Lesson 1: Mai Thúc Loan - his hometown and family background

(Baonghean)Editor's Note: In anticipation of the 1,300th anniversary of the Hoan Chau Uprising and the 2013 King Mai Festival, and to help readers understand the glorious uprising in Hoan Chau and the life and career of its leader, Mai Thuc Loan (King Mai), Nghe An Newspaper respectfully presents to readers a brief overview of the Hoan Chau Uprising that took place 1,300 years ago.

1. Homeland

Mai Thúc Loan was an emperor, a national hero, and the leader of the Hoan Châu uprising against Tang dynasty rule in the early 8th century. Born, raised, and establishing his career in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, his illustrious life and career left a deep mark on his homeland.

The book "Kham Dinh Viet Su Khong Giam Cuong Muc" (Imperial-commissioned Comprehensive History of Vietnam) by the National History Institute of the Nguyen Dynasty records Mai Thuc Loan as "a native of Mai Phu, Thien Loc district." The village of Mai Phu is now part of Mai Phu commune, Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh province. From Mai Phu, Mai's mother moved to Ngoc Trung, now part of Nam Thai commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province. Many folk legends, genealogies, funeral orations, and ceremonial songs all confirm that the Mai family's ancestral home moved from Mai Phu to Ngoc Trung.

Mai Thúc Loan was born and raised in Cồn Chèm cave (Ngọc Trừng village, Nam Thái commune, Nam Đàn district) - where he endured countless hardships and humiliations as an orphan boy until he became the supreme leader of the Hoan Châu uprising.

In the communes of Nam Thai, Van Dien, and the town of Nam Dan, many valuable relics are preserved, such as the tomb of King Mai's mother, the temple of Mai Hac De, the Van An Citadel relic, along with many documents and folk festivals associated with King Mai's uprising and resistance, which are revered by the people.

Originating in the Nga Son region of Thanh Hoa province, associated with the legend of the "Watermelon" and the character Mai An Tiem from the early days of nation-building, the Mai family now has direct branches in almost all provinces and cities nationwide. In Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, the Mai family currently comprises 26 branches, spread across the two provinces. Like many other families in the Nghe An - Ha Tinh region, the Mai family has contributed to enriching the history and traditions of the people of Nghe An.

Regarding Mai Thúc Loan's family background, there are still some discrepancies between legendary accounts, genealogical records, and other historical sources that require further research and verification. However, all sources reflect that he was a patriotic, courageous, and resourceful man who early on harbored the ambition to defeat the enemy and save the country and its people.

According to the story "Huong Lam Mai De Ky" in the newly revised edition of "Viet Dien U Linh," Mai Thuc Loan's father was Mai Sinh and his mother was Vuong Thi. When Mai Thuc Loan was born, his parents based their decision on a dream his mother had just given birth. Her husband named their son Phuong, with the courtesy name Thuc Loan, to commemorate the omen seen in the dream.

Today, the people of Van Dien commune, Nam Dan district, still recount the story: Mai Mau's father was the head of the Thach Ha salt plantation. Mai Mau became pregnant with the plantation's child, and according to village custom, she was to be placed in a basket and set adrift on the river. Out of love for his daughter, her father arranged for a dummy, dressed in her clothes, to be released into the river. However, fearing the villagers would find out, he secretly took her to a remote mountainous area (now Van Dien commune, Nam Dan district) to live and give birth.

Most sources suggest that when Mai Thúc Loan was 10 years old, his mother was killed by a tiger while gathering firewood. Shortly after, his father died, leaving the future king an orphan. Fortunately, a friend of Mai Thúc Loan's father, Đinh Thế, took him in, raised him as his own son, and later married his daughter, Ngọc Tô, to him.

According to genealogical records and historical accounts, Mrs. Ngoc To gave birth to her first daughter, Mai Thi Cau, followed by twins Mai Bao Son and Mai Ky Son. Her youngest child died young. Shortly after, grieving for her child, she fell ill and also passed away prematurely. Their children were well-behaved and grew up to be talented, ambitious, patriotic, and compassionate individuals. Based on field research at the Duc Anh Temple in Hoa Muc (Trung Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi), the Dieu Yeu Temple in An Lao, Hai Phong, and the combined research of several other authors, it can be confirmed that King Mai's second wife was Pham Thi Uyen. To facilitate his plans for national affairs and to travel throughout the country to unite like-minded individuals, Mai Thuc Loan took a second wife from outside his hometown. Duong Lam (the hometown of Mrs. Pham Thi Uyen) was actually a base of the uprising led by Mai Thuc Loan.



The King Mai Festival in Nam Dan. Photo: Sy Minh.

The children of King Mai later became generals commanding various fronts in the Hoan Chau uprising. The Dieu Yeu area (Quoc Tuan commune, An Duong district, Hai Phong) still preserves historical records and some legends about the activities of Mai Thuc Loan's three children: Mai Thi Cau, Mai Bao Son, and Mai Ky Son.

The inscription on Mai Thuc Loan's mother's tomb records the merits and contributions of the Mai Thuc Loan family to the country: "...Her descendants, such as King Mai, her eldest daughter-in-law Dinh Thi Ngoc To, her second daughter-in-law Pham Thi Uyen, and her grandchildren: Prince Mai Bao Son, Prince Mai Ky Son, Mai Thuc Huy, and Mai Thi Cau, all bravely sacrificed themselves...". The entire Mai Thuc Loan family contributed to the Hoan Chau uprising and ultimately, one after another, on the Hoan Chau or Tong Binh fronts in the Northeast, dedicated their lives to the nation, protecting their homeland and upholding their integrity for the independence and self-determination of Vietnam.

The Hoan Chau Uprising, led by Mai Thuc Loan, broke out in the year Quy Suu, the first year of the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, which is 713 AD. Regarding the year of its defeat, based on the same historical sources, it can be concluded that it was the year Nham Tuat, the 10th year of the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, which is 722 AD. These are also the conclusions reached at the National Scientific Conference "Mai Thuc Loan and the Hoan Chau Uprising," organized by the Faculty of History of Vinh University in collaboration with the Vietnam Institute of History in 2008.
(To be continued)

Department of History - Vinh University