Dong Hai Sacred Temple

(Baonghean) - In Phuc Tho, a commune in the Cua Hoi area, we were guided by Mr. Tran Van Nam (former lecturer at Vinh University) to visit Dong Hai Temple, where he introduced us to the history of this sacred temple. According to him, Dong Hai Temple is where Doctor Pham Huy is worshipped. Born in 1470, his death year is unknown. At the age of 24, he passed the Third-Class Doctoral examination in the Quy Suu year, the 24th year of the Hong Duc reign (1493), during the reign of Le Thanh Tong. He held the position of Minister of Public Works and served as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty.

Dong Hai Temple.

The Phạm family genealogy in Cổ Bái village (Phúc Thọ commune) records a rather interesting story about Dr. Phạm Huy. The story goes that long ago, a mother and son from Hưng Yên came to Cổ Bái village begging for alms. They sought refuge with a wealthy family in the village. The homeowner, seeing the boy's handsome and intelligent appearance, offered to let him stay and receive a good education. However, the boy couldn't bear the thought of living a life of luxury while his mother continued begging. Touched by Phạm Lồng's filial piety, the homeowner agreed to let both mother and son stay, and his name was changed to Phạm Huy, reflecting the hope that he would achieve great things. Phạm Huy was then sent to study with a village teacher in a neighboring village (now Nghi Xuân commune, Nghi Lộc district). Naturally intelligent, Phạm Huy soon caught up with and surpassed his classmates. In the imperial examination of the Quy Suu year, Pham Huy was listed among the winners and held a ceremony to pay respects to his ancestors upon his return home.

During his time as an official, Pham Huy was always honest and upright, earning the love and respect of the people. Upon retirement, he brought his family to live in Co Bai village. He encouraged and organized the villagers to continue reclaiming barren land, expanding the village, and developing the fishing industry, leading to a more prosperous life. After Pham Huy's death, the people of Co Bai village revered him as the village's tutelary deity and erected a temple in his honor. Currently, the Dong Hai temple still preserves seven royal decrees from the Later Le and Nguyen dynasties, praising the merits and virtues of Doctor Pham Huy for his service to the country and its people.

The Dong Hai Temple also houses the altars of national heroes, historically recorded as Yet Kieu and Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon – two lieutenants of Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan. These two lieutenants were skilled swimmers and divers, sinking many warships of the Mongol invaders, achieving glorious victories and contributing to the glorious triumph of the Tran dynasty. According to the elders of Phuc Tho, the people of Dong Hai in the past mainly lived by river and sea activities, so they erected altars to worship and honor these two as the ancestors of river and sea activities. Later, the people of Dong Hai also worshipped Nguyen Ngoc (a compiler during the Nguyen dynasty), Nguyen Huu Chinh (a historian during the Nguyen dynasty, who participated in the Can Vuong movement and died in battle in 1887), and Hoang Phan Thai (who once rallied militia to lead an uprising against feudalism and drive out the French during the Nguyen dynasty). In those days, before each sea voyage, fishermen in Dong Hai would offer incense, flowers, and other offerings at the temple to pray for calm seas, abundant catches of fish and shrimp, and a prosperous life.

Having endured two fierce wars, especially the war against the US, Dong Hai commune, due to its strategically important location, was chosen as a base and weapons storage area for a naval unit (K34 Naval Port). When the enemy discovered this, they deployed various types of bombers to bomb the area, destroying many architectural structures, including Dong Hai Temple. In 2000, Dong Hai Temple was rebuilt magnificently through social contributions, serving as a place for local people to worship and express their spiritual wishes. Every year, on the 15th day of the third lunar month, a ceremony is held here to pray for national peace and prosperity, calm seas, and favorable weather.

Cong Kien