Duke Le Phuc Hoach

Based on the imperial decrees preserved at the temple of Admiral Dai Luong, Duke Le Phuc Hoach, and information from elderly people in Chieng Khat village, Dong Luong commune (Lang Chanh district), Le Phuc Hoach was originally from Chieng Khat village. He was a talented general who, for his service in assisting the king in defeating the Ming invaders, was appointed Admiral Dai Luong, Duke by King Le Thai To.

A ritual during the festival at the temple of Admiral Dai Luong, Duke Le Phuc Hoach. Photo: Khac Cong

Legend has it that after driving the Ming invaders out of the country, King Le Thai To intended to marry his princess to him, but because he already had a wife and children in his hometown, Le Phuc Hoach refused and requested land to return to his village to live. During his years living in his hometown, when the people suffered from crop failures and famine, he used all the gold, silver, and land granted to him by the king to help the people escape hunger, cold, and natural disasters.

Upon his death, the people, remembering his contributions, erected a temple in Chiềng Khạt village and held a festival there every spring. However, the temple never received any official decree. In 1906, on the occasion of King Duy Tân's succession to the throne, remembering his merits, he bestowed upon him the honorary title "Dực bảo Trung hưng linh phù chi thần" (Guardian of Restoration and Divine Protection), allowing the local people to worship him. In 1908, during the king's coronation, a royal decree was issued, elevating him to a higher rank and allowing the local people to continue worshipping him as before, to be recorded in the national rituals. In the 9th year of the Khải Định reign (1924), on the occasion of King Khải Định's 40th birthday, he was further elevated to a higher rank, given the honorary title "Đoan túc tôn thần" (Virtuous and Respectful Deity), and allowed his worship to be recorded in the national rituals.

Currently, the People's Committee of Dong Luong commune is preserving three royal decrees from the Nguyen dynasty, granting permission to the people of Dong Lac commune, Luong Chanh district (now Dong Luong commune, Lang Chanh district) to worship Admiral Dai Luong Duke Le Phuc Hoach in Chieng Khat village.

To date, no documents specifically and accurately record the construction date of the temple dedicated to Admiral Dai Luong, Duke Le Phuc Hoach. Based on field surveys and accounts from elderly villagers, the temple has existed for a long time, situated on a spacious and airy plot of land on Bo Pung hill. Over time, due to natural disasters and war, the temple was completely destroyed, and the villagers moved the religious artifacts to a household in the village for safekeeping. Around 1980, to provide a place for the incense burner to worship the deity, the villagers temporarily erected a small shrine on the land of a villager's house. In 2019, to meet the religious needs of the villagers in particular and the people in the region in general, the local government and benefactors contributed to the reconstruction of the temple on the top of Bo Pung hill.

Every year at the beginning of spring, the people of Chiềng Khạt village eagerly organize the festival at the temple of Admiral Đài Lương, Duke Lê Phúc Hoạch. Notably, on February 16th, 2024 (the 7th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon 2024), the festival at the temple of Admiral Đài Lương, Duke Lê Phúc Hoạch, was held for the first time by Lang Chánh district after its restoration. The event was attended by leaders from the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the Provincial Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation, and thousands of local people and tourists. The festival included traditional rituals such as: the earth procession, the water procession, the worship of the gods, and the opening ceremony. Following the ceremonies was a theatrical performance by the local people, highlighting the merits and achievements of Admiral Đài Lương, Duke Lê Phúc Hoạch, in the defense of the Fatherland.

Currently, the district has completed the dossier and submitted it to the Provincial People's Committee for recognition of the temple of Admiral Dai Luong, Duke Le Phuc Hoach, as a provincial-level historical relic.

Khac Cong

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