Doan Nhu Hai Temple - spiritual and cultural tourism destination

(Baonghean) - In Dien An commune, Dien Chau district, there is a temple dedicated to a famous general who made great contributions in the struggle and protection of the country's borders in the 14th century, a shining example of loyalty and patriotism. That is the temple dedicated to General Doan Nhu Hai.

In the history of building and defending the country, the Doan family has many famous people whose names are recorded in history books. One of the most prominent people of the Doan family is General Doan Nhu Hai in the Tran Dynasty.

Doan Nhu Hai Temple.

Doan Nhu Hai was born in the year of Canh Thin (1280) in Hoi Xuyen village, Truong Tan district (now Gia Loc district, Hai Duong province) in a family with a tradition of literature and martial arts. He was the son of General Doan Phuc Trung, who served as a general under the command of General Tran Quoc Tuan, and directly participated in decisive battles such as: Van Don 1281, Bach Dang 1288... According to legend, from a young age, Doan Nhu Hai was a very studious person, his hands never leaving his books. When he was a teenager, he went to the capital and studied the classics even more diligently. In the year of Ky Hoi (1299), Doan Nhu Hai was appointed by the king as Ngu su Trung tan (the second-ranking official in the Dai Ngu su, responsible for advising and impeaching the king) when he was just 20 years old.

In 1303, King Tran Anh Tong sent him to Champa as an envoy. Thanks to his intelligence, dedication, and good methods and strategies, Doan Nhu Hai not only successfully completed the mission assigned by the court but also destroyed the old custom - that is, Vietnamese envoys to Champa did not have to bow and thank the King of Champa. After returning from the mission, recognizing Doan Nhu Hai's achievements, King Tran Anh Tong promoted him to the position of Tham tri chinh su.

Respecting Doan Nhu Hai's talent, in December of the year Giap Thin (1304), King Tran Anh Tong continued to appoint Doan Nhu Hai to the position of Tri khu mat vien su. In the year At Hoi 1335, the Ai Lao army invaded Nam Nhung land (now Bong Khe commune, Con Cuong district). At that time, Doan Nhu Hai was in charge of the Than Sach and Than Vu armies and concurrently the Kinh Luoc Su of Nghe An, so the king promoted him to the position of Doc Tuong to command the great army. All the armies had to obey Doan Nhu Hai's orders.

The land of Nam Nhung is very rugged, with many rivers. Doan Nhu Hai subjectively thought that the number of Ai Lao troops stationed in Nam Nhung hamlet was small and weak, so he only used Than Vu and Nghe An troops to fight. The battle was very fierce, the clouds and fog covered the area, the enemy troops had arranged soldiers in ambush on both sides of the river. The large force suddenly attacked from all directions, after a fierce battle, Doan Nhu Hai's army was defeated, more than half of them fell into the water. Doan Nhu Hai died in battle at the age of 55.

Hearing the news of Doan Nhu Hai's death, mourning the loyal and talented hero who had devoted his entire life to the restoration of the country, the Tran Dynasty continued to consolidate its forces to attack, defeat the enemy district, reclaim land, and persuade the people of Cung Village - Tuong Duong District (Bong Khe Commune - Con Cuong District today) to perform a ceremony to worship Doan Nhu Hai's soul and build a temple to worship him in the riverside village to burn incense all year round.

During the Later Le Dynasty (the 2nd year of Canh Hung - 1739), the descendant of General Doan Nhu Hai, Doan Viet Yen, who was then the District Chief of Quynh Luu, saw that his temple was located in a remote area, making it difficult for his descendants to burn incense and visit, so he asked the king's permission to move Doan Nhu Hai's temple and build a tomb to call his soul in the temple grounds in Nguyet Tien village - Dien An commune - Dien Chau district.

Doan Nhu Hai Temple was built on a plot of land about 2300m2, facing the West. Surrounding the temple is a pine garden that is green all year round, creating shade for the relic. 200m to the east is National Highway 1A, bustling with people and vehicles day and night. About 3km to the south of the temple is Cuong Temple, where Thuc An Duong Vuong is worshiped - the national hero who founded Au Lac country, built at the foot of Mo Da mountain. In front of the temple are fertile fields, prosperous villages, further away is the undulating Mua Chan Tien mountain range and the peaceful villages of Nguyet Tien village like a windbreak, protecting the peace of the temple.

At first, the scale of the temple was simple. During the Nguyen Dynasty, especially in the first year of Tu Duc's reign, the Doan Nhu Hai Temple was restored and built on a large scale by the people and the family, including the following works: Tam Quan Gate, garden, lower hall, middle hall, upper hall, right and left wings and a ceremony house... Doan Nhu Hai Temple is a famous sacred place, contributing to making Dien Chau land a place of spiritual and talented people.

Every year, on the 12th day of the third lunar month, the people and descendants of the Doan family gather at the temple to worship and commemorate the famous general Doan Nhu Hai. Today, the descendants have moved the graves of their ancestors here, so this place is also the Doan family temple in the North Central region. Doan Nhu Hai temple has attracted many people and visitors from all over the country to visit and commemorate, and is also a place to educate the tradition of patriotism for today's and future generations.

Van Dinh (Ho Xuan Huong Secondary School)