Lieu Hanh
Encyclopedia
Princess Lieu Hanh is one of The Four Immortals
and also a leading figure in the mother goddess cult Đạo Mẫu, in which she governs the celestial realm. Her personal cult was created by women in the Nam Dinh Province, in the village of Van Cat. It is believed that the cult was created by rice farmers in need of land and water, and at its peak was extremely popular. The cult was mostly suppressed during the Communist Party of Vietnam
's early reign, as worship was considered to be Taoist in nature, and was a tool of oppression. However after Doi Moi (begun 1986) the cult has been regaining popularity steadily. Most widespread knowledge of her is because of Đoàn Thị Điểm's story Van Cat Than Nu Truyen
, Lieu Hanh had always been the troublemaker of the family. A righteous man, Le Thai Cong, was knocked unconscious during his wife's pregnancy. While unconscious, Thai Cong arrived at the Heavenly Palace of the Jade Emperor and witnessed Lieu Hanh drop the emperor's favorite jade cup, for which the Emperor expelled Lieu Hanh from heaven. When Thai Cong regained consciousness his wife had given birth to a girl, whom they named "Giang Tien"(Descending Fairy ). After living a righteous life of 23 years and giving birth to two children, Giang Tien died on the third day of the third month.
When Giang Tien died she ascended to Heaven and was granted the title of Princess Lieu Hanh, and was permitted to return to earth on the second anniversary of her death. On her return she visited her family and told her husband that they would reunite again, and having spent part of the night with him she disappeared leaving nothing behind but clouds in the sky. She wandered the world as either an old woman or a beautiful lady playing the flute, punishing those who teased her and blessing those who gave her offerings.
Long after her family died, she visited a temple and met Phung Khac Khoan
, a famous scholar, who attempted to compliment the princess. However she had disappeared before he had the chance, leaving a stick inscribed with her name. Years later Phung, who was now a high ranking official, visited a tavern in West Lake
which was owned by Lieu Hanh. After a night of poetry and discussion Phung left the tavern, but when he returned it had mysteriously disappeared.
Leaving West Lake, the princess went to Nghệ An where she met a young orphan student named Sinh whom she thought to be an incarnation of her husband. Lieu Hanh disguised herself and asked to stay the night at Sinh's home, but he refused. After leaving poetry for him, Sinh sought her out and confessed his love to her. They married and had a child, Sinh becoming a great scholar. Eventually it was time for Lieu Hanh to return to Heaven, and she sadly left her family to return to Heaven.
On her second return to Heaven the princess again pleaded with the Emperor to return to earth, and this time returned with two other fairies — Que and Thi. The princess blessed those who were good, and brought destruction on those who were not, so the people built a temple out of fear. The Cảnh Trị
government heard she was an evil spirit and sent the military to burn down the temple. When her temple was burnt down, all the animals in the area died from a mysterious disease, so the villagers built a platform to send her offerings. The princess appeared on the platform, declaring she was from Heaven, and demanded that the government build a new temple for her to stop the epidemic. The government built the new temple in Pho Cat Mountain, and proclaimed her "Ma Hoang Cong Chua" (Golden Princess to Whom Sacrifices Are Made as to the God of War).
, and so occasionally falls on the third day. For worshipers of Lieu Hanh, as the third day of the third month is the anniversary of her death, it is considered to be the true Pure Brightness Festival when the festival is held on that date. Activities include sweeping abandoned graves in respect to Lieu Hanh and feeding hungry ghost
s. As well as the coinciding with the date of her death, symbolism also stems from the naming of Liễu (willow
) Hạnh (almond
), where the willow is considered to be a main symbol of the festival due to its prosperity.
The Four Immortals
The Four Immortals refers to the four chief cult figures in the pantheon of genii worshiped by the ancient Vietnamese people of the Red River Delta region....
and also a leading figure in the mother goddess cult Đạo Mẫu, in which she governs the celestial realm. Her personal cult was created by women in the Nam Dinh Province, in the village of Van Cat. It is believed that the cult was created by rice farmers in need of land and water, and at its peak was extremely popular. The cult was mostly suppressed during the Communist Party of Vietnam
Communist Party of Vietnam
The Communist Party of Vietnam , formally established in 1930, is the governing party of the nation of Vietnam. It is today the only legal political party in that country. Describing itself as Marxist-Leninist, the CPV is the directing component of a broader group of organizations known as the...
's early reign, as worship was considered to be Taoist in nature, and was a tool of oppression. However after Doi Moi (begun 1986) the cult has been regaining popularity steadily. Most widespread knowledge of her is because of Đoàn Thị Điểm's story Van Cat Than Nu Truyen
Van Cat Than Nu Truyen
Born as the thirteenth daughter of the Jade EmperorJade Emperor
The Jade Emperor in Chinese folk culture, is the ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below including that of Man and Hell, according to a version of Taoist mythology. He is one of the most important gods of the Chinese traditional religion pantheon...
, Lieu Hanh had always been the troublemaker of the family. A righteous man, Le Thai Cong, was knocked unconscious during his wife's pregnancy. While unconscious, Thai Cong arrived at the Heavenly Palace of the Jade Emperor and witnessed Lieu Hanh drop the emperor's favorite jade cup, for which the Emperor expelled Lieu Hanh from heaven. When Thai Cong regained consciousness his wife had given birth to a girl, whom they named "Giang Tien"(Descending Fairy ). After living a righteous life of 23 years and giving birth to two children, Giang Tien died on the third day of the third month.
When Giang Tien died she ascended to Heaven and was granted the title of Princess Lieu Hanh, and was permitted to return to earth on the second anniversary of her death. On her return she visited her family and told her husband that they would reunite again, and having spent part of the night with him she disappeared leaving nothing behind but clouds in the sky. She wandered the world as either an old woman or a beautiful lady playing the flute, punishing those who teased her and blessing those who gave her offerings.
Long after her family died, she visited a temple and met Phung Khac Khoan
Phung Khac Khoan
Phùng Khắc Khoan , known as Trang Bung, was a noted 16th-century Vietnamese military strategist, politician, diplomat and poet during the Lê Dynasty....
, a famous scholar, who attempted to compliment the princess. However she had disappeared before he had the chance, leaving a stick inscribed with her name. Years later Phung, who was now a high ranking official, visited a tavern in West Lake
West Lake (Hanoi)
West Lake is a freshwater lake in the center of Hanoi, Vietnam. With a shore length of 17 km , this is the largest lake of the capital and a popular place for recreation with many surrounding gardens, hotels and villas. A small part of West Lake is divided by Thanh Nien road to form Truc Bach...
which was owned by Lieu Hanh. After a night of poetry and discussion Phung left the tavern, but when he returned it had mysteriously disappeared.
Leaving West Lake, the princess went to Nghệ An where she met a young orphan student named Sinh whom she thought to be an incarnation of her husband. Lieu Hanh disguised herself and asked to stay the night at Sinh's home, but he refused. After leaving poetry for him, Sinh sought her out and confessed his love to her. They married and had a child, Sinh becoming a great scholar. Eventually it was time for Lieu Hanh to return to Heaven, and she sadly left her family to return to Heaven.
On her second return to Heaven the princess again pleaded with the Emperor to return to earth, and this time returned with two other fairies — Que and Thi. The princess blessed those who were good, and brought destruction on those who were not, so the people built a temple out of fear. The Cảnh Trị
Lê Dynasty
The Later Lê Dynasty , sometimes referred to as the Lê Dynasty was the longest-ruling dynasty of Vietnam, ruling the country from 1428 to 1788, with a brief interruption....
government heard she was an evil spirit and sent the military to burn down the temple. When her temple was burnt down, all the animals in the area died from a mysterious disease, so the villagers built a platform to send her offerings. The princess appeared on the platform, declaring she was from Heaven, and demanded that the government build a new temple for her to stop the epidemic. The government built the new temple in Pho Cat Mountain, and proclaimed her "Ma Hoang Cong Chua" (Golden Princess to Whom Sacrifices Are Made as to the God of War).
Temples
Đạo Mẫu practitioners maintain both public and private temples, engaging in worship and spirit possession. The first temple devoted to Lieu Hanh has traditionally been considered Phu Van temple in Van Cat which was originally constructed in 1642. The next to appear was the Tien Huong temple some time between 1643 and 1649, which would come to be the main center for Lieu Hanh's cult. Temples to Lieu Hanh are known to have many wooden sculptures, and the temples themselves have intricate designs carved into the framework.Pure Brightness Festival
The Pure Brightness Festival occurs on one of the first days of the third lunar monthLunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the young crescent moon becomes first visible at evening after conjunction with the Sun one or two days before that evening...
, and so occasionally falls on the third day. For worshipers of Lieu Hanh, as the third day of the third month is the anniversary of her death, it is considered to be the true Pure Brightness Festival when the festival is held on that date. Activities include sweeping abandoned graves in respect to Lieu Hanh and feeding hungry ghost
Hungry ghost
Hungry ghost is a Western translation of Chinese , a concept in Chinese Buddhism and Chinese traditional religion representing beings who are driven by intense emotional needs in an animalistic way....
s. As well as the coinciding with the date of her death, symbolism also stems from the naming of Liễu (willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
) Hạnh (almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
), where the willow is considered to be a main symbol of the festival due to its prosperity.