The Trung Sisters' Uprising, which broke out in March 40, was the first uprising of the Au Lac people against the feudal forces of the North. Responding to the call of the Trung Sisters, many female generals in the homeland of the Ancestors joined the fight, including three female generals who are still remembered by the people of some localities in Viet Tri city, who have built temples to worship them, which are historical and cultural relics symbolizing the patriotism and resistance against foreign invaders of the Vietnamese people.
Peacefully located by the Lo River, under the shade of an ancient banyan tree that is green all year round, is the temple of female general Bat Nan, Phuong Lau commune - one of the talented generals under the reign of Hai Ba Trung, who helped the two ladies lead the people to defeat To Dinh's army, build the country, and proclaim themselves king. According to the legend, Bat Nan had another name, Thuc Nuong (full name is Vu Thi Thuc). During her lifetime, she was a talented and beautiful woman, beautiful in appearance and character, kind-hearted, patriotic, and loved her people. At the age of 18, she was engaged to Pham Danh Huong, the district chief of Nam Chau. The lustful and cruel governor To Dinh forced her to be his wife, but she refused, so he took revenge by killing her father and her fiancé and sending troops to hunt her down. Not letting her fall into To Dinh's hands, she broke the siege, crossed the Red River to Tien La (Thai Binh) to take refuge, and later raised the flag of uprising.
In 40 AD, when the uprising was just launched, hearing that Bat Nan was also a like-minded person with forces in hand, the Trung Sisters immediately sent someone to invite her to join forces. Bat Nan agreed and from then on, she experienced many times directly leading the army to fight left and right, defeating the Later Han invaders. When Ma Vien brought troops to suppress, Bat Nan fought very bravely, causing great losses to the enemy, but then because she was inferior in both position and strength, Bat Nan was forced to lose the battle and commit suicide. To commemorate her merits, the people of Phuong Lau commune built a temple to worship her, vowing to burn incense forever.
Comrade Huynh Tan Minh - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: "Bat Nan Temple holds a party every year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. In the past, on this day, the village often organized rowing and Xoan singing, and the food was often displayed on trays woven with leaves. From the beginning of August, the villagers were busy preparing for the village festival. People from far away brought guests back, and villagers invited friends to come. Up to now, some rituals are still preserved to commemorate her merits, the temple is still regularly burned with incense and is open to meet the spiritual needs of the people and visitors."
Inside the temple of General Bat Nan.
Following the Lo River, we arrive at Tam Giang Thuong Temple, Bach Hac Ward, also known as Quach A Nuong Temple, which lies peacefully facing the wind at the confluence of the Red River, Lo River, and Da River. This place worships the heroic female general Quach A Nuong Khau Ni, who helped the Trung Sisters kill the enemy, save the people, and save the country. According to legend, Quach A Nuong, also known as Quach A, was born and raised in a small fishing village in the Bach Hac area, the only daughter in the family. At the age of 16, her parents passed away one after another, Quach A cut her hair to become a nun and took the name Khau Ni. Wherever she went, she saw the Han invaders raging and oppressing the innocent, so her hatred grew stronger. Khau Ni secretly gathered patriotic people, together practicing archery, sword dancing, and spear throwing, both on foot and at sea.
When the Trung Sisters spread the proclamation everywhere, calling on heroes to rise up and help the country. Quach A Khau Ni responded to the proclamation, and together with the soldiers gathered at Me Linh to meet the Trung Sisters. After helping the Trung Sisters drive the Governor To Dinh out of the country, the Trung Sisters ascended the throne, granting the two lands of Bach Hac and Nhat Chieu (now Cuu Ap village, Lien Chau commune, Yen Lac district, Vinh Phuc province) as fiefs. From here, she expanded the fief, planted mulberry trees, raised silkworms, built embankments, and grew rice for three years before she died. The people remembered her merits and built a temple to worship her in Bach Hac land. Every year, on the 15th day of the second lunar month, the villagers held a festival, including sacrifices and ceremonies at the temple, and organized a procession of water from the river junction to worship. Currently, the temple is open every day for people to come and burn incense in memory.
Also one of the female generals with glorious achievements in the Trung Sisters' uprising was Nang Noi. According to the legend, Ke Lu, Minh Nong ward had Nang Noi, who was Thi Sach's (Trung Trac's husband) niece. Out of anger at the brutal domination of the Later Han Dynasty's invaders, the father of Nang Noi and Thi Sach planned to organize the people to rise up and fight, but because the plan was exposed, both brothers were killed by To Dinh. To avoid revenge, Nang Noi and her mother had to temporarily take refuge on the right bank of the Red River. However, not long after arriving there, her mother passed away due to worry and sadness. When hearing that the Trung Sisters had launched an uprising, Nang Noi eagerly asked to follow. The soldiers under her command won many major battles against the enemy right in their homeland, causing them to respectfully call Nang Noi "Goddess of the White Crane". When Ma Vien sent troops to suppress the rebellion, Lady Noi, the commander of Trung Nu Vuong's army in the Bach Hac area, fought very bravely and caused the enemy many heavy losses. When the enemy suppressed her, she heroically sacrificed herself at Bach Hac at the age of just twenty. To forever honor and remember her great merit, the local people always burn incense to remember her.
Viet Tri is a land that still preserves many unique cultural heritages related to the capital of Van Lang and the Hung Kings' era of nation building, with a diverse system of historical and cultural relics and many traditional festivals imbued with the colors of the origin. In particular, the temple of the female generals of the Hai Ba Trung period has become a spiritual support, a place for spiritual and cultural activities of the majority of local people, contributing to preserving and promoting the values of historical and cultural relics, uniting the community and developing the local economy.
Vy An
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