Three Do Chau Generals and Their Loyalty to Hung Vuong

Thien Co Temple, located in Trung Vuong commune in Viet Tri city, is a site of worship for teacher Vu The Lang, his wife, and two students, Princess Tien Dung and Ngoc Hoa, the 18th Hung King’s children. There are also the tutelary deities' tombs of Huong Lan hamlet, the son of teacher Vu The Lang and his wife (who was a bodyguard for the 18th Hung King), was ordained as three Do Chau Generals, with a moving narrative of allegiance to Hung Vuong passed down from generation to generation.

Huong Lan Communal House is where people go to revere the three Do Chau Generals.

According to folklore, teacher Vu The Lang and his wife gave birth to three intelligent, nimble children with great swimming and diving skills. When his parents died, the three brothers were still teens. They grew up healthy as a result of the villagers' assistance and care. During a spring fishing competition at Bach Hac junction, King Hung the 18th discovered and loved the three brothers' swimming and diving abilities, and he invited them inside the palace as bodyguards. When Hung Due Vuong handed over the monarchy to Thuc Phan An Duong Vuong, the three brothers moved to Huong Lan village to reside.

Knowing the Vu brothers' skills, An Duong Vuong planned to invite them to Co Loa to serve as his bodyguards. To demonstrate their allegiance to the Hung Dynasty, the three brothers fastened stones to themselves and plunged themselves into the lagoon. An Duong Vuong, inspired by the three people’s steadfast example, consecrated them as tutelary deities of Huong Lan hamlet and directed the residents to construct perpetual temples to worship. Later Vietnamese feudal kingdoms always crowned three Generals. The temple dedicated to the three Tutelary Gods was established during the reign of King An Duong. Later, amid the ups and downs of life, floods damaged the common home, which was reconstructed in 2008.

Government authorities and locals care for and protect Trung Vuong commune’s historical and cultural artifacts.

According to the local elders, the inhabitants of Huong Lan hamlet have continued to carry down stories of appreciation to instructor Vu The Lang and his wife across many generations. Even though they originated from different areas, they always lived a calm, modest existence and had the honor of educating the two princesses Tien Dung - Ngoc Hoa and the locals about study. The children of the instructor and his wife are all devoted and revered by the community. As a result, once the communal home dedicated to the three Tutelary Gods was established in 2008 and rebuilt in 2011, people frequently visit and burn incense to honor the three Generals' efforts.

Every year, on holidays, New Year’s, the three’s death anniversary, and the New Rice Festival, Huong Lan Communal House arranges festivities to remember the three Do Chau Generals' achievements.

According to Ms. Luu Thi Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the Trung Vuong Commune People’s Committee, every year, on holidays, New Year’s Day, the three’s death anniversary, and the new rice festival, Huong Lan Communal House arranges festivities to celebrate the three Do Chau Generals' services to the villagers, homeland, and country. People volunteered to support and give funds for the renovation of the communal dwelling. The Provincial People’s Committee has designated the tombs of the three Do Chau Generals, Huong Lan Communal House, and the Thien Co temple, which worships the parents of the three Tutelary Gods, as Historical-Cultural Monuments.

The three Do Chau Generals' tombs are located in Huong Lan hamlet, among the community dwellings, temples, and mausoleums.

There are currently five relics and a cluster of relics in the commune, including the Ngoai Lau Thuong communal house, which is a national historical and cultural relic, the Noi communal house Lau Thuong, the Kim Quat Ha communal house, the Boi Linh pagoda, the A Loc pagoda, and a cluster of communal house, temple, and mausoleum relics in Huong Lan village. Each landmark and relic retains physical and intangible cultural treasures with significant historical, cultural, and spiritual value, emphasizing the festival city’s original tradition.

To protect these ancient cultural values, the Trung Vuong Commune People’s Committee formed the Commune’s Historical and Cultural Relics Management Board, which is led by the Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee. Each relic is overseen by its own panel. Perform specified obligations such as watching after, caring for, and safeguarding.

Each location name is related with a tale concerning the time of nation-building and defense in order to assist future generations understand more about the nation’s heritage and excellent customs, therefore assuming responsibility for their preservation.

Vinh Ha