Great joy of fishermen around Phu Luong tomb, Tam Toa temple

Phu Luong Tomb, Tam Toa Temple (An Ninh Dong Commune, Tuy An District) worships Whale and several other gods. This is a religious structure that was born with the formation of the village, playing an important role in the religious and spiritual life, imbued with the cultural identity of coastal residents.

Tuy An District People's Council and People's Committee held a ceremony to receive the certificate of ranking as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic of Phu Luong mausoleum and Tam Toa temple (An Ninh Dong commune). Photo: MANH HOAI NAM

Phu Luong Tomb and Tam Toa Temple are ranked as provincial historical and cultural relics, contributing to enriching the cultural heritage of Tuy An district.

Road to the monument

From Tuy Hoa city, follow Highway 1 north about 30km, to Ngan Son quarter, Chi Thanh town (Tuy An district), turn right on the inter-commune road going east to Phu Hoi village, An Ninh Dong, then turn right at the intersection about 1.5km to reach the location of Phu Luong tomb. As for the coastal route, from Tuy Hoa city, follow DT649 north to An Ninh Dong commune, then Phu Luong village to the intersection, turn right about 1.5km to reach the location of Phu Luong tomb.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, Deputy Director of the Tuy An District Relic Management Board, Phu Luong is one of the administrative units that was formed a long time ago. When it was first established, this place was called Le Thanh Duc hamlet, belonging to Ha Bac of Dong Xuan district. In 1832, Le Thanh Duc hamlet was changed to Le Thanh village, belonging to Xuan Son commune, Dong Xuan district; in 1899, it belonged to An Son commune, Tuy An prefecture; in 1949, it belonged to An Ninh commune, Tuy An district, now Phu Luong hamlet, An Ninh Dong commune, Tuy An district. Along with the reclamation and establishment of the village, architectural works serving the community activities and spiritual beliefs of fishermen were gradually built, typically the worship of Whale. Under King Gia Long (1802-1820), Phu Luong village established a mausoleum to worship Whale, but at that time it was only a small hermitage, roofed with thatch and plastered with lime walls, and later gradually covered with scale tiles. After two wars against France and America, Phu Luong mausoleum was destroyed. In 1998, Tuy An District People's Committee allowed the mausoleum to be restored on the old foundation.

Tam Toa Temple and Phu Luong Tomb are ranked as provincial historical relics, which is the pride and honor of the two communes and villages. We promise to join hands with the local government of An Ninh Dong commune to strive to protect, preserve and continue to promote the cultural and historical beauty of Tam Toa Temple and Phu Luong Tomb so that they will last forever.

Mr. Nguyen Trinh in Phu Luong village

According to Ms. Van, in 2000, the mausoleum was built with a corrugated iron roof. In 2018, the mausoleum was renovated to its current state with funds donated by the people and socialized funds. The Phu Luong fishing festival is held every 3 years on the 12th day of the 2nd lunar month with voluntary contributions from fishermen in the area.

Ms. Van added that, along with the reclamation and establishment of Tam Toa temple to worship the gods: Quan Thanh, Whale... initially, the temple was built with the architecture of 3 buildings, so people called it Tam Toa temple. During the war, this area had no residents so the temple was abandoned. After 1975, Le Thinh fishermen restored Tam Toa temple to worship the gods and Whale. After many renovations, in 2002, people expanded Tam Toa temple as it is today. Every 3 years, the Tam Toa temple fishing festival is held in the 3rd lunar month.

Art performance to welcome the certificate of ranking as provincial historical - cultural relic of Phu Luong mausoleum and Tam Toa temple (An Ninh Dong commune). Photo: MANH HOAI NAM

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang, Vice Chairman of Tuy An District People's Committee said: The fishing festival at Phu Luong mausoleum and Tam Toa temple is the most typical form of expression in the whale worshiping belief of coastal fishermen, containing many cultural values ​​typical of coastal fishermen, and is an indispensable spiritual food in the lives of fishermen. “Phu Luong Tomb and Tam Toa Temple are ranked as provincial-level historical and cultural relics, contributing to enriching the cultural heritage of Tuy An district. This is a great joy for the people of Phu Luong village, An Ninh Dong commune in particular and for the Party Committee, government and people of Tuy An district in general. I request the Party Committee, government and people of An Ninh Dong commune to do a good job of propaganda, coordinate with functional agencies to have plans to preserve and promote the value of relics; focus on calling for socialization in the timely preservation, restoration and embellishment of relics, not allowing relics to deteriorate; strengthen the management of relics, not allowing encroachment on relic protection areas; support and create favorable conditions for the fishing committees to organize and maintain the annual fishing festival, preserving the cultural characteristics of the sea," said Mr. Hoang.

Strengthening relic management

Mr. Nguyen Trinh in Phu Luong village said: Tam Toa Temple and Phu Luong Tomb being ranked as provincial historical relics is the pride and honor of the people in the surrounding area. We will join hands with the local government of An Ninh Dong commune to strive to protect, preserve and continue to promote the cultural and historical beauty of Tam Toa Temple and Phu Luong Tomb so that they will last forever.

Phu Luong Tomb, An Ninh Dong Commune (Tuy An District). Photo: MANH HOAI NAM

Mr. Le Tan Minh, Deputy Head of Phu Luong Lach, shared: Phu Luong villagers always uphold their love for their homeland and country, closely linked to their work to earn a living. Through this, the works serving the spiritual needs of fishermen such as temples, communal houses to worship the god of the sea, and mausoleums to worship the god of the South Sea (whale) are relics related to the beliefs of coastal fishermen that have been formed for a long time.

Chairman of the People's Committee of An Ninh Dong Commune, Nguyen Kim Thanh, said: The commune will organize the management and protection of historical relics in accordance with the Law on Cultural Heritage, and coordinate with relevant agencies to effectively propagate and introduce the historical and cultural values ​​of the relics to local people, raising the sense of responsibility of cadres, party members and all people for the protection and promotion of the historical values ​​of the relics. The locality will coordinate with relevant agencies to have a planning project to build, restore, embellish and preserve the relics and the landscape and environment of the relics; strengthen state management of historical relics; resolutely handle violations of the relics, and prevent encroachment of the relics.

According to Mr. Thanh, the Commune People's Committee creates favorable conditions for agencies and scientists to conduct further research on the historical value of the relic site. Along with that, the commune organizes for the masses to participate ineducational activities for the younger generation to understand and promote the value of local cultural heritage.

“Phu Luong Tomb and Tam Toa Temple are structures that play a very important role in the religious and spiritual life of local people, bearing the cultural identity of coastal residents. These relics are located near Le Thinh estuary and near the special national scenic site of Ganh Da Dia, so they are convenient for connecting and forming a sea cultural tourism route,” said Mr. Thanh.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/van-nghe/202506/niem-vui-lon-cua-ngu-dan-quanh-lang-phu-luong-mieu-tam-toa-d6d3cee/