Located on the Ma River, Chu Van Luong Temple on Nam Ngan village land (now Nam Ngan ward, Thanh Hoa city) is the place to worship the village's patron saint who founded the village. And Chu Van Luong village's patron saint is also a historical figure who attended the Dien Hong conference to call for determination to fight the Yuan-Mongol invaders in the past.
According to preserved documents, the tutelary god of Nam Ngan village - Chu Van Luong was originally from the countryside (believed to be in the Hai Duong area today). His grandfather, Chu Van Huy, had the merit of founding the Tran Dynasty, was loved by King Tran, and was granted the title of Marquis. Later, his son, Chu Van Binh (Chu Van Luong's father), was given the title and was married to a woman in the royal family by King Tran. Chu Van Binh was known as a good doctor, compassionate, but had no children. After a period of waiting, one night his wife, Mrs. Tran Thi Lan, had a strange dream and soon after became pregnant, then gave birth to Chu Van Luong.
“At the age of seven, Van Luong went to school, at the age of thirteen he was well-versed in the classics and martial arts. Everyone respected him as a prodigy. At the age of eighteen, his parents passed away, he chose a good land and prepared all the funeral offerings. After three years of mourning, he devoted himself to studying and reading many books, and devoted himself to teaching, calling it following in his father's footsteps... At that time, near Long Bien, education had not yet been developed, the three bonds and five constants had not yet been mentioned, he knew how to gently comfort and teach. After that, people gradually learned about etiquette” (Geography of Thanh Hoa City).
Being a virtuous man with profound knowledge, many students came to study with him. King Tran admired his talent and virtue, summoned him to the court, and appointed him as Liet Hau Dong Binh Chuong Su. At the same time, he assigned him to Thanh Hoa (Thanh Hoa today) to inspect. When Chu Van Luong arrived at Nam Ngan on the bank of Ma River, he saw the beautiful scenery and feng shui, and the people, although sparse and poorly educated, were simple and honest, so he decided to stay here, build houses, and open schools. Gradually, a densely populated area was created.
In 1257, facing the threat of invasion from the North, responding to King Tran's call to help the country, teacher Chu Van Luong invited his uncle Chu Van Chan, who was then an official in Thanh Hoa, and other like-minded people, more than 500 people, to forge weapons and practice martial arts to fight the enemy.
At the end of January 1258, the Tran army repelled the Mongol army at Dong Bo Dau (the Red River wharf east of Thang Long), the first resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol invaders ended early. Because the war only lasted for a short time, Chu Van Luong's army did not have time to participate in the battle. However, it was a spirited preparation, of important significance, ready for the resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol invaders later.
After the Mongols defeated the Song Dynasty and established the Yuan Dynasty, with their expansionist ambitions, Dai Viet became the target of invasion by the Yuan-Mongol army. Understanding the enemy's ambitions, the Tran Dynasty kings and mandarins actively prepared for a fierce resistance war.
In 1284, in Thang Long, the retired Emperor Tran Thanh Tong summoned the elders of the whole country to meet at Dien Hong Palace to ask about strategies to fight the enemy. The second resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol invaders was a fierce challenge for the army and people of Dai Viet. But a unanimous will was shouted: "Fight". In the Dien Hong Conference that year, Chu Van Luong was invited to attend.
After the Dien Hong conference, returning to Thanh land, Chu Van Luong, along with his confidants, servants and subordinates, called on the patriotic people of Thanh land to join hands to train and prepare for the confrontation against foreign invaders.
In early 1285, the invaders under the command of Tran Nam Vuong Thoat Hoan entered the Dai Viet border. An army led by the enemy general Toa Do from the South marched to Nghe An with the plot to join the army from the North to form a pincer attack on the Tran army. At this time, General Tran Quang Khai attacked Toa Do in Nghe An, the brave generals of the Chu family, Chu Van Chan (uncle of Chu Van Luong) and Chu Van Luyen marched from Thanh Hoa to support. Faced with the strong enemy, General Tran Quang Khai withdrew his troops to Thanh Hoa, the enemy pursued, and many major battles took place on Thanh Hoa land.
In April 1285, King Tran retreated to Thanh Hoa. Toa Do's army, reinforced by O Ma Nhi, returned to Thanh Hoa to capture the king. Faced with this situation, the Thanh Hoa people joined forces with the Tran army to fight the enemy.
According to legend, before the safety of the country, Chu Van Luong temporarily put aside his teaching, selected more than five hundred people from his family and close associates, and at the same time sent out messages to all parts of the district calling on the people to help the king and the country. Hearing his reputation, more and more people came every day, up to thousands of people. He gave a feast to the army, invited the elders of Nam Ngan to give instructions... then led the army into battle. According to the Chu family genealogy: "The court retreated to Thanh Hoa, the eunuch Chu Van Nhi stayed behind with Chu Van Luong to command the army to fight the enemy."
According to the book Thanh Hoa Famous People: “After more than a month of marching to search for the two Tran kings and the main army, Toa Do and O Ma Nhi were exhausted and exhausted by the ambushes and attacks of the militia forces commanded by local generals, causing them to fail. The Tran king and the main army were safely protected in Thanh Hoa land.”
In May 1285, King Tran Quoc Tuan marched from Thanh Hoa to the North, joining other armies to defeat the Yuan-Mongol invaders, forcing them to retreat back to their country. After the victory in the second resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol invaders, when he was awarded for his merits, he was named Chu Van Luong. According to legend, at that time, the Tran king invited him to stay in Thang Long to be an official in the court, however, he asked to return to Nam Ngan land to continue teaching, living in peace.
In the year of Quy Ty (1293), Chu Van Luong passed away. Mourning his servant who had devoted himself to the country's destiny, King Tran conferred him the title of "Supreme God of Fortune" so that the people of Nam Ngan could build a temple to worship him. In gratitude for his merits, later dynasties repeatedly bestowed titles, such as: Duong Canh Thanh Hoang with the beautiful title "Te the ho quoc Duc van Hien huu Dai Vuong"; then Dai Vuong Thuong Thuong Dang Than. Chu Van Luong Temple on Nam Ngan land has been ranked as a National Historical - Cultural Relic.
Secretary of the Nam Ngan 1 Ward Party Cell and Head of the Chu Van Luong Temple Relic Management Board, Le Ngoc Thang, said: “The village spirit medium Chu Van Luong is a village guardian spirit who has contributed to the country, the people and the Nam Ngan region. Every year, on his birthday and death anniversary (February 18 and September 12 of the lunar calendar), villagers gather at the temple to respectfully offer incense in memory.”
Khanh Loc
(The article uses materials from the books: Thanh Hoa City Gazetteer; Famous People of Thanh Hoa and documents kept at the relic)
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thanh-hoang-lang-chu-van-luong-231049.htm
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