Vietnamese Women, vol. 1 chapter 3, part 2: Landscapes about Vietnamese women 11 to 18

from: Bao Tang Phu Nu Nam Bo: The Vietnamese Women. Vestiges & Landscapes. The Cultural-Historic (Di Tich Thang Canh Lich Su Van Hoa. Phu nu Viet Nam); Nha Xuat Ban Phu Nu 1999; chapter 1: remains of goddesses, founders of professions and of famous persons' mothers (Di tich ve mau, nu than, ba to ba chua cac nganh nghe va me cac danh nhan)

3.11 TAM CÔC Cave

NINH BINH PROVINCE

3.12 KIM LIÊN Pagoda [a silk farm of Lý Dynasty]

Former Ɖông Long Pagoda

NGHI TAM VILLAGE - TU LIEM DISTRICT - WEST LAKE - HA NOI

The pagoda was built during the Trân Dynasty on the site of Princess Tu Hoa's palace (king Ly Thân Tông's daughter). After the time of Princess Tu Hoa, it became a sericulture farm [silk farm] of the Lý Dynasty's ladies in waiting (p.230).

3.13 PHÚC XÁ Shore

TU LIÊM DISTRICT

It was the native village of her husband and also the burial place of poetess Hông Ha Ɖoàn Thi Ɖiêm.

She was born in 1705 and died in 1748. She was a well-known poetess at King Bac. She left a masterpiece "Chinh Phu Ngâm Diên Âm" translated from a poem in Chinese characters by Ɖang Trân Côn into Nôm characters, written in the "song thât luc bát" style (style of seven - seven - six - eight meter).

She also composed a well-known collection of proses: "Truyên Ky Tân Pha" (p.232).

3.14 NGHI TÀM Village [silk farm for ladies]

QUANG BA WARD - HA NOI

Here was the sericulture [silk] farm founded for the ladies-in-waiting by the Lý Dynasty, it was also the native land of Mrs. Nguyên Thi Hinh (the wife of Thanh Quan district chief, a poetess in the Nguyên Dynasty). She was famous for her poetic talent. Her husband was Mr. Luu Nguyên Ôn, a native of Nguyêt Áng area (Thanh Tri district, Hà Ɖông province). When her husband died, she went on in her widowhood to look after her children.

She was bestowed the title of "Cung trung giáo tâp" (Royal Teacher) to teach royal concubines and princesses during King Minh Mang's reign. Her poem was highly polished and meaty; as of today, only few of them still remain. She's considered one of the most famous poetesses of contemporary time Vietnamese literature (p.233).

3.15 HUONG Pagoda [Bodhisattva passed here]

HUONG SON VILLAGE - MY DUC DISTRICT - HA TAY PROVINCE

Legend has it that Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Quan Am Bodhisattva) on her Southwards trip had resided here as a Buddhist dignitary.

The scenic spot of Huong pagoda consists of remains of pagodas and shrines in harmony with the scenic caves, mountains, streams in majestic natural setting, this has made the pagoda to be well known throughout the nation. In this spot, there is the Huong Tích cave known as "The most beautiful cave under Southern (Vietnamese) sky" with the Quan Âm Bodhisattva statue carved in granite since the end of the 18th century (p.235).

3.16 CÔN SON Pagoda [for Nguyên Trai and his wife, Mrs. Nguyên Thi Lô]

CON SON MOUNT - CHI LINH DISTRICT - HAI DUONG PROVINCE

The statues of Nguyên Trai and his wife, Mrs. Nguyên Thi Lô were worshipped at the pagoda. Nguyên Thi Lô was a native of Hoi village, district of Ngu Thiên (now attahed to village of Pham Lê), district of Hung Hà, province of Thái Bình. Her family specialized in making sedge mat, but well versed into literary studies. She was at the same time beautiful and talented in poetry and literature, as well as good at business.

One day, Nguyên Trai met her while she was selling sedge mat in Thang Long. The anecdote of her replying in verse to Nguyên Trai question also in verse has been passed from generation to generation till nowadays and that meeting had become an unusual encounter. Nguyên Trai had been conquered by her and married her as a concubine. Once having become the wife of Nguyen Trai, Mres. Nguyên Thi Lô was known to King Lê Thái Tông as a talented woman. She was invited to the royal palace as "Lê nghi hoc si" (ritual scholar) educating royal concubines and a number of other mandarins serving in the royal palace.

Nguyên Thi Lô had been beloved and trusted by the king, this had provoked envy and resentment from bad people. During an inspection tour, the king paid a visit to Nguyên Trai at Côn Son and went back to the royal court with Thi Lô in his company. When they arrived at Lê Chi garden, the king suddely was dead there. The royal court had condemned Thi Lô for poisoning the king and this had led to a tragic injustice for Nguyên Trai who was sentenced to be exterminated of his three lines of ancestry. This was always the tragic history that had happened to the Lê dynasty (p.237).

3.17 HOA LU Ancient Capital and ƉINH LÊ Temple

TRUONG YEN VILLAGE - HOA LU DISTRICT - NINH BINH PROVINCE

This place is for the worship of the two kings Ɖinh Tiên Hoàng, Lê Ɖai Hành and Empress Duong Vân Nga, she was formerly the Queen Mother of the Dinh dynasty. After the death of her husband, King Ɖinh Tiên Hoàng, their son Ɖinh Toàn, was ascending to the throne only at the age of 6. She had to act on place of her son' position to solve all problems of the country.

At that time, the Royal Court was divided internally after the sudden death of King Ɖinh Tiên Hoàng and the country was facing the approaching invasion threat of the Sung troops. For that reason, Queen Mother Duong Vân Nga having acted on behalf of the Ɖinh Dynasty handed over the Ɖinh throne to the General of the Ten Army Corps Lê Hoàn, the man who could push back the invaders, achieve the solidarity of various sections of the population and build a stronger country (p.239).

3.18 TRINH TIÊT Pagoda

TAHNH HAI VILLAGE - THANH LIEM DISTRICT - HA NAM PROVINCE

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