Phu Tho town, a heroic land more than 115 years old, located on the banks of the red Thao River with heavy alluvium, is the place where many talents were born and nurtured for the country in all fields of politics, economics and finance. , culture… especially in the financial sector. This place has the ancient and sacred Tru Mat temple worshiping the Great King Kieu Cong Thuan. He worked as a mandarin under Ngo Quyen, held the position of Chief of the Treasury, along with his grandfather Kieu Cong Tien, biological father Kieu Cong Chuan.
Tru Mat Temple space (Photo: Collectibles)
When a political event occurred in Co Loa capital in 944, King Ngo Quyen died, rebelled against the god Duong Tam Kha to usurp the throne and hunt down loyalists, Kieu Thuan and his family ran back to Ma Khe land, then joined the clan. Chief Ma Xuan Truong in Phu An set up a garrison on the riverbank, established a hamlet to settle down in Tru Mat, gradually forming a local sand force.
A large area from Ma Khe to the Northwest was built and ruled by Kieu Thuan for more than 20 years, making the people peaceful, agriculture expanded, where everyone settled, settled, and powerful. resounding fame, making the other ambassadors respect. Kieu Thuan’s army has up to several thousand people, is strictly organized, strictly disciplined, and is nicknamed “Cuong Nghi Quan” above and below; alternately training, patrolling, guarding the territory, producing and ensuring food for the army, and standing on the move ready to fight.
In the two years 966 – 967, our country did not have a king, the forces in the court competed for the throne, the local patriarchs did not submit to the court, causing the disaster of 12 warlords. When there was an incident of 12 warlords, heartbroken by the chaos and war, he realized that Dinh Bo Linh was a talented and virtuous man who could unify forces and keep the country. He told everyone: “The island cannot defeat the hero “and advised the soldiers to temporarily take refuge, wait until the country is peaceful, come back”… He did not surrender, nor did he fall into the hands of the Dinh army, he said. quietly ended his life, keeping his honor. After the Dinh army arrived, they saw only a pile of termites that had covered the grave.
Admired by Kieu Thuan’s talent and dignity, the people of Phu An and Tru Mat villages built a temple for him in Tru Mat to regularly burn incense in memory of a man who had meritorious services to the country and the people, and Phu An village honored him. become the emperor worshiping in the village communal house. After ascending the throne Dinh Bo Linh (ie King Dinh Tien Hoang) issued a posthumous decree for Kieu Thuan as “Cuong Cong Dai Vuong Thuong Thien”. Later Vietnamese feudal dynasties issued posthumous orders to Kieu Cong Thuan in turn.
The temple was built in the Year of the Horse (970), after many restorations, the temple is now clearly in the architectural style of the Nguyen Dynasty, ranked as a national historical relic in 1999. This is an ant complex. architecture, on the right is the Mother Temple, on the left is the temple of Duc Kieu Cong Thuan, between the two temples is the relic of Thang Son Pagoda.
Tru Mat Temple Festival (Photo: Collected)
On the occasion of commemoration of birth, death, and establishment of the General Cong temple, people in the area still burn incense and sacrifice according to traditional rituals. Today, the traditional festival of Tru Mat Temple is held on the 17th and 18th of the second lunar month with a solemn procession and ritual ceremony. The festival is organized with many types of culture, art and folk games such as: Lion dance; beautiful dance money; fly a kite; Tug; cock fighting and chess competition, chess … The festival has a profound human meaning, expressing the tradition towards the roots, gratitude for the merits of those who have contributed to the villagers… praying for the nation and the people peace, happy home, happy career, sublimated career.
Source: Collected internet.