Tan Mausoleum - a place of worship for the two whale bones.

In Ly Son, there are many shrines dedicated to the Whale God (whale). Among them, Tan Shrine houses two whale skeletons (jade bones) dating back over 200 years.

Two whale skeletons, measuring 22m and 18m in length, are enshrined at Tan Mausoleum (Ly Son Special Economic Zone).

The 22-meter-long whale skeleton, titled "Dong Dinh Dai Vuong" (Soc Dai Vuong), was preserved intact and weighed over 55 tons when it died. The 18-meter-long whale skeleton was bestowed the title "Duc Ngu Nhi Vi Ton Than".

Dr. Nguyen Thi Nguyet, a cultural expert in Dong Nai, likened the situation to the Whale God: If people in the mainland worship the local guardian deity, then coastal residents worship the Whale God, considering him the god of the South Sea. Dr. Nguyet believes that most cultural researchers believe the worship of the Whale God originated from Cham culture, then was adopted and spread by the Vietnamese from the central coastal region to Ca Mau ; however, there is also a research trend suggesting that this belief may have originated from the Vietnamese, as it expanded its scope from the coastal region of Hai Phong to Ca Mau. Fishermen worship the Whale God as a divine being who protects them from danger on their voyages amidst rough seas and strong winds. In the custom of worshipping the Whale God, some places worship the whale's skeleton, organize the Fishing Festival, accompanied by the art form of "ba trao" singing - rowing boats and folk games, signifying a prayer for a safe and successful fishing trip with calm seas…

TT

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202602/lang-tan-noi-tho-2-ngoc-cot-ca-ong-09b1889/