Phu Mo serves as a place of religious worship for the local people and a destination for sightseeing and pilgrimage for many tourists.
According to local archives, Phu Mo Temple, built approximately 600 years ago, is a place of worship for Saint Mother Lieu Hanh – originally Princess Quynh Hoa, the second daughter of the Jade Emperor. Due to accidentally breaking a precious jade cup in heaven, she was punished and banished to the mortal world. After three incarnations, her third reincarnation was into a Hoang family in Thai Tay village, formerly Ha Thai commune (now Linh Toai commune), where she reunited with Mr. Mai Thanh Lam (also known as Mai Sinh). They lived together and had a son; more than a year later, she returned to the celestial realm. After three incarnations, Saint Mother Lieu Hanh was bestowed the title of Mother of the World by the Vietnamese feudal state. She is one of the "Four Immortals" in Vietnamese folk culture, often referred to as Lady Lieu Hanh or Mother Lieu Hanh.
Having endured the vicissitudes of history, Phu Mo Temple suffered serious deterioration and became a ruin, much to the regret of the local people. In 1990, the local people erected a small shrine on the old site to offer incense and worship. In 2017, thanks to the attention of the State and philanthropists, Phu Mo Temple was rebuilt in a more spacious and dignified manner, fulfilling the aspirations of the people. Currently, the shrines dedicated to the Mother Goddess, the Three Realms, the Four Realms, and the Lord of the Mountain are built solemnly, leaning against the mountain in a stable, throne-like posture.
Every year, from the 7th to the 10th of March in the lunar calendar, Linh Toai commune organizes a festival to pay tribute to and commemorate Saint Mother Lieu Hanh, praying for national peace and prosperity, bountiful harvests, well-being, happiness, peace, good fortune, and wealth for all families. The ceremonial part is highlighted by a solemn procession of palanquins, moving from the Hoang family's ancestral temple through the communal house of Thai Tay village to Phu Mo, and concluding with a sacrificial ceremony at the temple. Immediately following is the festival with many folk games and traditional cultural activities, attracting a large number of locals and tourists.
To preserve and promote the values of Phu Mo, Linh Toai commune has regularly inspected and monitored the site to promptly detect and prevent acts of damage. They have also intensified propaganda and guidance to encourage people to practice civilized behavior when visiting and worshipping at the historical site. Thanks to effective management and protection, Phu Mo is not only a place of spiritual activity but also a place for educating the younger generation of the commune about traditional cultural values.
Mr. Bui Van Ba from Thai Tay village, the caretaker of Phu Mo, shared: "Phu Mo is closely connected to the spiritual life of the people. In the future, I will continue to mobilize my family, relatives, and fellow villagers to participate in protecting the relics and beautifying the landscape, maintaining environmental hygiene, and creating a clean and beautiful space to serve the spiritual needs of the people inside and outside the commune."
On the government side, Mr. Ngo Minh Canh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Linh Toai commune, said: "The Resolution of the First Congress of the Linh Toai Commune Party Committee, term 2025-2030, has identified the preservation and promotion of the Phu Mo relic and festival as one of the four key programs. The commune will continue to strengthen management, protect the current state, and avoid negative impacts on the heritage. We will mobilize resources to restore and renovate Phu Mo, developing it into a spiritual tourism destination, attracting a large number of visitors to come and worship."
Text and photos: Nguyen Cuong
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/diem-den-van-hoa-tam-linh-dac-sac-290213.htm
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