Vinh Phuc (VNA) – The worship of TayThien National Mother in Tam Dao district, northern Vinh Phuc province, hasbeen recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.

The locality held a ceremony on March 8 toannounce the decision by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Along with the worship of the Hung Kings – thelegendary founders of the nation, and Tan Vien Son Thanh – the God of Tan VienMountain, the worship of Tay Thien National Mother is one of the three mostancient rituals in the north.

Legend has it that under the reign of theseventh Hung King in Dong Lo there was a rich man called Lang Vi. He wasgenerous and handsome. His wife was Dao Thi Lieu – a beautiful, gentle,resourceful and benevolent woman. They were very rich but didn’t have a child,so they often visited holy sites to pray for a child. One day they visitedThach Ban peak in the Tam Dao mountains and prayed for a child at apagoda. 

After the third time, Lieu had a dream in whichshe saw a five-coloured mass of clouds covering the pagoda and releasing ascent. In the middle of the clouds appeared an eagle and then a group ofbeautiful fairies playing lutes, singing and dancing. Lieu suddenly woke upfrom the dream which she believed was good luck, and indeed she becamepregnant. She gave birth on the 10th day of the fifth lunar month of the yearof Giap Than, and named her child Lang Thi Tieu.

When Tieu was small, she was a precocious talent.By the time she reached 20, she was known as a talented and admirable heroine. Followingan invasion, the Hung King ordered Lang Thi Tieu to recruit 3,000 soldiers. Theking gave her more troops and horses and she defeated the enemy. Returning homein triumph, she was asked to enter the court. But she refused the king’srequest and asked for permission to return to her hometown to take care of herparents. The king agreed, conferring the title “Tam Dao Son Tru Quoc Mau” (TamDao National Mother) and allowed her to rule Dong Lo.

After her parents passed away, she went to theTay Thien pagoda on Thach Ban peak to pray to Buddha. On the way home the nextday, she felt tired and took a break. It suddenly got dark. From a mass offive-coloured clouds an angel appeared and said: “The Heavenly Emperor orderedyou to come back to Heaven, princess!” Then she washed herself carefully,followed the angel into the clouds and disappeared. It was the 15th day of thesecond lunar month. After she returned to Heaven, people in Dong Lo andsurrounding areas built a temple to worship her.

Tay Thien is held annually from the 15th to the17th day of the second lunar month to commemorate Mother Goddess Lang Thi Tieu.The site is located in Tam Dao district and was recognised as a specialnational historical relic site in December 2015./.