During the formation and development of Song Cau Town, it is impossible not to mention an outstanding son who made great contributions in the early days of fighting against foreign invaders, that is General Dao Tri. Today, the National Historical Site of Dao Tri's Tomb and Temple has become a placeto educate traditions for many generations.
both literary and martial
Dao Tri was born around 1799, with the name Trung Hoa, originally from Thanh Hoa, moved to Phu Yen to live in Tan Thanh village, Dong Xuan district during the period of land reclamation and settlement (now Xuan Dai ward, Song Cau town). Coming from a commoner class, with a talent for military strategy, Dao Tri was a high-ranking mandarin serving three Nguyen dynasty kings: Minh Mang, Thieu Tri and Tu Duc. In the 21st year of Tu Duc (1868), Dao Tri was appointed to the title of Ta Quan Do Thong Phu Chuong Phu Su, one of the highest-ranking military officers in the Nguyen dynasty's military system. He was also one of the military officers with many achievements in defeating the French colonialists' plan to attack quickly and win quickly in the years 1858-1859. Dao Tri's life and career are recorded in the official histories of the Nguyen Dynasty such as: Dai Nam Thuc Luc, Minh Menh Chinh Yeu, Dai Nam Chinh Bien Liet Truyen...
Not only that, Mr. Dao Tri was also a high-ranking mandarin who had many contributions in educating the people. When he was the Governor of Dinh Yen, he saw that the regional examinations were troublesome, so he submitted a petition to the king asking for reforms, which the king praised as right and allowed them to be implemented; or when the people of Nam Dinh suffered from crop failure and famine, he, together with the Governor Nguyen Huy Ky and the Inspector Le Tuan, organized a fundraiser to collect money and rice to give to the poor. He was also the one who organized the construction of dikes, reclaimed more than 17,000 hectares of land, and gave it to the people to cultivate. He was highly praised by King Tu Duc, who awarded him a gold medal with the words "Vi duc - Vi dan", and ordered the mandarin to compose a stele to record his merits and pass them down with a couplet:
The products of heaven and earth are eternal.
Grace and glory to the nation.
Translation: Merit exists with heaven and earth
Grace and virtue are passed down through the country.
Evaluating his military career, the book Dai Nam Chinh Bien Chronicle recorded: “Dao Tri was agile, straightforward, and fond of literature. Although he was a military officer, he often invited teachers to teach him, liked to read the Military Classics, studied the classics and history…, it was true that on the outside he was a martial artist but on the inside he was a literary artist. When he supervised the affairs of the province, the government was well-organized, when he commanded the military, he was proficient in strategy, such a martial artist was rare”. His contributions were closely linked to the development of the country, the people, and his hometown of Song Cau. Dao Tri died at the age of 80 (1878) in Tan Thanh village and is currently worshiped by his descendants.
A traditional education place for the younger generation
In 2015, Dao Tri's tomb and temple were recognized as national historical relics. With the desire to arouse the sense of responsibility, pride and respect for the nation's precious historical traditions for the younger generation, in recent years, the Party Committee and People of Song Cau Town have paid great attention to educating the younger generation about traditions through historical and cultural relics, scenic spots and landscapes in the area, including Dao Tri's tomb and temple.
Mr. Duong Ngoc Chau, Principal of Xuan Dai Primary School (Xuan Dai Ward, Song Cau Town) said: “The education of local historical traditions for students is not only integrated into the school's subjects but also implemented in flag-raising ceremonies and extracurricular activities. In particular, the school cooperates with the Ward Veterans Association to talk about the life, background and contributions of Mr. Dao Tri to help students gain more knowledge of local history, and remind today's young generation to follow in the footsteps of their fathers and brothers, and worthily continue the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. It can be said that the education of local historical traditions has truly created motivation and multiplied the love for the homeland and country for the young generation. From there, students have improved their sense of responsibility in studying.”
Speaking about this issue, Mr. Dao Thanh Tuan, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Xuan Dai Ward, said: “Traditional education for today's young generation is very important and extremely necessary. Accordingly, the association has invited elderly veterans to organize historical talks for youth union members and students about historical sites and famous people of the locality. This is an effective form of education, combining theory with practice, helping union members and students proactively learn about the history and culture of the locality. From there, they will know how to appreciate traditional values, contributing to preserving, conserving and promoting cultural heritage in a more effective and practical way.”
As the 5th generation descendant of Mr. Dao Tri, Mr. Dao Van is currently worshiping and preserving the tomb and temple of Mr. Dao Tri. Mr. Van confided: “I regularly educate my children and grandchildren about the example of loyalty and service to the country and people of Mr. Dao Tri to pass on and foster love and pride for the homeland for the next generations. I find education through true stories like this extremely useful. From there, we will be more responsible in striving to study and work to preserve and further promote the traditions of our ancestors. We hope that the authorities at all levels will continue to invest in, build and restore the tomb and the temple of Dao Tri to make it more and more spacious.”
According to Chairman of Song Cau Town People's Committee Phan Tran Van Huy, every year, the town organizes an incense offering ceremony at the National Historical Site of Dao Tri Tomb and Temple to express deep gratitude to the ancestors who contributed to building the country; at the same time, expressing the will to join hands and hearts, continuing the journey of construction that our ancestors have built and reflecting on their responsibilities towards their homeland and country. This is a practical work to continue promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style, joining hands and hearts to develop the great national unity bloc, to build Song Cau Town into a provincial city by 2025.
“The incense sticks lit are also a promise of determination of the entire Party Committee, government and people of the town, striving to successfully implement the Resolution of the 12th Song Cau Town Party Congress, term 2020-2025, contributing to the successful completion of the Resolution of the 17th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025”, said Mr. Phan Tran Van Huy.
According to Chairman of Song Cau Town People's Committee Phan Tran Van Huy, in the coming time, Song Cau Town hopes that the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and Provincial People's Committee will continue to provide support in terms of policies, mechanisms, finance, etc., creating the most favorable conditions for the town to soon implement the restoration and reconstruction of Dao Tri's tomb and temple. This not only demonstrates the solemnity and respect for the ancestors who built and defended the country, but also creates conditions for the locality to complete the province's plans on decentralization of management, restoration, and maintenance of recognized historical and cultural relics; creating more highlights of spiritual tourism for visitors when coming to Phu Yen and Song Cau Town.
PHAM THUY
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