Temple of the Great General who commanded the 12 seaports

Ngoc Phuong• August 1, 2019 10:56

(Baonghean.vn) - De Nhat Temple was built by the people of De Nhat village in Tan Phong hamlet, Dien Nguyen commune - Dien Chau. De Nhat Temple was built during the Le dynasty to worship Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon, who was the commander of the navy that guarded 12 seaports, protecting the coastal region.

From "The General in Charge of the Twelve Seaports"

According to the Hoang family genealogy in Van Phan (now Dien Van, Dien Chau) and the stele "Nam Mieu Ton Than Su Tich" compiled by the General Director of the National History Institute Cao Xuan Duc and some other local documents, Sat Hai Dai Vuong's real name was Hoang Ta Thon, his pen name was To Dai Lieu, born on April 15, 1254 (the year of Giap Dan) in Van Phan village, Dien Chau district. His mother was from the Truong family in Ly Trai village.

The three-entrance gate of the First Temple

Legend has it that: one early morning, Mrs. Truong went to the river to fetch water and suddenly saw two buffaloes jump out of the water and butt each other. They rushed towards her, she used a carrying pole to chase them away, and the two buffaloes suddenly disappeared. But a buffalo hair stuck to the end of the carrying pole and fell into the water tank. She drank it, and felt unusual. From then on, she became pregnant, and shortly after gave birth to a handsome boy, named Hoang Ta Thon. When Hoang Ta Thon grew up, he was stronger than other people, good at wrestling, and no young man in the area could match him, especially at swimming.

Hoang Ta Thon grew up when the country was invaded by the Mongols. Because he was talented in swimming, martial arts, intelligent, and resourceful, he was added to the royal navy by King Tran Quoc Tuan and hired as a "Noi Thu Gia" (military secretary).

Văn bia cổ nêu bật công trạng của Hoàng Tá Thốn

Ancient stele highlights the achievements of Hoang Ta Thon

In the autumn of August 1284, Hung Dao Vuong reviewed the troops at Dong Bo Dau wharf, Hoang Ta Thon was assigned the task of "managing the fierce wolf army" to guard the important places. During the battles with the enemy, he and his comrades dived into the river to drill holes in enemy ships, sinking hundreds of them. The Yuan army was frightened and fled, Toa Do was beheaded, Thoat Hoan had to hide in a copper tube to escape, O Ma Nhi used a small boat to cross the sea to escape. From then on, he became a close assistant of Hung Dao Vuong.

After two failed invasions of Dai Viet, in March of the year Binh Tuat (1286), the Yuan army decided to invade our country again. This time, Hoang Ta Thon was again assigned by the court to command the "wild wolf" naval army. The war lasted for two years (1286-1288), resulting in a resounding victory, the Bach Dang battle in the year Mau Ty, which was likened to the Battle of Xich Bich, causing the Yuan army to be terrified and abandon their intention to invade Dai Viet.

3.Chính điện từ phía ngoài vào đền thờ Đệ Nhất

Main hall from outside to the First Temple

After the country was cleared of enemies, the court awarded him with merits. King Tran Nhan Tong appointed Hoang Ta Thon as Sat Hai Chang Lai Dai Tuong Quan, and gave him the title "Minh Tu" to command the navy to guard 12 seaports, protecting the coastal area. From then on, he trained and taught soldiers day and night to become the best sailors. On March 15, 1339, on the way to patrol the sea from Thanh Hoa to Cua Trao, Hoang Hoa district, he passed away.

Upon hearing the news, the royal court posthumously honored him as Generalissimo of the Heavenly Palace, ordered a royal boat to carry his coffin back to his hometown of Van Phan for burial in Ma Chay and built a temple there.

Later, all dynasties bestowed upon him the titles of "Great King of the Sea, Commander of the mighty wolf Thien Bong, Marshal of the Great General, the supreme deity", "Native Thanh Hoang Bao Duc Phuc Than, Commander of the mighty wolf Thai Minh, Helping the nation to develop the great cause of national prosperity and national prosperity"...

Visit the First Temple - a place that marks many important historical events

Một trong 2 rùa cổ đội hạc, tuy nhiên cặp hạc phía trên theo thời gian đã không còn

One of two turtles carrying cranes, however the pair of cranes above have disappeared over time.

In memory of his great contributions, people everywhere in coastal areas built temples to worship him such as: Nghi Loc, Quynh Luu, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Hai Phong, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan...

The First Temple is not only a spiritual architectural work but also a place that marks many important historical events of the locality in particular and of the nation in general. During the Can Vuong movement, the First village was the base of the insurgent army of Mr. Nguyen Xuan On.

In 1928, comrade Vo Nguyen Hien was sent by the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association to build a base in Dien Chau. From the base in Hau Luat (Dien Binh), he expanded to De Nhat village (Dien Nguyen).

After the Dien Chau District Party Committee was established, the De Nhat Village Party Cell, one of the first two Communist Party Cells in Dien Chau, was also established at the De Nhat Temple. On August 20, 1945, at the De Nhat Temple, the Village Chief handed over the seal, books, and documents to the revolutionary government. On August 21, 1945, the people of De Nhat Village gathered at the temple yard and then, together with the people of Thai Xa Village, arrested the gang leader Huu Tran. The demonstration group marched down to coordinate with the people of the entire district to protest and fight to seize power and establish the Viet Minh government.

Ông Trần Văn Thanh, người trông coi đền bên chiếc bàn cổ dùng để đặt lễ tế

Mr. Tran Van Thanh, the temple caretaker, next to the ancient table used for placing offerings.

During the two resistance wars against France and the US to save the country, the First Temple became a place to store weapons and ammunition, a place to gather militia and self-defense forces, a place to welcome soldiers returning to the village, a place to recruit new Party members, and a place to gather people to propagate the revolution.

Every year at the First Temple, there are major festivals such as: Khai Ha Festival held on the 7th day of the first lunar month. Thuong Nguyen Festival, also known as Tet Nguyen Tieu, is a ceremony to pray for peace and ward off bad luck at the beginning of the year, held on the 14th and 15th of the first lunar month. The biggest is the death anniversary of Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon, held on the 15th day of the third lunar month (from March 14 to 15). The main ceremony is held from 9am on March 15 to 11am.

The temple currently preserves many valuable ancient artifacts such as two stone turtles, a stone mortar used to pound spices, an ancient stone stele, a square table about 1.2m wide carved with tigers, dragons and other sacred animals.

Đền có nhiều tượng cổ, đây là bàn thờ 5 vị Ngũ Công Vương Phật

The temple has many ancient statues, this is the altar of the Five Buddha Kings.

This ancient table, hundreds of years old, is often brought out to the yard for worshiping, four times a year: the full moon of the first, third, sixth and twelfth lunar months. In addition, the temple also preserves many ancient Buddha statues called Cong Vuong Phat, which still retain their original lacquer paint, which is very precious.

Mr. Tran Van Thanh, 82 years old, caretaker of the First Temple

Having existed for hundreds of years, the First Temple is a long-standing cultural and spiritual work typical of the Dien Nguyen people in particular and the whole region in general. This is the place that marks and witnesses many historical events as well as cultural and religious activities of the local people for many centuries.

Therefore, every year, on important holidays, people from the surrounding areas come to attend in large numbers. This also shows the gratitude and tradition of “remembering the source of water when drinking” of the nation, contributing to educating patriotism for today’s and future generations.