Tower of the Four Martyr Monks - the pride and patriotic symbol of the Khmer people

51 years ago, four monks, Danh Tap, Lam Hung, Danh Hom and Danh Hoi, along with people in Rach Gia province (now Kien Giang province) organized a protest to demand that the US-puppet government not conscript monks into the army and bomb pagodas.

The demonstration was suppressed, four monks were shot and wounded by the enemy and died.

In memory of the heroic sacrifice of the four monks and their compatriots, in early 1976, the State began construction of the Four Martyrs' Tower, which was recognized as a National Historical Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism in September 1990.

The Four Martyrs Tower relic is the pride of the Khmer people in particular and the people of the province in general.

According to Venerable Danh Dong, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Kien Giang province, in the 1970s, the US-puppet government controlled pagodas, did not allow them to organize religious activities, and forced monks and nuns to join the army.

Faced with the unjust actions of the US-puppet government, on June 10, 1974, under the direction of the Rach Gia Provincial Party Committee, the Khmer Movement Committee and the Provincial Association of Patriotic Monks and Monks, four monks including Danh Tap, Lam Hung, Danh Hom and Danh Hoi, along with about 3,000 monks, Buddhists and people of Kien Thanh district, Rach Gia province (now Rach Soi ward, Rach Gia city, Kien Giang province) organized a protest.

This was a large-scale political struggle, supported by the majority of Khmer people and ethnic groups in the Southwest region; it was one of the bases that created favorable conditions for the 1975 Spring General Offensive, liberating the South and unifying the country.

“The struggle on June 10, 1974 was a large-scale political struggle of the army and people, supported by Khmer monks and people in the province. Although it was suppressed, four monks were shot and wounded by the enemy and sacrificed, the demonstration became a milestone in the history of the heroic struggle of monks and Buddhists, especially the sacrifice of the four monks became the pride of the people and people in the cause of fighting and national liberation,” Venerable Danh Dong emphasized.

Venerable Danh Dong also said that after the country's reunification, the State recognized the martyrs and granted the Certificate of Merit to the four monks, and at the same time started building the Tower of the Four Martyrs. After the tower was completed, the Provincial Association of Patriotic Buddhist Monks and Monks reburied the remains and put them in the tower on March 15, 1987. On September 20, 1990, the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) recognized the Tower of the Four Martyrs as a National Historical Relic.

A tour guide introduces the four monks and martyrs at the National Historical Site of the Four Martyrs' Towers in Kien Giang Province. (Photo: Van Si/VNA)

In 2014, on the 40th anniversary of the four monks' sacrifice, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha posthumously awarded the title of Most Venerable to the four monks Danh Tap, Lam Hung, Danh Hom and Danh Hoi.

Through many historical events as well as the ups and downs of the times, the sacrifice of the four monks is still honored in the hearts of many generations, a shining example for future generations to follow in the spirit of serving the Dharma and the nation. The Association for Solidarity of Patriotic Monks and Nuns of Kien Giang province coordinated with local authorities and functional agencies to organize a memorial service for the sacrifice of the four monks for the Fatherland.

Ms. Thi Nhung, Minh Hoa commune, Chau Thanh district, Kien Giang province shared that for the past 15 years, every time the Khmer people's traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year and the memorial day of the 4 Venerable Monks (June 10) come around, she and her relatives and local people travel more than 10km, bringing fruits and making traditional folk cakes to burn incense.

“My father and uncle also participated in the resistance war against American imperialism and sacrificed their lives, so my relatives and I highly value the peace, independence and freedom of the nation. I often remind my children and neighbors of the spirit of patriotism, solidarity and mutual support for economic development,” said Ms. Nhung.

Mr. Lam Minh Cong, Secretary of Chau Thanh District Party Committee, Kien Giang Province, said that the tower of 4 martyr monks is located in Minh Phu quarter, Minh Luong town, Chau Thanh district, where the remains of 4 martyr monks are worshiped. Previously, the relic was degraded, but now the Provincial People's Committee has invested in and renovated it with items such as lecture halls, fences, traditional exhibition houses, memorial stele, kitchen, toilets, trees, internal roads, etc.

“Every year, on June 10, the District People's Committee coordinates with the Provincial Association of Patriotic Buddhist Monks to organize a memorial service for the four martyr monks, attracting a large number of people to attend. The tower of the four martyr monks is considered by the Khmer people in the province as a symbol of the tradition of national patriotism. This is also the place where many generations of students in Kien Giang province return to,” said Mr. Lam Minh Cong.

Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Kien Giang province Danh Phuc said that the tower of the four martyrs was built to commemorate the heroic sacrifice of the four Khmer Theravada Buddhist monks mentioned above, and is a historical evidence, recognized as a National Historical Relic, with the meaning of educating the tradition of patriotism and fighting against foreign invaders for the younger generation, especially the younger generation of Kien Giang province, including Khmer youth," Mr. Phuc emphasized./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/thap-4-vi-su-liet-sy-niem-tu-hao-bieu-tuong-yeu-nuoc-cua-nguoi-khmer-post1034593.vnp