Traditional opening ceremony of Xua Temple and offering incense in memory of the Great Physician - Zen Master Tue Tinh

Speech praising the merits of the great physician Zen Master Tue Tinh in the national medicine

In addition to the district delegates, the festival was also attended by leaders of the Vietnam Association of Traditional Medicine; a number of universities, colleges, and medical high schools; Oriental Medicine Associations of districts, towns, and cities in the province; and descendants of Zen Master Tue Tinh in Thuy Nguyen District (Hai Phong City).

The speech at the festival highlighted the great contributions of the great physician, Zen Master Tue Tinh in contributing to the treasure of national medical knowledge.

His real name was Nguyen Ba Tinh, born around 1330, in Nghia Phu village, Van Thai commune, Thuong Hong district, now Nghia Phu village, Cam Vu commune. At the age of 6, he became an orphan and was taken in by the abbot of Nghiem Quang pagoda (Giam pagoda). Throughout his childhood, he relied on the Buddhist monastery.

At the age of 22 (1351), he passed the Imperial examination but did not become an official. Having to witness major epidemics that took the lives of the people, he studied plants, flowers, and medicinal herbs, and actively planted medicinal herbs, collected valuable folk remedies, and established clinics right in pagodas to treat diseases. His remedies helped the poor and suppressed major epidemics. Existing documents show that he participated in the construction of 24 pagodas and turned them into medical facilities, saving many people.

Leaders of Cam Giang district and delegates offered incense to commemorate the great physician Zen Master Tue Tinh.

At the age of 55, his medical career was flourishing when he joined the delegation to the Ming Dynasty (China). After curing the Ming Emperor's wife, he was appointed as a Royal Physician - Zen Master and kept working at the Imperial Medical Institute. He passed away some time later.

In more than 30 years of scientific activities, he has collected, researched, systematized, and summarized treatment methods, including 10 faculties, 2 subjects, with 3,873 prescriptions, 580 medicinal herbs to treat 184 diseases. He has made great contributions in theory and practice to the national medicine, and his career has been continuously inherited and promoted. The great physician Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac was a worthy successor to his career in the 18th century.

With his great contributions, Cam Giang has 3 places of worship: Xua Temple, Giam Pagoda (Dinh Son Commune) and Bia Temple (Cam Van Commune). On December 25, 2017, the 3 relics were recognized as special national relics by the Prime Minister.

The delegation of Cam Dien commune performed the ritual of offering the words Nam - Duoc - Thanh - Nhan at the traditional festival of Xua temple.

Nowadays, Xua Temple is visited and worshiped by many people, tourists from all over the world, and medical staff. Over the past hundreds of years, this place has become a famous center of traditional medicine.

Within the framework of the festival, the Saint Word Offering Ceremony takes place. This is a unique ritual that only occurs at the Xua Temple and Mao Dien Temple of Literature festival. 36 women from Mau Tai village, Cam Dien commune (Cam Giang) - where Mao Dien Temple of Literature is located - carry 4 Chinese characters: Nam - Duoc - Thanh - Nhan to the solemn Luu Thuy music into the temple. This is a ritual praising the merits and career of traditional medicine and pharmacy established by the Great Physician Zen Master Tue Tinh.

The traditional festival of Xua Temple takes place over 3 days. Before that, on March 5 (February 14 of the lunar calendar), the temple opening ceremony and announcement ceremony took place.

TIEN HUY