Address: Hoang Xa village, Nguyen Xa commune, Vu Thu district
Hoang Cong Chat Temple is another tourist destination that tourists cannot ignore. At this place, visitors will learn about the life and the glorious victories of the "King Hoang" - the name Thai people call him reverently. Hoang Cong Chat (died in 1769) was born in Nguyen Xa - Vu Thu -Thai Binh, was the leader of a large rural revolution of Tonkin area in the mid-18th century, against the court of Trinh - Le dynasty for 30 years.
1. History of Hoang Cong Chat Temple.
1.1. General Hoang Cong Chat and his dedication to protecting the country.
According to the Ming dynasty's historical record book, Hoang Cong Chat (also named Hoang Cong Thu) was an activist in Son Nam. In 1739, Hoang Cong Chat gathered poor peasants to rebel and operated in Son Nam. The army was known for its guerrilla arts. In order to strengthen the army to fight against the Trinh - Le Mat court, from 1739 to 1741, Hoang Cong Chat was always associated with other activists such as Vu Dinh Dung, Nguyen Tuyen and Nguyen Cu (1) in boat operations throughout the Red River downstream. In 1739, the governor of Son Nam - Hoang Kim Tao had attacked the army several times but could not success. In 1740, Trinh Dynasty had carried out many attacks aimed to destroy the army but still could not success.
By 1743, Trinh Doanh ordered the governor Truong Nhieu to concentrate troop to attack the Hoang Cong Chat's army, but still failed. At the end of the year (1743), Hoang Cong Chat pretended to surrender, creating a chance to reorganize the forces. Trinh Doanh suggested that he could bestowed Hoang Cong Chat on an official of the court and let him manage a part of Son Nam area only if Hoang Cong Chat disband his army. However, Hoang Cong Chat disagreed and took troops to seize Khoai Chau, continuing to fight against the Trinh Dynasty.
Hoang Cong Chat had occupied Khoai Chau for two years from 1744 to 1745. In late 1745, Hoang Cong Chat's army ambushed and captured Hoang Cong Ky. This victory strongly supported the spirit of opposing Trinh Dynasty of Son Nam farmers. From 1746 to 1748, Hoang Cong Chat cooperated with Nguyen Huu Cau to operate in Son Nam, and they once had besieged Ngu Thien (later Hung Nhan district, Hung Ha district, Thai Binh province). By the end of 1748, after attacking Thang Long citadel but failed, Nguyen Huu Cau returned to Son Nam to join forces with Hoang Cong Chat. Trinh Dynasty once again gathered troops to attack on Son Nam. With the strong attack of the court, Hoang Cong Chat's army failed. Hoang Cong Chat had to run into Thanh Hoa, where he joined with Le Duy Mat (a prince of the Le family who was against the Trinh Dynasty), and Nguyen Huu Cau stayed in Nghe An. In 1751, Nguyen Huu Cau and Nguyen Danh Phuong (3) were captured by imperial forces and executed, the peasant movement temporarily subsided. The revolt of Le Duy Mat in Thanh Hoa fell into a difficult position. Hoang Cong Chat moved from the upper region of Thanh Hoa to operate in the Northwest.
The Hoang Cong Chat troop gathered with him here and worked together with the army of the Thai leader, General Ngai (But some historical record book wrote that Hoang Cong Chat worked together with General Thanh. So perhaps he was associated with one of these two people) to fight the French to save people and protect the national border area.
After liberalized Muong Thanh, Hoang Cong Chat planned a long-term strategy to fight against the court and foreign invaders. At first, Hoang Cong Chat stationed in Tam Van citadel. After realizing the layout of the citadel had many weak points in defending in many different aspects, Hoang Cong Chat decided to build Chieng Le citadel (now called Ban Phu citadel of Mong Het commune, Dien Bien). This citadel was truly masterpiece of Hoang Cong Chat. The citadel has an area of 80 acres, leaning back against the Nam Ron River, with the outer road of the citadel covered with thorny bamboo, and outside is covered with a 4 to 5 meters wide, 10 meters deep moat. The wall is 5 meters high, with the surface of 4-6m wide, on which elephants can walk on. The city has four gates: front, back, left and right; at every door there are high fortifications and guards. In the city there is a peripheral area where soldiers are stationed. There were up to 133 wells and ponds of different shapes in the citadel: square, round, triangle, hexagonal, octagonal to store water for soldiers to use. There are still relics of houses of soldiers, warehouses, arsenals, horse and elephant stables. The middle of the citadel was where the army leaders are stationed. During the period from 1754-1769, on the one hand Hoang Cong Chat strengthened the Muong Thanh domain, on the other hand he expanded the power to all over Ma River, Da River and Red River. From Muong Thanh, Hoang Cong Chat fought and took back an area the ancient An Tay that was invaded by Chinese mandarins. The Hoang Cong Chat's army was able to set up a mutual force with Le Duy Mat's army at that time, establishing a base at Trinh Quang mountain, Tran Ninh province. According to some old historical record books, many times, these two groups of troops had controlled all over a large area of Upper Thanh Hoa, Nghe An to Hung Hoa region, as the northwest area nowadays. Hoang Cong Chat occupied all 12 Thai provinces, ie Son La, Nghia Lo and Bac Hoa Binh. Thai chiefs such as Bun Phanh, Ha Cong Ung and chief of Muong as Dinh Cong Ho resisted but all lost.
At that moment, all the land lords of riverside area of Da River, Thao River and Ma River followed the orders of Hoang Cong Chat and refused to pay tribute to the court. Muong Thanh became the cultural and political center of the northwestern land.
During his stay in Muong Thanh, the greatest merit of Hoang Cong Chat was to secure the borderland of the country, to avoid the Burmese invasion in 1753-1765. Hoang Cong Chat also dealt with many incidents, invasions from the North with the condemnation of Chinese feudal officials, and stayed strongly against the rotten Trinh - Le court. He often associated with Le Duy Mat insurgent army to attack the areas of Thanh Hoa and Son Tay. At the end of 1767, he brought more than ten thousand troops across Moc Chau and Mai Chau to penetrate the Midlands of Thanh Hoa. The insurgent army was supported by the local people, making the Trinh - Le army officers extremely frightened. In late 1767, Hoang Cong Chat died. Continuing the career of Hoang Cong Chat, his son, Hoang Cong Toan, took over and proclaimed himself Quoc Cong and remained until 1769 before the army was neutralized by Trinh Dynasty.
1.2. Ban Phu Citadel and Hoang Cong Chat Temple
Ban Phu Citadel is in Noong Het commune, Dien Bien district, Dien Bien province and was built from 1758 to 1762. The citadel is 12km to the south of Dien Bien Phu city.
Picture 5.1 Ban Phu Citadel
The citadel is a testament to the historical milestone of the battle against foreign invaders and the liberation of Muong Thanh led by General Hoang Cong Chat in the 18th century.
The temple worshiped Hoang Cong Chat is built at the center of Ban Phu. This is a place to recognize the great merits of Hoang Cong Chat - who had the merit of building and defending the frontier region, against the invasion of foreign enemies at that time. And since then, every year on the 25th day of the second lunar month (the death day of Hoang Cong Chat), the temple has been opened with a solemn ceremony, traditional folk games to commemorate Hoang Cong Chat.
Picture 5.2. Hoang Cong Chat Temple in the festival day
2. The beauty and cultural features of Hoang Cong Chat Temple relics
2.1. The beauty of Hoang Cong Chat Temple
Hoang Cong Chat Temple is located at the center of Ban Phu citadel. According to historical documents and in the history of the Thai people, Hoang Cong Chat was called "King Hoang". The book "Vietnamese History" (volume 1) says "... Hoang Cong Chat's army from Son Nam moved up to Hung Hoa. Here, Hoang Cong Chat was supported by Northwestern minorities. Hoang Cong Chat not only led the people to continue to fight against the feudal regime but also resolutely fight back the invasions and looting of foreign countries, to protect the western border of the country. The peasant movement from the mission to defeat feudal order has risen to take on the task of protecting the country and building life for the people. Due to these outstanding achievements, Hoang Cong Chat was admired and loved by the Northwestern peoples. The revolution still continued until 1769.
To protect the forces and people, Hoang Cong Chat built Ban Phu. Ban Phu citadel was built in 1758 - 1762. It was more than 80 acres, leaning against Nam Rom river; The moat is 4 - 5 meters wide. It is said that even horses and elephants can walk in the patrol pathway on the wall. The citadel has 4 gates: front, back, left and right. Each door has a high post and guard ... During the time Hoang Cong Chat's insurgent army built Ban Phu Citadel, they also operated all 10 of An Tay province, including provinces in the North to Van Nam (Trung Quoc), south to Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. In 1769, the Trinh army attacked Muong Thanh, destroyed the station area of Hoang Cong Toan (son of Hoang Cong Chat) and also demolished Ban Phu Citadel.
In remembrance of the blue-collar hero, Hoang Cong Chat and General Lo Ngon and Lo Khanh, local people built a temple and statues to worship and hold annual sacrifices, honoring the revolution leader, Hoang Cong Chat. Today, in Hoang Xa village, Nguyen Xa commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province, his hometown, people built statues and temple to worship him. On Every April 12th of the year, local authorities, people and relatives come to the temple to offer incense to commemorate.
In 1981 and 1994, Ban Phu citadel and Hoang Cong Chat temple were respectively ranked and recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now known as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) as national historical and cultural relics.
Ban Phu Citadel - The Hoang Cong Chat temple are now preserved, protected and embellished in order to meet the demand of tourists inside and outside the province to study the history and culture here. These have become important cultural, artistic and spiritual places of ethnic people in Dien Bien province and simultaneously tourist attractions.
According to the authorities' evaluation, Hoang Cong Chat temple - Ban Phu Citadel Festival is organized on the largest scale in Dien Bien. The festival is not only a religious activity, but also a cultural event to maintain and promote the cultural quintessence of ethnic groups in the area. It is also an opportunity to educate the patriotic tradition, national pride; and spread the spirit of unity among peoples
Picture 5.3: Memorial monument at the temple
Picture .5.4: Ancient banyan tree in Ban Phu Citadel
Picture 5.5: Campus of Hoang Cong Chat temple
Picture 5.6: Banyan tree in the yard of Hoang Cong Chat temple
Specific traits of the Hoang Cong Chat temple.
Hoang Cong Chat Temple aims to educate the patriotic tradition, national pride, spirit of unity between lowland and highland regions, organized right on the 50th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu victory and 250 years of the day that Hoang Cong Chat insurgent army, with the support of the local militia, expelled the bandits and liberated Muong Thanh. After the victory, from 1758 to 1762, the insurgent army and local people built Ban Phu, a military architecture that defended the frontier. The citadel is located in the heart of the rich Muong Thanh field, a large barn of the Northwest region. According to folklore, the citadel was built quite solidly with deep moats and thick bamboo trunks outside the wall.
Up to now, the vestiges of citadel wall ring still remains visible. In the past two years, Dien Bien province (formerly Lai Chau province) and the Ministry of Culture and Information have invested in restoration, upgrading and repairing items of the area around Ban Phu citadel - Hoang Cong Chat temple in the direction of making this place become a center for cultural, artistic, belief and tourism activities, meeting the passion and desire of Dien Bien ethnic groups. The initial stage of restoration finished, demonstrating a part of the historical past and honoring the merit of the hero. Many new constructions have been built, including Ban Phu citadel gate which is quite superficial, with ancient architecture, suitable for landscape; above the citadel gate is a tribune to feel the wind and admire the scenery. From here, visitors can outlook the landscape of the whole area where there are house on stilts' roofs hidden behind the green bamboo groves and the rice fields stretching. The inner area of the citadel contains a cultural house on stilts with enough capacity to hold hundreds of people, on both sides of the walls are a lotus pond and a wide system of brick roads and yard to serve cultural activities, festivals and sport competitions. The projects have the total initial investment capital of 4.5 billion VND. At the center of the citadel, next to the ancient banyan tree, is the temple to worship Hoang Cong Chat, the generals and two leaders of the local ethnic minorities which are rebuild with more beautiful and meticulous architectural sculpture thanks to the donation of local residents and Hoang Quyen family. After the construction, the temple regularly welcomes many visitors to come and commemorate heroic persons by burning incense.
Picture 5.7. View of the temple during festival
Picture 5.8. Local officials attends the festival
Picture 5.9. Ceremony in the festival day
During the past two festival day, Ban Phu citadel and Hoang Cong Chat temple welcomed thousands of tourists and people from villages in the province. Opening the festival is the procession and incense offering. At the forefront is the dragon and unicorn dance team creating a lively atmosphere. After the rituals, 40 performers did the festival flag dance with the jubilant drum beat. Next is a demonstration of the strength of a great national unity by 60 actors in traditional costumes, representing the ethnic minorities in the northwest to perform unique music and dance performances. Unique and appealing to everyone's attention are Thai girls with hats, fans, towels, umbrellas, trumpets, pipes and fresh flowers of the mountain in the hands in a flower dance. Many cultural activities, sport competitions attract the participation of the public art teams in Na U, Pa Thom, Noang Het, Thanh Nua communes of Dien Bien district and the provinces of Hoa Binh, Son La and Hai Phong, Bac Giang and Thai Binh. The temple grounds and the inner campus are filled with people who are eager to watch folk games such as picking peaches, catching pigs for rewards, kicking, playing chess cards, crossbow shooting, stick pushing, and tug of war. In the evening, there is a cultural exchange with people drinking Rượu Cần, singing folk songs. Ms. Quang Thi Hoa, Head of Ban Ten music team, Dien Bien district, said: "We attend and perform in the festival every year but the festival this year is the largest and there are many performance teams from villages and provinces joining together, bringing all types of national arts ".