Finding the resting place of the teacher of the Tay Son brothers

(QBĐT) - As a matter of fate, I happened to know that at the mausoleum of the Truong Van family in Nhan Trach commune (Bo Trach), there is currently the tomb of the teacher who taught the Tay Son brothers Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue, Nguyen Lu and many other outstanding students of the ancient Binh Dinh land. Located close to the windy coast, without any stone stele engraved with the name, the tomb exists quietly in the face of many changes of the times. Mr. Truong Kim Chuong, Head of the Truong Van family in Nhan Trach commune, confirmed that it is the tomb of the ancestor of the Truong Van family - teacher Truong Van Hien (often affectionately called teacher Hien by Binh Dinh people).

Mr. Truong Kim Chuong said, according to the genealogy of the Truong Van family, several hundred years ago, martial artist Truong Van Hien, originally from Hoan Chau ( Nghe An today) with many opportunities came with his family to Nau village (Ke Nau), formerly Ly Nhan Nam, now Nhan Trach commune and was the ancestor of the Truong Van family here. In Nau village, he had two sons, Truong Van Tiem and Truong Van Gan... After that, he continued to follow Lord Nguyen to build his career. Generations of descendants of the Truong Van family in Nau village continued to flourish until now, the 16th generation.

According to documents provided by the 1st Congress of Truong family representatives in Bo Trach district, term 2024-2028, the very few historical books from the Tay Son period show that martial artist Truong Van Hien was a paternal uncle of Truong Van Hanh. King Vo Nguyen Phuc Khoat appointed Truong Van Hanh as the teacher for Prince Nguyen Phuc Luan so that he could later succeed to the throne. But when King Vo passed away, Truong Phuc Loan replaced King Vo's will to establish Nguyen Phuc Thuan as lord, while Nguyen Phuc Luan was imprisoned. Truong Van Hanh was assassinated by Truong Phuc Loan. Mr. Truong Van Hien fled to the South following the advice of monk Tri Vien.

Mausoleum of Truong Van family, Nhan Trach commune (Bo Trach).

When arriving at Quy Nhon-Binh Dinh, he immediately encountered the scene where martial artist Dang Quan was working as a bodyguard for a Phan merchant ship being attacked and robbed by bandits. He was so angry that he killed the ringleader, saved the merchant, and took back his property. The Phan merchant invited him to return with a great treat, but he only asked to build a thatched house in An Thai to teach, now Thang Cong village, Nhon Phuc commune, An Nhon town, Binh Dinh province. In 2019, this place was recognized by the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province as a provincial historical relic and in 2022, there was a decision approving the planning for the preservation, renovation, and restoration of this historical relic.

According to legend, he accepted students based on two criteria: aptitude and virtue, and taught both literature and martial arts. Many students came from other districts and provinces to study. He conveyed his great ambitions and aspirations to his students. Among them, the three Tay Son brothers stood out: Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue and Nguyen Lu. He discovered the talents of the Tay Son brothers and devoted himself to teaching them, and was considered the person who greatly influenced the determination to "do great things" of the "Tay Son Tam Kiet".

He often told his students: Having martial arts without literature is often violent. Having literature without martial arts is often weak. Literature and martial arts must rely on each other to maintain human morality. Most of his students later became generals of the Tay Son dynasty. In particular, his son Truong Van Da was trusted by Nguyen Nhac, married his daughter and made many great achievements for the Tay Son dynasty. When he was old, faced with the turmoil of the times, he asked to return to his hometown to retire. Although not a son of Binh Dinh, teacher Truong Van Hien was loved by the people for his contribution in training typical heroes of the Tay Son dynasty.

Returning to his humble little grave in the mausoleum of the Truong Van family in Nhan Trach commune, Mr. Truong Kim Chuong shared that later generations have always wondered why the tomb of the ancestor Truong Van Hien has no tombstone and is so small. The ancestors have explained for many generations that the reason is because he wanted to remain anonymous, see into the future, fear the revenge of the Nguyen Dynasty later and it was only later that he decided to return to his hometown to retire. Is that why, in the face of Nguyen Anh's fierce revenge against the Tay Son Dynasty, the tomb of the teacher of the "Tay Son Tam Kiet" still "braves the years" in a small fishing village in Quang Binh ?

Mr. Truong Kim Chuong at the grave of his ancestor Truong Van Hien according to genealogical information left behind.

Every year on the 24th day of the 8th lunar month, the death anniversary of the ancestor Truong Van Hien, the descendants of the Truong Van family in Nhan Trach commune gather to hold a respectful ceremony. During the ceremony, the unique cultural features of Nhan Trach people are performed, including the flower and boat dance.

Mr. Truong Kim Chuong added that the Truong Van family hopes that researchers, culturalists, and historians will be interested in participating in, researching, and studying the tomb of teacher Truong Van Hien to better understand a person who had great merit in training heroes of the Tay Son period. Through that, the next generation will be more proud, continuing the achievements left by their ancestors.

Han-Nom researcher Truong Quang Phuc, Chairman of the Truong Family Council of Quang Binh Province, Vice Chairman of the Truong Family Council of Vietnam, said that in Nhan Trach Commune, there is still the tomb of martial artist Truong Van Hien, the founder of the Truong Van family in Nhan Trach Commune. He and his son Truong Van Da are famous figures of the Truong family in Quang Binh Province. In Vietnamese history, there are few teachers who taught two students who both became kings like him (Emperor Thai Duc-Nguyen Nhac and Emperor Quang Trung-Nguyen Hue).

Mai Nhan

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/dat-va-nguoi-quang-binh/202406/tim-ve-noi-an-nghi-cua-nguoi-thay-day-anh-em-nha-tay-son-2218983/