Vietnamese Women, vol. 2 chapter 2, part 5: other remains, 41 to 47

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; volume 2: remains of goddesses - lady ancestors of different professions - mothers of famous persons (Di tich ve nu than, mau, ba to cac nganh nghe va me cac danh nhan)

2.41 NOC NANG Rice field [land breaking against the French police chief - two Vietnamese women killed]

PHONG THANH VILLAGE - GIA RAI DISTRICT - BAC LIEU PROVINCE

Noc Nang Rice field used to be well known because of the struggle of land protection of Mr. Muoi Chuc family - a peasant family had come to break land every early [morning?] in the region against the French police chief and the village tyrants who pillaged the land. In this struggle, there was the participation of three women and two of them were killed.

The case happened on December 16, 1928 and produced a stir [alarm] in public opinion of the southern part at that time (p.170).

2.42 TA NIEN Dinh (TÀ NIÊN Ɖình) [two sisters Lady Diêu and Lady Do - battle of 1868 against French colonialists]

VINH HOA HIEP VILLAGE - CHAU THANH DISTRICT - KIEN GIANG PROVINCE

Ta Nien dinh (Tà Niên đình) in Kien Giang is for the worship of Hero Nguyên Trung Truc (1861-1868) who fought against the French; at the same time, it was coordinated the worship of his confident volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their life. Among them, there were two women called Lady Dieu (Ɖiêu) and Lady Do. They were entrusted the tasks of reconnaissance and agitation and propaganda among the enemy troops in the famed battle of Kiên Giang citadel on the night of June 16, 1868.

Lady Diêu and Lady Do were two sisters of beauty and great tact. They lived at Minh Luong village, nowadays, Chau Thanh (Châu Thành) district Kiên Giang province. They organized many secret activities in order to spy and induce French policemen to support the volunteer troops. Therefore when the insurrectionists attacked Kiên Giang rampart, there were no opposing fire of French policemen.

Later on, when the insurrection became weak, the two sisters followed Nguyên Trung Truc to Phu Quôc Island and nobody has known their news since then.

Their names [are] closely connected with the brilliant victory of Nguyên Trung Truc volunteer troops in the battle of Kiên Giang rampart [fortress] in the past that the Kiên Giang people have been remembering forever (p.172).

2.43 TAM BAO Pagoda [Lady Duong Thi Can - Lady Thich Tri Thien - Indochina Democratic Front]

RACH GIA TOWN - KIEN GIANG PROVINCE

The pagoda was built by a widow whose name was Duong Thi Can (her nick name was Madam Hoang) to practice Buddhism by the end of the 18th century. Today, the pagoda is about over 0.5 km distant from Tam Quan gate (the entrance to the town).

At first, the pagoda had its roof of thatch and its walls of soil. After she passed away, there were many successors to head the pagoda in turn and it was renovated many times.

One century later, in 1913, Most Venerable Thich Tri Thiên came to reside at the pagoda as a Buddhist dignitary and had it rebuild in 1917; the reconstruction was completed one year later. Since then, the pagoda has looked more majestic and sublime in appearance than before.

The pagoda is a historical relic which connected closely with the history of Kiên Giang Party committee in the period of the Indochina Democratic Front. It was also the seat of the Tiên Hóa magazine, a secret revolutionary newspaper of Kiên Giang province. After the failure of Southern insurrection, the pagoda was the liaison point, as well as the place to hide arms the provincial Party Committee fetched from U Minh Thuong.

In June 1941, this base was discovered and Most Venerable Thich Tri Thiên was arrested by the French. In 1943, he was exiled to Con Dao (Côn Ɖao) prison and died there. Together with Most Venerable Thich Tri Thien (Thích Trí Thiên), Comrade Tran Van Than (Trân Van Thân) (religious name of Thich Thien An) was caught at the same time and was executed later.

On March 23, 1988, the Ministry of Culture and Information recognized Tam Bao Pagoda of Rach Gia as a national historical vestige [monument].

2.44 Lady CHAU VINH TE's tomb (Lady CHÂU VINH TÊ's tomb) [help for the construction of a canal - called Vinh Tê River]

VINH TE VILLAGE- CHAU DOC TOWN - AN GIANG PROVINCE

On the side of Sam mountain, 5 km distant from Chau Doc town, remains a tomb area of Thoai Ngoc Hau with his wife and a number of his confident servants.

This tomb area is located within relic group of Sam mountain such as Tay An ancient Pagoda, Ba Chua Xu Temple, Hang Pagoda... this area was renovated for the first time in 1888.

Mr. Thoai Ngoc Hau had two wives, the first was Lady Chau Vinh Te (Châu Vinh Tê) (1776-1836). When her husband was nominated as [a] Governor of Vinh Thanh and was responsible for digging of the canal connecting Chau Doc (Châu Ɖôc) with Ha Tien (Hà Tiên), Lady Châu Thi Tê had many significant merits in helping her husband during the 5 years (1820-1824).

To acknowledge her merit, King Minh Mang named the canal "Vinh Tê River", nearby Sam mountain "Vinh Tê Mountain" and the hamlet beside the mountain "Vinh Tê Hamlet". In the 17th year of Minh Mang reign (1836), the king ordered to set up a stele on the river bank; at the same time, the image of Vinh Tê canal was carved on the "Cuu Dinh" ("Cuu Ɖình") (9 big copper aloes wood holders considered precious national objects) in Huê. When Lady Châu Vinh Tê passed away, she was nominated by the king as "Nhan Tinh Lady".

So far, Vinh Tê canal still bears the national defense and economic value of the country (p.177).

2.45 BA LE Pagoda (BÀ LÊ Pagoda) [meeting place for patriots against French colonialists]

THI HAMLET - HOI AN VILLAGE - CHO MOI DISTRICT - AN GIANG PROVINCE

The pagoda was built by Lady Ông Thi Lê in the late years of the 19th century, at first, it was made of bamboo and cajeput wood and roofed with thatch [straw]. Till 1922, the pagoda was rebuilt with bricks and tile.

In the 1920s, the pagoda was the contacting and meeting place, at the same time, the shelter of the patriots fighting against the French. Most Ven Buu Dông (whose real name was Ngo Van Chan, Ngô Van Chân) himself who headed the pagoda in the period of 1926 to 1930, was a patriotic fighter. He used to be jailed by the French colonists.

In 1945, Hoi An Village Administrative Committee of Resistance was founded in this pagoda.

During the resistance period against the Americans, Ba Le (Bà Lê) pagoda still was the resistance base of the Revolution (p.181).

2.46 Lady NGUYEN THI THANH's Tomb [for the wife of Tran Van Than, leader of the rebellion against French at Lang Linh]

CHAU PHU DISTRICT - AN GIANG PROVINCE

In the precinct of the temple dedicated to worship Tran Van Than (Trân Vân Thành), the leader of the insurrection [rebellion] against the French at Láng Linh - Bay Thua region (An Giang province today), there is a tomb of his wife, Lady Nguyên Thi Than.

Lady Nguyên Thi Tanh was born in Sa Nhiên canal area (Dong Thap province today); she was a virtuous woman who accompanied side by side her husband and children to participate in the uprising. She was entrusted to transport food and arms to the volunteer troops, at the same time, to create the source of food for the insurrection. In order to enable favorable production and transportation, she organized and pushed the volunteers to dig the canal connecting Cai Dau (Cái Dâu with Lang Linh - Bay Thua area. So far, the canal still exists and is called Ông Bà canal.

When the insurrection failed, her husband and children were killed and missing. She returned to the former battle field to build hamlets and break the fresh ground for greater cultivation area. She assisted the people to learn the way of planting mulberry and weaving cloth. She worked in the continuous hope of her relatives return.

After her death, to show their gratitude to her the people have been making offerings to her on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month every year (p.184).

2.47 BA THO Stupa [for the founder of Phuoc Dien pagoda]

PHUOC DIEN (PHUÓC ƉIÊN) Pagoda - HANG Pagoda

SAM MOUNTAIN - CHAU DOC TOWN - AN GIANG PROVINCE

Ba Tho stupa [tower hall monument] is dedicated to worship the woman founder of Phuoc Dien pagoda (or Hang pagoda), one of the cultural and historical relics at Sam mountain - Chau Doc was recognized and classified by The Ministry of Culture and Information.

From the foot of Sam mountain up to Phuoc Dien pagoda, there is a small path with many natural steps which facilitate to go up the mountain and create more a beautiful feature in the middle of rolling rocks. From a distance, tourists can see Phuoc Dien pagoda which is high, ancient and poetic. In the front of the pagoda, there are two stupas which are carved elaborately, standing majestically on the mountain side. The upper one is Ba Tho stupa [tower hall monument] built in 1899; it was overgrown with green moss and has just been renovated. Below is the stupa of Most Ven. Thich Hue Thien (Thích Huê Thiên), the second head monk of the pagoda who died in 1990.

Phuoc Dien Pagoda was renovated for the first time in the unknown year, the second was in 1937 and now is the third renovation.

Ba Tho Stupa on Sam mountain side, which is brilliant under the sun with rising wind in four sides becomes an ideal tourist spot and it is also the sublime place for many pilgrims to make offerings (p.187).

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