Temple of Do Tuc Khang

The Temple of the Distinguished Person and Doctor Do Tuc Khang is a relic associated with the life, career, and contributions of Doctor Do Tuc Khang to his homeland and country; it is also a place preserving the historical and cultural traditions and the moral principle of remembering the source when drinking water of the Do family. The relic was ranked as a National relic under Decision No. 34 VH/QD dated January 9, 1990.

According to the relic record, the original Do family temple is located in the Ngo Ba area, the center of the former Quay Rao village, now in Giao Tac Village, Thu Lam Commune, Hanoi City. This area was originally associated with the formation and development of the Do family as well as the history of the founding of Quay Rao village. Before the 14th century, this land was identified as rice and crop fields; the terrain was mostly clay, low-lying, and marshy. Quay Rao is located south of Quay Ca, with low fields on three sides; it was a later-established village and was once regarded as one of the three supports favorable for organizing combat to protect the village. This land also had many water flows gathering in the rainy season, often causing waterlogging and flooding; therefore, building dikes, dredging canals, preventing waterlogging, and retaining water became regular work of the people in the process of building their homeland.

According to the genealogy of Do Dai Ton, in 1518, Doctor Do Tuc Khang established Quay Rao village. Initially, only Do family households resided in this area; later, as the population grew, Le and Nguyen families from Quay Ca and some Pham and Ngo families from neighboring villages came to settle and make a living. Along with wet rice cultivation, the people here also developed many traditional handicrafts such as carpentry, masonry, painting, and carving. Among them were many Do family members who were skilled workers, contributing to the construction of local architectural works.

The history of the formation of Quay Rao village is associated with the settlement process of the Do family on this land. According to the genealogy, in 1418, Mr. Do Chan came to teach in Quay Ca and established a residence in Dong Rua. In 1428, Mr. Do Tu Loi, son of Mr. Do Chan, with permission from the villagers, entered the old pagoda land to establish Tac Vi village in Ha Vi commune, Ha Lo canton, Dong Ngan district, Kinh Bac region. At the beginning of 1518, Doctor Do Tuc Khang, a descendant of Mr. Do Tu Loi, found the Vuon Tren area favorable and moved to the present Ngo Ba area to establish a village, connecting with Ha Vy communal house and Quay Ca. Initially, this area was fenced, so it was named Quay Rao, later also called Giao Tac village.

In administrative history, this place name underwent many changes. Before 1945, Quay Rao, i.e. Giao Tac village, belonged to Ha Vy commune, Ha Lo canton, Tu Son prefecture, Bac Ninh province; in 1949, Ha Vy together with Ngu Ha established Lien Ha commune, Tu Son district, Bac Ninh province; in 1961, Lien Ha commune was transferred to Dong Anh district, suburban Hanoi. Currently, Giao Tac village belongs to Thu Lam commune, Hanoi City. In folk tradition, the people of the three Quay villages and the surrounding area often called Doctor Do Tuc Khang by the affectionate name 'Cu Nghe Rao', to remember his merits in establishing Quay Rao village.

Doctor Do Tuc Khang was the eldest son of Mr. Do Hoan. He was born in the Canh Dan year 1470, during the prosperous period of the Le dynasty under Le Thanh Tong. His father was a teacher, and his mother was Pham Quy Thi. According to the relic record, Do Tuc Khang was studious and intelligent from childhood; in 1492 he passed the provincial examination with 'Tam trung'; in 1496, at the age of 27, he passed the 'Tam giap dong tien si xuat than' examination, in the 27th Hong Duc era.

The academic examination tradition continued to be promoted in the family. Some younger brothers of Do Tuc Khang also achieved high examination results. In 1499, Do Dai Uyen passed the doctoral examination, and Do Tuc Khiem passed as Than hoa; in 1503, Do Danh Tuc, also known as Do Vinh, passed the doctoral examination and served as Minister. His younger brother Do Vien Nghi was granted high titles by the court. The family's studious tradition continued to be inherited by later generations, with the motto recorded in the record: 'Filial and studious, intelligent – work for the country, wholeheartedly with the people'.

After passing the doctoral examination, Do Tuc Khang was appointed by the court and held many positions. From 1498 to 1527, he successively held positions such as District Chief of Thuy Dang Prefecture, Supervising Censor of Hai Duong circuit, Kim Ngo Guard Officer, Surveillance Commissioner of Hung Hoa circuit, Surveillance Commissioner of Son Lam circuit, and Resident General of the Kim Ngo Guard. During his service, he was assigned to participate in suppressing rebellions in many localities. The relic record notes that he participated in suppressing rebellions in the Kinh Bac circuit during 1515–1527, contributing to maintaining peace and the lives of the people.

Not only did he contribute to the country, Do Tuc Khang also made many contributions to the Ha Vy community. In 1520, he and the people built Ha Vy communal house, converting from a shrine to a communal house worshiping five saints according to the legend. After that, he proposed building village conventions according to the principle 'All village affairs are decided by the people, age is respected over rank, implemented through the giap organizations.' The regulations addressed responsibilities for protecting the village, rewards for catching thieves and robbers, care for the injured, organization of funerals for the deceased, assignment of village work by age, and organization of festivals and agricultural production activities.

According to the relic record, Do Tuc Khang also directly composed and recorded documents related to the legend of the Ha Vy communal house deities, village conventions, village regulations, sacrificial texts, and other documents. These materials are assessed as having historical and literary value, contributing to preserving the customs, practices, and regulations of the Ha Vy community over many generations.

Another important figure associated with the family is Do Thi Mai, daughter of Doctor Do Tuc Khang, born in 1507. According to the relic record, from childhood she studied writing, understood military texts, and knew martial arts. In 1527, in the context of the Mac dynasty replacing the Le dynasty, Do Tuc Khang was still employed and assigned to suppress rebellions. He sent his daughter Do Thi Mai, then about 20 years old, to lead troops to suppress groups of thieves and robbers causing disturbances in many localities. In 1528, she died at Tran Giang River.

To commemorate the merits of Do Thi Mai, local people established a shrine to worship her. In the Do family in the three Quay villages and elsewhere, she is affectionately called 'Ba Co' and is worshiped at the Do Dai Ton temple, i.e. the Temple of the Distinguished Person Do Tuc Khang. Here there is a statue worshiping her along with a horizontal plaque 'Nu tuong nhat nhan'. According to the relic record, in 1911, under King Duy Tan, she was given the name My Mai and the title 'Dien Binh Cong Chua'.

The Do Dai Ton temple, or Temple of the Distinguished Person Do Tuc Khang, originally faced west; later, because it deteriorated and was unfavorable, it was moved to face east. According to the relic record, the temple location has a water channel in front, mounds and ramparts on both sides, and high ground behind; it is described according to traditional feng shui concepts as favorable land. In addition to the main temple, there are temples of branch families. However, on death anniversaries, Tet, important festivals, and common activities of the whole family, organization still focuses at the Do Dai Ton temple, i.e. the Do Tuc Khang temple.

The tomb of Doctor Do Tuc Khang, according to documents, was reburied in the Dong Rua area, a place associated with the first settlement steps of the Do family. The tomb was included in the family's common tomb area, and to this day descendants still maintain memorial ceremonies there.

The temple is also a place maintaining the traditional customs and regulations of the family. According to the genealogy of Do Dai Ton, the land and temple were left by ancestors; management and preservation are the responsibility of the family, and the family head is responsible for looking after them and proposing repairs. Previously, branch families had incense-and-worship fields and ponds and gardens to create revenue for worship; adjustment of offerings in the family was carried out according to age hierarchy.

Every year, the 6th day of the 2nd lunar month is the death anniversary of Doctor Do Tuc Khang. According to the tradition recorded in the record, on the evening of the 6th, a reporting ceremony is held, ca tru singing for worship or theatrical performances are organized; on the 7th, a commemorative ceremony, rituals, and reading of a text recounting the Doctor's merits to the villagers and the country are held. The organization is chaired by the senior branch, with representatives of branches in the family participating.

The Temple of the Distinguished Person and Doctor Do Tuc Khang is therefore not only a place to commemorate a scholarly celebrity but also a space preserving the history of the formation of Quay Rao village, the academic tradition of the Do family, and the customs and conventions handed down through many generations. The relic also reflects the relationship between the historical figure and his homeland, the community, and the family in the process of forming, building, and developing the land.

Today, the Temple of the Distinguished Person and Doctor Do Tuc Khang in Giao Tac Village, Thu Lam Commune, Hanoi City continues to be a place for later generations to remember and express gratitude to Doctor Do Tuc Khang and previous generations, while contributing to preserving and promoting the studious tradition, the moral principle of remembering the source when drinking water, and the historical and cultural values of the homeland.