable walls have two windows.. Decorative patterns on architecture are not uniform, many date back to the Nguyễn Dynasty in the 19th century, with themes such as cloud patterns, chrysanthemum leaves, and water waves. Mainly decorated on the “câu đầu” and “con chồng” ((parts on the roof frame). The supporting parts of  “con chồng” have stylized patterns and embossed edges all around, creating an elegant beauty for the monument.

Close to the back wall of the middle room has a brick altar, built on two levels, to worship the earth god, with simple decoration.

The temple worships mandarins and Earth God. The Lower Nhồi Hamlet Điếm 1is still a meeting place for cultural and religious activities of the people in the hamlet.

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