Based on Hán Nôm materials currently kept at the Institute of Hán Nôm, as well as at the communal house, and on the accounts of village elders, Trí Thủy Communal House worships Lý Thiên Bảo, the village tutelary god who helped Lý Nam Đế defeat the Ai Lao invaders, regain the country, and escape the domination of the northern invaders.
The legend of the village tutelary god has many variants and has been recorded in many books, but it can be summarized as follows:
Currently, local people still pass down an ancient couplet:
A thousand autumns recorded in history books
Ten thousand ages of fragrant reputation handed down.
At that time, Lý Nam Đế was from Thái Bình District. He was a relative of Nam Đế; his cousin's father was Lý Tất Hưng and his mother was Đàm Xuân Mỹ. On the 6th day of the 3rd month she gave birth to Thiên Bảo, also called Lang; on the 10th day of the 3rd month of the Mậu Tuất year she gave birth to Phần Long. Normally he stayed alone in a quiet room reading books and writing, not socializing with outsiders. Therefore he was exceptionally knowledgeable and understood worldly affairs. When he grew up, there was nothing in military strategy or martial arts he did not know. At that time our country was under the domination of the Liang dynasty of China. Many uprisings arose; the Liang sent Tiêu Tư to serve as Governor of Giao Châu, and he imposed a harsh colonial regime. Lý Nam Đế first gathered people of his clan and lamented: We are living in great calamity; if we can help everyone escape misery, that achievement is truly great. People near and far responded and believed in him; he prepared to pray to Heaven, Earth, and the hundred spirits for aid, and other local leaders, hearing the news, brought troops to help. He then raised troops and attacked Governor Tiêu Tư. Tiêu Tư fled to China. He captured the capital, adopted the era name Thiên Đức and the country name Vạn Xuân, established officials, made laws, and valued talented generals. Lang Công, Nam Đế's brother, made great contributions, so Nam Đế and the chieftains honored him as Emperor, but Lang Công was an extraordinary person with the character of a deity, so he did not want to enjoy the high throne to satisfy himself. From Nam Đế to the common people, all called him Tiên Vương. He greatly respected spirits and deities. Wherever there were efficacious sacred sites, Lang Công went to repair them while traveling; whenever he saw scenic relics, he himself wrote eulogies. On the day of his transformation, the court conferred on him the title Thiên Bảo Đào Lang Đại Vương and granted land for rituals in his honor. Officials received the edict and funds to build a court temple in Sơn Tây. The elders of Đống Thủy Village invited the deity's spirit to survey feng shui and geography, first to build a palace with a beautiful ley line and good land, and then established a shrine; in front a mountain range stretches across and many other peaks face it, behind a winding dragon body, and two rivers wrap around like a belt. This land would produce many sons, wealthy and talented, and be a sacred place of incense for all generations.
One day he came to Đống Thủy Village and was welcomed and thanked by the elders. He reported to the king and was granted titles and benefits. He saw that this place had good land and the fortune of eternal worship. He then ordered a palace to be built, went to inspect it, and gave the people money to restore the shrine and temple for later worship. He also took a broad area of rice fields as Hương Điền. When Nam Đế died without an heir, he proclaimed himself Lang Vương. He prayed to Heaven, Earth, and the hundred spirits for help to restore the country and recapture the capital, but was unsuccessful. Before the work was completed, he died.
In the time of the later Lý Nam Đế, after the capital had been recovered, to commemorate the founding merits of Tiên Vương, the court granted him an honorific and taboo names, the characters Bảo and Lang. Both characters were taboo. On the death anniversary, blue robes are used for the ceremony. The 7th day of the first month is a day of praying for blessings, using five trays of beef and black pig. On the 6th and 7th days of the 3rd month, before his birthday, offerings of glutinous rice and chicken are used. On the day of the great feast, beef or pork may be used as desired for offerings.
The 12th day of the 5th month is the new rice festival
The 12th day of the 3rd month is the father's birthday
The 12th day of the 8th month is the death anniversary, and should be regarded as the great feast day
The 12th day of the 10th month is the new rice festival
The 2nd day of the 12th month is the day for the new rice ceremony
