Kieu Phu Van Chi Shrine

1. Ranking: Kieu Phu Van Chi Shrine was ranked at City level in Decision No. 844/QD-UBND dated February 25, 2026, of the Hanoi City People's Committee

2. Historical events, figures, and characteristics of the relic site

Vinh Phuc village has two relics dedicated to the celebrity Kieu Phu: the Kieu Phu Temple, which was ranked at National level in Decision No. 65VH/QD dated January 16, 1995, and Kieu Phu Van Chi Shrine. These are two relics closely related to each other because they both worship the same celebrity, Hoang giap Kieu Phu. He passed the Hoang giap examination in the 6th year of the Hong Duc era (1475), during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong.

According to the family genealogy and the royal edicts currently kept at the temple, Kieu Phu, courtesy name Hieu Le, pseudonym Ninh Son. He was born in 1446 in Liep Ha hamlet (the old name of Vinh Phuc village) into a poor family and had to work as a hired laborer to make a living. One day, the boy saw a group of men in black clothes and turbans carrying ceremonial offerings passing by. He asked them where they were going, but when they saw Kieu Phu in rags, they showed contempt. Upon asking, Kieu Phu learned that they were students of the Two-Country Top Scholar Nguyen Truc from Tieu Dong Mong village, Nghia Bang canton (now Van Khe village, Nghia Huong commune). Kieu Phu felt both ashamed and angry, so he went home and discussed with his mother about letting him go to school. Kieu Phu went to the school but did not dare enter the class; he only stood outside listening secretly and studied by writing on the ground. Some time later, his mother went to speak with the teacher. The teacher was also surprised because he had never seen this student enter the class, but whenever he was asked, he knew everything, and his handwriting was very beautiful. The Two-Country Top Scholar Nguyen Truc learned that Kieu Phu was talented, so he allowed him to study, did not require tuition, and even provided extra support because he knew of his poor family. Once admitted, Kieu Phu walked across the flooded rice fields to class every day. In the flood season, he had to go into the village guard post, take a piece of wood to use as a float, and when he reached the school, he dried it and used it as a writing board.

Many documents also say that he was poor and destitute, lacking food and clothing; every day after school he took off his shirt and went to work as a hired laborer, and the next morning when his shirt was dry he wore it to school. In his studies, he was diligent and intelligent, and because he was taught by the Confucian teacher Nguyen Truc, he became famous very early.

According to the stele: 'Inscribed successful candidate in the At Mui examination, 6th year of Hong Duc (1475)' (the stele was erected on the 15th day of the 8th month of the 15th year of Hong Duc (1484) at the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam, recording: 'Kieu Phu, a native of Ninh Son, Quoc Oai prefecture, passed the second-rank doctoral examination, xuat than'). The explanatory note at the end of the stele says: 'Kieu Phu (1447–?), pseudonym Ninh Son, courtesy name Hieu Le, from Lap Ha commune, Ninh Son district (now in Quoc Oai district, Ha Tay province). He served as Tham chinh (Administrative Commissioner).'

According to the family genealogy, after passing the examination, because his mother was old and weak, he stayed home to care for her and observed mourning for her for three years. After the mourning period, King Le Thanh Tong sent an envoy to his home to bring him back to the capital and appointed him to the position of Tham chinh.

During his time as Tham chinh at court, Kieu Phu revised and wrote the postscript to the book 'Linh Nam chich quai'. The historian Hoa Bang commented: 'Linh Nam chich quai also has the effect of supplementing national history, especially the historical section of the Hung Kings period. Of the 22 main stories in Linh Nam chich quai, 11 are related to the Hung Kings period. Based on Kieu Phu's postscript, we can see that the purpose of the reviser of Linh Nam chich quai was to supplement the omissions of national history through oral stories among the people in order to find the origins of the nation.'

Also in the book 'Education and Examinations in Thang Long – Hanoi', in the research section on Thang Long – Hanoi scholars of the early Le period, page 274, Kieu Phu is recorded as follows: 'A native of Lap Ha, Ninh Son district, now Vinh Phuc village, Liep Tuyet commune, Quoc Oai district. He passed the second-rank doctoral examination, xuat than (Hoang giap), in the At Mui examination, Hong Duc era, under King Le Thanh Tong (1475), and served as an official up to the position of Tham chinh, then was allowed to retire. He was co-author (with Vu Quynh) of the book Linh Nam chich quai, writing about local deities in the North.'

When revising some contents in Linh Nam chich quai, Kieu Phu wrote: 'This foolish one has widely examined other books and added his own opinions to correct them, to clarify the errors of earlier people, to untangle the ridicule of later people, to remove troublesome parts, and to choose simple, ordinary features and keep them in a box for convenience when reading.'

In almost every story in Linh Nam chich quai, Kieu Phu also gives short and accurate comments from his perspective: 'After achieving victory, why neglect the matter of hiding the divine crossbow? Is the story of the golden turtle's claw not a criticism of An Duong Vuong for not thinking of danger in times of peace?'

“For removing harm from the people, there are the stories Ngu Tinh (Fish Spirit), Ho Tinh (Fox Spirit), and Moc Tinh (Tree Spirit) to record the truth.

“For fulfilling the way of subject and child, there are the stories Banh Chung, (Than) Long Nhan, and Bach Tri, all described in detail.

“Dong Thien Vuong and Ly Ong Trong both manifested spiritual power because they had the merit of resisting invaders and saving the country.”

Kieu Phu was born and grew up in the land of Ro singing. The Ro singing festival is held once every 36 years at Khanh Xuan temple – right in his homeland. In the songs of Ro singing, most praise the merits of Tan Vien Son Thanh, who rendered service to the 18th Hung King's court in general and to teaching the people of his homeland to plant rice, grow mulberries, raise silkworms, and educate the people in the early days of nation-building. Kieu Phu wrote: 'As for stories such as that of the Tan Vien mountain deity, who had the merit of eliminating harm and resisting disasters; the story of Man Nuong, which was efficacious when the people prayed for rain; the story of Tu Dao Hanh, who avenged his father; Nguyen Minh Khong, who cured the king; Duong Khong Lo and Nguyen Giac Hai, who subdued dragons and tigers and were praised by people as having excellent methods and high skills…'

Kieu Phu held that: 'Although the events are unusual, transmitted texts still contain traces; now if I praise and write them out, would that not be quite worthy?'

Kieu Phu lived and worked through two reigns: King Le Thanh Tong (1460–1497), from when he passed the examination until the king's death, 22 years. After that he served the court of King Le Hien Tong (1498–1504) for 3 years, then died at the age of 57.

Grateful for the kindness and support of the Two-Country Top Scholar Nguyen Truc, when he was granted titles and stipends by the king, he bought two ponds for rice cultivation and fish farming, namely Bai pond and Me pond, so that the people of Van Khe village could hold a memorial ceremony for the Teacher (Mr. Nguyen Truc died in 1473, two years before Kieu Phu passed the Hoang giap examination). From a poor scholar, later honored, he remembered the person who had generously supported him in his humble days. The Kieu clan and the people of the two villages still remember this event and call it with reverence 'a bowl of rice with fish to repay the Teacher's kindness'. Ancient Confucian scholars used words of praise: 'chu ma luu quan huong, lang su dao y diem thu dam', meaning 'a small gift of offerings, the dragon book's beautiful meaning deeply immersed in autumn.'

In the last years of his life, when he was 53, he was honored by people as Trang – Mr. Trang Kieu Phu. He died at an age when his talent was still flourishing, on the 13th day of the first lunar month of the Quy Hoi year.

To remember his merits, past dynasties granted him edicts, or later generations composed couplets praising him:

Wooden plaque inscribed with literature, examination success whose fragrant fame fills the cinnamon sea;

A small gift of offerings, the dragon book's beautiful meaning deeply immersed in the autumn pond

Rough translation: The golden list of examinations, manifested from the Trang An mountain range

               The Hong Duc stone stele, hearing the fame of the people of Liep Ha.

In the Nguyen dynasty, King Khai Dinh issued an edict: 'By order, Vinh Phuc village, Liep Tuyet commune, Quoc Oai prefecture, Son Tay province, must worship Mr. Second-Rank Doctoral Laureate of the Le dynasty, holding the office of Censor and serving as De Hinh in Thai Nguyen garrison, named Kieu Phu, courtesy name Hieu Le. He had the merit of helping the country and the people and clearly did good deeds. Now the king celebrates his 40th birthday, issues an edict, and confers the title Quang y Duc bao trung hung, Trung dang than. Follow this and worship. He helps the people be peaceful. Very respectable!'

In summary: Kieu Phu is a celebrity who left to life much good reputation for diligence and perseverance in study. He passed the highest examination among the earliest examination successes in Quoc Oai in the early Le period. In addition to his official career, he also left to life profound literary works imbued with patriotism, educating people about national spirit and pride in Vietnamese culture. He is also a shining exemplary model of teacher–student loyalty, and for nearly 500 years every later generation has had to reflect on it. Therefore, when speaking of the Two-Country Top Scholar Nguyen Truc, people often mention Kieu Phu – peaks of intellect and character whose lives had many similarities.