W.Minh Tuan

Legend has it that during the time of the third Hung King, named Hung Quoc Vuong, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Lac Long Quan-Au Co, in the Hung Yen region, Khoai Chau district today, about 30 km from Hanoi, there was a poor boy named Chu Dong Tu, both two father and son only have one loincloth, which they wear together.

One day, his father went to the market, so he was wearing a loincloth, while Chu Dong Tu was diving into the river to catch fish, wearing nothing at all.

Then Tien Dung, the daughter of King Hung Vuong, and her maids went there. Tien Dung is the daughter of a king Hung Vuong, but does not like wealth and power, she only likes to travel, sightsee, and be friends with ordinary people, and with nature.

The young man Chu Dong Tu saw a group of maids and noble girls coming to his place to catch fish, he was frightened, and embarrassed because he was not wearing anything, he buried himself in the sand to hide.

Princess Tien Dung went right to the place where Chu Dong Tu buried herself, and told the maids to gather around so she could bathe.

When the water poured down, Chu Dong Tu’s naked body was exposed. Chu Dong Tu was embarrassed and scared. Princess Tien Dung was equally embarrassed and frightened. But with her calmness and kindness, Princess Tien Dung calmed down, asked about Chu Dong Tu, and knew everything about the poor fisherman.

Tien Dung thought it might be fate decided by the God, so she asked Chu Dong Tu to become her husband and she is his wife.

King Hung Vuong knew about it and was angry at first because he saw his daughter princess marrying a poor fisherman. But then King Hung Vuong calmed down and accepted the marriage.

Chu Dong Tu learned miracles taught by the gods. He taught miracles to his wife, and both them husband Chu Dong Tu, and wife Tien Dung traveled all over the country, saving people and helping the poor.

One day, the couple went to Da Trach commune – Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen today. Chu Dong Tu planted a stick, put his hat on the tip of the stick, and the couple slept overnight there. At midnight, suddenly castles, palaces, and soldiers appeared at the place where that hat and stick was placed.

Then there were detractors reporting to the Hung Vuong King, saying that Chu Dong Tu-Tien Dung built a palace and army, intending to usurp the throne. King Hung did not believe that statement, because he thought that it was impossible for his daughter and son-in-law to betray their father.

So King Hung Vuong first sent soldiers to examine the situation. Chu Dong Tu-Tien Dung’s soldiers asked Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung to fight Hung Vuong King’s soldiers.

But the couple laughed and said not to hit their father.

At midnight, the citadel, soldiers, Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung disappeared and flew into the sky, leaving behind a vast lagoon, which today, the people of Khoai Chau region call this lagoon Nhat Da-Dam- Da Trach-Dam one night.

In that Da Trach lagoon, more than 1,000 years later, general Trieu Quang Phuc, also known as Trieu Viet Vuong, was the general of King Ly Nam De, who succeeded Ly Nam De and rose up against the Liang dynasty in the 550s AD, hiding in the area Da Trach lagoon, and was seen by Chu Dong Tu and his wife, helping the rebels fight the Luong army.

What does the legend of Chu Dong Tu – Tien Dung say?

The first talks about the equality and generosity of King Hung Vuong, and the love and equality between people.

Princess Tien Dung was not angry at the rude boy who dared to reveal himself where the princess was bathing, and did not order the rude man’s head to be beheaded.

King Hung Vuong was at first angry, as is natural for a king to see his daughter want to marry a poor fisherman, but then King Hung generously agreed.

And the soul of Vietnamese people expressed in this legendary story has given a very beautiful ending to this legend, as the couple Chu Dong Tu – Tien Dung flew back to heaven, leaving behind Dam Da Trach as marks for life, showing not caring about fame, fortune, power, or wealth.

And in terms of culture, the legend of Chu Dong Tu – Tien Dung left the Vietnamese people with the custom of planting palm trees during Tet New Year:

“Fatty meat, pickled onions, red couplets,

High palm tree, loudly firecrackers, green banh chung”.

The custom of planting bamboo trees during Tet originates from the legendary story of the couple Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung putting sticks and hats on sticks from the time of King Hung Vuong, to express their desire to do good deeds and ward off demons, except evil, and refers to the rise of the Vietnamese people in each new year.

Vietnamese people worship Chu Dong Tu as one of the Four Immortal Saints in Vietnamese culture, which are:

1-Thanh Giong,

2-Chu Dong Tu,

3-Tan Vien Son Tinh,

4-Princess Lieu Hanh.

Why do Vietnamese people not choose kings to be the Four Immortal Saints, but only choose ordinary people who have made great contributions to protecting and building the country and helping the people?

This is also an interesting question that shows the soul of Vietnamese people, respect for equality, anyone who has made great contributions to the people will be worshiped by the people as the God of the Four Immortals, regardless of whether that person is of high authority or position, or civilians.///