(Baonghean.vn) – Atmajestic mountains, rivers, clouds and sky, the convergence point of the sacred energy of Lam Thanh mountains and rivers, with an ancient temple worshiping King Nguyen Bieu, who wrote the immortal poem 'Human Head'.
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| Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu is worshiped as a God of Fortune by people in many places. The place we are talking about is Hung Lam commune, Hung Nguyen district. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
History books record that Nguyen Bieu passed the Thai Hoc Sinh exam at the end of the Tran Dynasty and became an official with the position of Dien Tien Thai Su (Royal Historian). When the Ming Dynasty invaded, he assisted King Tran Trung Quang De (1409-1413) in organizing the resistance.
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| It is known that this temple was built during the Nguyen Dynasty. Located on a high mountain, the path to the temple is made of stone steps. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
In 1413, the Ming army attacked Nghe An. Emperor Trung Quang fled to Hoa Chau and sent him as an envoy to negotiate peace and meet Truong Phu to ask for a title, with the intention of delaying the war and building up military strength. The Ming general Truong Phu received the envoy very disrespectfully and arrogantly. He ordered his soldiers to prepare a feast with only a boiled human head, forcing Nguyen Bieu to eat it, with the intention of showing off his power.
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| The upper hall of the Temple of Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
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| Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu Temple seen from the high mountain, consists of 3 buildings. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
Nguyen Bieu leisurely sat down at the table and said, "How many times have I had the chance to eat the flesh of a Northerner (Chinese)?", then used chopsticks to gouge out his eyes and dip them in salt. While eating, he recited the poem "Human Head Dish" which made Truong Phu admire him and wanted to let him go.
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| The highlight that creates the antiquity and majesty at Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu Temple is the three-door gate system. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
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| The three-door gate of Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu Temple (viewed from inside the temple). Photo: Nhat Lan. |
The general Phan Lieu then boasted to Phu that Nguyen Bieu said: "Nang sam nhan dau, nang sam Phu" (If you can swallow a human head, you can also swallow Truong Phu). Truong Phu was very angry, so he forced him to respond. If he could respond, he would be allowed to go home, if he couldn't, he would be beheaded. Nguyen Bieu calmly responded: "Huu ton ngo thiet, huu ton Tran" (If I still have three inches of tongue, the Tran dynasty will still exist!). Truong Phu was very angry, changed his mind and refused to forgive him, and ordered his tongue to be cut off: "Let's see if we cut off his tongue, will the Tran dynasty still exist???".
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| The chimeras on the pillars and the roof of the shrine also contribute to the majesty of the temple. Chimeras at Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu Temple have 3 different shapes. This is one of the chimeras on the roof of the shrine. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
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| And here is Nghe on a pillar of the three-door gate. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
Afterwards, Truong Phu ordered him to be tied to the foot of the bridge, and let the high tide drown him. Legend has it that under the foot of the bridge, he used his fingernails to scratch eight words on the bridge: "That nguyet, thap nhat nhat Nguyen Bieu tu" (Nguyen Bieu died on the 11th day of the 7th lunar month). After the heroic death of the Vietnamese envoy, Truong Phu had to show his admiration and with great ceremony had his body brought back to his hometown for burial.
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| Elephants in front of the main gate of Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu's shrine. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
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| Temple of Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
The people of the ancient Nghia Liet land witnessed the event of Nguyen Bieu going to ask for a title and built a temple to worship him. King Le Thai To conferred on him the title of"The King of Righteousness". Many feudal dynasties of Le - Nguyen continued to confer titles and build more temples in the Nghia Liet area to worship Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu. Nguyen Bieu is an example of loyalty, living forever with the country's mountains and rivers, with his homeland of Hong Mountain and Lam River.
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| Nghia Vuong Nguyen Bieu Temple in Hung Lam Commune, Hung Nguyen is recognized as a provincial historical relic. From the Lam River road, it is only about 2km away. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
Nhat Lan
