Tu Van Temple

Tu Van Temple worships Holy Lord Wenchang Zitong Dijun, who is one of the deities in the Chinese pantheon and was introduced to Vietnam.

There are two origins for Lord Wenchang Dijun. First, Lord Wenchang Dijun is the Dou Kui star group, consisting of six stars arranged in a semicircle in front of the Big Dipper; each star has a name and governs literary fortune and examination success. Second, according to the Confucian-Buddhist-Taoist dictionary, Lord Wenchang Dijun was a real person named Zhang Ya (or Zhang E), who after death manifested many miracles and was conferred the title of Zitong God. In the reign of Renzong of the Yuan dynasty (1316), the Zitong God was conferred the title “Fuyuan Kaihua Wenchang Silu Hongren Dijun.” Since then, the Zitong God and the Wenchang star were merged into one title, Wenchang Dijun.

Tu Van Temple is located at the entrance of the village right next to the foot of the dike, on a beautiful site with spacious grounds. Facing southeast, its main components include the pillar gate, the main temple (front worship hall), guest house, tower, screen, and garden.

According to the accounts of elderly villagers and the four imperial edicts currently kept at the site, as well as valuable artifacts such as horizontal plaques, couplets, and worship statues, it can be said that Tu Van Temple dates back a long time. After many renovations, in 1953 the authorities and local people repaired the front worship hall. In 2009, the guest house was built; in 2016, the ceremonial gate was repaired. Therefore, the temple's components and architectural structures are still in good condition, and the worship objects are carefully preserved.

The artifacts of Tu Van Temple are quite diverse in type and material, including wooden, bronze, ceramic, porcelain, and paper objects. Among the artifacts here are four imperial edicts from the Nguyen dynasty and a number of Nguyen-dynasty artifacts such as dragon thrones and spirit tablets, worship statues, etc.

On the main altar, the topmost niche and three statues of Holy Lord Wenchang Dijun and the two deities Lung Thien and Dia A are placed. The three statues are carved in a seated position on thrones, wearing hats; the central statue wears a red robe, the two side statues wear yellow robes, have long faces, and have their hands placed on their laps.

Outside, there is a gilded and lacquered incense table decorated with splendid patterns, arranged with worship objects such as candlesticks, water vessels, incense bowls, etc. Above, an altar curtain, horizontal plaque, and couplets are hung.

To commemorate the merits and grace of Holy Lord Van, the Tu Van Temple festival is held on the 6th day of the second lunar month every year. The rituals include the Moc Duc bathing ceremony and the Te offering ceremony, read by the temple keeper.

The Tu Van Temple festival does not include a palanquin procession of the Saint, but at the Phuong Cach village communal house festival, the palanquin procession goes to Tu Van Temple to perform a ceremony requesting permission to carry the sacred text to the communal house for the ceremony honoring the Saint.