The Tru Temple of Literature

The Tru Temple of Literature was classified as a national relic under Decision No. 65/VH-QĐ dated January 16, 1995, by the Ministry of Culture and Information, now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The temple was built early to encourage the local spirit of learning and academic achievement. This is a solemn space associated with the worship of sages and famous scholars, especially the top scholar (Trang Nguyen) Nguyen Truc, the first Trang Nguyen of the Le dynasty. The structure was built according to the shape of the character 'Đinh' (丁) including the Dai Bai hall and the Hau Cung. The Dai Bai hall consists of three bays, notable for its gong stands and bracket beams featuring exquisite hand-carved woodwork.

The Hau Cung consists of one bay connected to the rear of the central bay of the Dai Bai hall. In front of the Hau Cung is a large panel carved with two dragons facing the moon; at the very back are two memorial tablets, one for Nguyen Truc and one for the local sages. The tablets are lacquered and gilded, with two dragons facing the moon carved above, two phoenixes carved on either side, and a tiger emblem carved below the base. These motifs are symbols of nobility and solemnity that people of the past often used in sacred temples and shrines. The temple was repaired several times during the Nguyen dynasty, but some architectural traces from the Le dynasty remain, such as a carved panel depicting a thick-tailed dragon in 18th-century style, and a stone stele indicating that the temple was built at the end of the Le dynasty, in the 31st year of Canh Hung (1770).

As the large plaque mentioned above suggests, this temple is almost a shrine to Nguyen Truc. Nguyen Truc was originally from Boi Khe village, Thanh Oai district. His great-grandfather, whose taboo name was Huu, lived in the Tran dynasty and held the post of Hanlin attendant lecturer; his grandfather, whose taboo name was Binh, held the post of Huan Dao. His father was Nguyen Thi Trung. When the Ho dynasty usurped the Tran throne, Thi Trung withdrew to live in Tieu Dong Mong village, Nghia Bang commune. When Thai Tong recovered the realm, all heroes and scholars were offered three ranks and titles, but Thi Trung refused to come forward and accept. When Thai Tong ascended the throne, knowing he was talented, he sent an invitation for him to return to the capital and assigned him the post of keeper of the library at the National College, then that of instructor. Later he resigned and returned home to teach. He married a woman of the Do family from Nghia Bang (now Nghia Huong commune), who gave birth to Nguyen Truc on May 16, Dinh Dau year (1417) at Sai Son mountain hermitage. From childhood, Nguyen Truc was very intelligent; in examinations he usually placed first, second, or third. At age 26, he took the Metropolitan Examination (1442) and passed as first doctoral laureate (Trang Nguyen). He served as an official under Le Nhan Tong (1443-1459), rising to the posts of Hanlin Academy, Thang An prefectural commissioner of Nam Sach, then attendant lecturer and Secretariat Vice Minister. In 1444, he received orders to go on a diplomatic mission to China; he took the examination there and also placed first among the Ming candidates. Therefore he was called Liang guo zhuangyuan (Trang Nguyen of two countries). In 1452, due to a major mourning period, he asked to return to his village to practice medicine and teach. His students were numerous, and many became successful, such as Hoang giap Kieu Phu. After the mourning period ended, he was again summoned to the capital to receive Ming envoys. Under King Le Thanh Tong, he continued to be highly regarded. On December 28, 1473, he fell ill and died at age 57 while his talents were still brilliant.

Nguyen Truc is not only a sage of The Tru village but also one of the sages of the country. Therefore, the temple dedicated to him was once included by the royal court among the 'national rites' (state ceremonial rituals). This temple is the pride of the people of The Tru village and also a scenic site of the country.