Events through photos

Visiting relics worshiping figures of the Hung Kings period in Hai Duong

LE HUONG - VAN TUAN • April 8, 2025 05:55

In line with the flow of the whole country, the Hung King's death anniversary on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month has become an important holiday for every Hai Duong resident. This is also the occasion for many relics worshiping figures from the Hung King era in Hai Duong to hold festivals so that people can turn to their roots.

Hai Duong currently has about 100 communal houses, temples, pagodas, shrines... that worship or combine worship with figures from the Hung King era. An Khoai communal house in Tu Cuong commune (Thanh Mien) worships King Hung. The remaining relics worship or combine worship with many figures from the Hung King era such as: Tan Vien Son Thanh, Cao Son Dai Vuong, Princess Tien Dung, Bao Phuc Dai Vuong... In the photo: An Khoai communal house in Tu Cuong commune (Thanh Mien) worships King Hung

An Khoai Communal House in Tu Cuong Commune (Thanh Mien) is a rare place to worship Hung Kings in Hai Duong. According to legend, our country had 18 Hung Kings who reigned for more than 2,600 years. Some scholars believe that the 18 Hung Kings were not 18 specific individuals but 18 branches, each branch had many kings who reigned in turn and had the same royal title, starting with Kinh Duong Vuong. He is considered the ancestor of the Vietnamese people. In the photo: The main altar, in front of the sanctuary of An Khoai Communal House

According to the woodblock book “Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu”, in 2,879 BC, Kinh Duong Vuong ascended the throne. He married Long Nu and gave birth to Lac Long Quan. Lac Long Quan then married Au Co and gave birth to Hung Vuong. Since then, Hung Vuong became the reign name used for dozens of successive dynasties. Thus, logically, the Ancestor's Death Anniversary is the death anniversary of Kinh Duong Vuong... On the Ancestor's Death Anniversary on March 10, An Khoi village does not hold a festival but still opens the communal house to offer incense to commemorate the Hung Kings who founded the country. In the photo: Inside the harem of An Khoi communal house

Le Quan Communal House in Thach Khoi Ward (Hai Duong City) worships An Duong Vuong - the king who founded the Au Lac nation, succeeding the Van Lang state. According to legend, he was helped by the god Kim Quy to make a magic crossbow, build Co Loa citadel, fight against the Qin and Trieu armies, and keep the country peaceful. In the photo: Panoramic view of Le Quan Communal House from above

During the war against Trieu Da, because his daughter My Chau loved Trong Thuy (Trieu Da's son) so much, she let the magic crossbow fall into the enemy's hands. During the retreat, the king rode his daughter back to the former garrison in Thach Khoi, and wrote a divine inscription for the people to worship. The Kim Quy god emerged from the river and said to the king: "The enemy is riding on horseback behind the king." The king ran straight to Dien Chau, killed his daughter, and jumped into the sea to commit suicide... Later, the people built a communal house to worship the king. In the photo: The main altar of Le Quan communal house is always kept clean by the caretaker, maintaining its solemnity.

Dinh Le Quan was built during the Nguyen Dynasty and rebuilt in 2005. Every year, the communal house holds a festival on the day of his death (November 25th of the lunar calendar). On that occasion, many villagers and tourists come to the festival. In addition to the unique procession, the festival has many folk games such as crossing the bridge, catching ducks, chess, singing cheo... In the photo: At the communal house, there are 6 large characters and 6 pairs of parallel sentences praising the contributions of An Duong Vuong to the country.

On the occasion of the Ancestor's Death Anniversary on March 10th every year, the village elders hold incense offering ceremonies, and the people bring offerings to the communal house to worship. In the photo: The main worshiping hall also displays 8 royal decrees of the dynasties.

The stele records that in the past, An Duong Vuong visited the villagers of Le Quan village (currently Le Quan residential area, Thach Khoi ward, Hai Duong city) three times.

Thu Phap Communal House in Doan Ket Commune (Thanh Mien) worships Tan Vien Son Thanh (commonly known as Son Tinh, a famous character in the legend of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh). In the photo: In front of the gate of Thu Phap Communal House

Son Tinh was one of the two sons-in-law of the 18th Hung King. After defeating Thuy Tinh, he married princess My Nuong Ngoc Hoa. The other son-in-law of the 18th Hung King was Chu Dong Tu, who married My Chau Tien Dung. In the photo: In the middle of Thu Phap communal house

Son Tinh and Chu Dong Tu, along with Saint Giong and Mother Lieu Hanh, are popularly known as the Four Immortals. In the photo: The majestic and splendid altar of Tan Vien Son Thanh

On the left of Thu Phap communal house is the temple of Ma Thi Cao Son goddess (foster mother of Tan Vien Son Thanh). The temple was built during the Le Dynasty and first renovated during the Nguyen Dynasty (1922). Today, Thu Phap communal house festival takes place from the 12th to the 14th of the third lunar month every year. In the photo: Ma Thi Cao Son goddess temple area

Princess Tien Dung, daughter of the 18th Hung King, married Chu Dong Tu. Currently, there are Bao Sai Temple in Le Thanh Nghi Ward; Binh Lau Communal House in Thanh Binh Ward (Hai Duong City); Dau Pagoda in Nhat Tan Commune (Gia Loc) and Han Duong Temple in Hung Long Commune (Ninh Giang) worshiping Tien Dung. In the photo: Han Duong Temple in Hung Long Commune (Ninh Giang). According to Mr. Hoang Van Lien, former Party Secretary of Hung Long Commune, Han Duong Temple is no longer intact as before and has degraded. When it was first built, the temple was shaped like the letter T, including 1 front room with 2 wings, 1 back room, 1 roof without eaves, and a temple yard with walls surrounding a large area of land. Around the temple, there are also 3 fields, where people take turns growing sticky rice to get rice to serve the offerings at the temple. The temple has a dragon pavilion, eight treasures, and a palanquin.

In 1941, the temple was restored and embellished by the people. In 1995, Mr. Lien and the people continued to restore the temple to what it is today. Currently, the temple still has a simple architecture and is small in scale.

Mr. Hoang Van Lien, former Party Secretary of Hung Long commune, still takes care of the temple.

According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Duong, Chi Linh City is the locality with the most relics worshiping figures from the Hung King period in the province with 35 relics. In the photo: Ly Duong Communal House, Ly Duong residential area, Co Thanh ward (Chi Linh City) worships Cao Lo Vuong (a famous and talented general of An Duong Vuong period), Cao Son Dai Vuong (who helped the 18th Hung King fight the enemy to protect the country)

The communal house was built in the 16th century. According to oral tradition from the elders, when King Cao Lo died, his body floated down the river, his head drifted towards Co Thanh, his body drifted towards Cao Duc commune, Gia Binh district (Bac Ninh). The people of Co Thanh then rescued him and built a communal house to worship him, honoring the village's tutelary god. In the photo: The main altar in front of the communal house's sanctuary is splendidly and eye-catchingly decorated.

Previously, the communal house was located in another location, about 1 km southeast of its current location. From 1939 to 1941, the French colonialists dug the Dap Khe River through the village, so the communal house was moved to its current location. In the photo: The altar inside the sanctuary

A carved pillar has been kept intact since the construction of the communal house until today.

Nguyen Dynasty bronze incense burner at the communal house

The Ngoc Lau communal house and temple relic complex in Ngoc Lau village, Cam Hoang commune (Cam Giang) is quite unique because it worships 6 famous generals of the 6th Hung King era: Loi Cong, Long Cong, Lan Cong, Hoang Cong, Boi Cong and Chan Cong. They brought 30,000 troops to fight the enemy, and at the same time sent messengers everywhere to find Thanh Giong to help the king defeat the An invaders. There are no documents to determine when Ngoc Lau communal house and temple were built.

Man Loc Communal House, Co Phuc village, Kim Lien commune (Kim Thanh) worships Phu Dong Thien Vuong (also known as Thanh Giong), who helped the 6th Hung King defeat the An invaders.

Tan Ky Commune (Tu Ky) is a special place because there are 3 relics worshiping Cao Son Dai Vuong - a famous general who helped the 18th Hung King defeat the Thuc army. They are Ngoc Lam, Quynh Goi and Thuong Lang communal houses, of which Quynh Goi and Ngoc Lam communal houses are national historical relics. In the photo: Ngoc Lam communal house seen from above

The main altar inside Quynh Goi communal house

Cay Temple in Long Xuyen Commune (Binh Giang) is a nationally ranked relic, worshiping Bao Phuc Dai Vuong - a son of the homeland who helped the 18th Hung King fight the Thuc invaders.

The majestic and splendid altar of Bao Phuc Dai Vuong with red lacquer and gilded gold

An Bo Communal House, An Bo village, Hiep Hoa commune (Kinh Mon) worships five generals under the Hung Kings: Sai Lang, Chieu Lang, Dien Lang, Tuan Lang and Than Lang.

den-cay-3-2804a98ec4abbc36a57964ce09e11afb(1).jpg — Monuments worshiping or co-worshiping figures of the Hung Kings period are always preserved and conserved by Party committees, authorities and people at all levels. Many monuments have been ranked as historical and cultural relics at all levels.

Monuments worshiping or co-worshiping figures of the Hung Kings period are always preserved and conserved by Party committees, authorities and people at all levels. Many monuments have been ranked as historical and cultural relics at all levels.

The worship of the Hung Kings in Hai Duong still exists and flows forever in generations of "Lac and Hong descendants". On the occasion of the Hung Kings' death anniversary, many relics hold traditional rituals or festivals to commemorate the heroes' contributions. In the photo: People of Doan Ket commune (Thanh Mien) organize a procession of the Tan Vien Son Thanh and Ma Thi Cao Son goddess from Thu Phap communal house to the ground where Vap temple is built for the ceremony (documentary photo)