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The Shrine of Kinh Duong Vuong, located in Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province, is where King Thuy To, the father of Lac Long Quan and the pioneer of the Hung Kings era, is worshipped.
The Sacred Shrine of Kinh Duong Vuong – Honoring the Ancestral King Thuy To
The tomb area and the Shrine of Kinh Duong Vuong are situated within the Kinh Duong Vuong relic complex (in A Lu hamlet, Dai Dong Thanh commune, Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province), covering a total area of 36 hectares.
The land of A Lu was once called Phuc Khang, it was a precious land with four sacred rivers flowing towards it. Therefore, when passing through here, Kinh Duong Vuong stopped and established a village, bringing residents to settle.
After nearly 4900 years since the land was first opened, King Thuy To remains the pride of the people throughout the A Lu region. The elderly always proudly pass down to their descendants the values of time, about the history, about Kinh Duong Vuong.
The preserved artifacts over the years are precious evidence of Nam Bang Thuy's ancestral connection with its people and water. According to the Nguyen Dynasty records, Kinh Duong Vuong, also known as Loc Tuc, a descendant of the Thanh Nong lineage.
By the peaceful Duong River, under the ancient casuarina trees, lies the resting place of Kinh Duong Vuong. After thousands of years, the tomb remains as humble as ever. It sits on a mound overlooking the river, with a feng shui position of the knees facing the mountains and feet touching the land.
In the past, people only built tall brick altars for worship. Later, the temple of Kinh Duong Vuong was renovated and transformed into the current mausoleum complex.
The entrance to the tomb features a stone tablet with the inscription 'Hat Ma' meaning 'dismounting from horse', signifying reverence as visitors are required to dismount to show respect. This ancient tablet's exact age is unknown. The latest renovation of the Kinh Duong Vuong tomb was in 2012. Outside the tomb is a stele inscribed with the four characters 'Nam Bang Thuy ancestral shrine', indicating the first ancestral king of Nam's lineage.
The architecture of the mausoleum complex includes a gate dividing into three passages separated by lantern-bearing columns. Passing through the gate leads directly to the tomb of King Kinh Duong Vuong, while to the left and right are four houses for literary, martial, and guest purposes. Surrounding the area are lush trees providing shade for visitors.
The tomb is built on a raised strip of land facing north, with the Duong River to the right and the Duong dyke behind. The memorial platform is built in a double-tiered, eight-roofed style. Upon entering through the gate is the central area of the tomb, where a stele 'Kinh Duong Vuong mausoleum' was engraved in 1840.
For centuries, every 18th day of the first lunar month, the people of Á Lữ village gather to celebrate the Kinh Dương Vương festival, honoring the first king of Vietnam, Lạc Long Quân, and Âu Cơ.
Remembering the 18th of January,
Honoring the sacred anniversary of King Thủy Tổ, the ancestral father of the nation,
Regardless of distance and direction,
Returning to pay homage to our ancestors is our tradition.
In 2013, the Kinh Dương Vương tomb underwent renovations and expansions, including the construction of cultural and martial halls, as well as guest accommodations.
When visiting Bac Ninh, make sure to explore the Kinh Duong Vuong temple to delve deeper into the nation's history and pay respects to King Thuy To, the ancestral king of the Vietnamese people. Don't forget to follow Mytour's blog for more insightful articles!
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Visit Mytour for more travel insightsDecember 12, 2022
