The sacred temple worships the general of the Tran Dynasty
According to the history of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, Nam Hai Than Vuong Temple is an ancient relic built on the edge of Hon Dau Island.
According to legend, during the Tran Dynasty, one night, fishermen were fishing near Dau Island when they saw a body floating at sea. The fishermen took the body and left it on the island and realized that this was a mixed-medal bullet, they were wearing a pillar armoire and had lost their head.
The people prepared the ceremony for the funeral the next day. But in the morning, everyone was extremely surprised to see that the army general's body had been covered up by aun and sealed into a tomb. Knowing that it was strange, people burned incense and asked to repair the grave.
In the following days, people said that the military general appeared as an old man, with white beard, fishing in the mountainous rocky plains, and walking on the sand in the west. People were shocked and asked for him to be honored, but he just laughed and nodded at the sea.
Do Son people call him the Old Island of the King and built a temple right next to the tomb to worship him. Because Hon Dau Island is located south of Do Son Peninsula, the island temple is nicknamed Nam Hai Than Vuong by everyone.
During the Le So period, King Le dominated the Do Son region. After resting all night on Hon Dau Island, the king dreamed of an old man with white beard, holding a fishing rod in his hand, carrying a basket to his side and claiming to be an island god.
The next day, the king boarded the boat and recounted it and said: If it were a real island god, give us a report. As soon as he finished speaking, a strong spawning fish jumped onto the boat. Seeing the experience, the king decided to confer him the title of God King and instructed the local people to repair the temple for worship.
Attractive spiritual destination
The Nam Hai Than Vuong temple on Hon Dau island currently has a nail-shaped architectural scale, including 3 front rooms and 2 back rooms with many decorative worship items. The main facade of the temple faces the sea, located in a space with many ancient trees.
The relics reflect the remaining construction period of the stone stele. On the stele are carved with the shape of a moon and a pair of crab dragons in the art style of the Nguyen Dynasty, early 19th century. This is a stone stele recording the history of the temple and the worship of the Great God of Wealth on Hon Dau Island. In front of the main altar, a basket and fishing rod are placed with the worship of the Island as well as wishes for luck for the fishermen on the island.
Do Son people and fishermen in the sea area believe that the god worshiped on Hon Dau island has given them the right sails to travel down the wind, avoiding all risks at sea.
To commemorate the gratitude of the military general, every year, Do Son district (now Do Son ward) organizes the Dau Island festival from the 1st day of the 2nd lunar month, the main festival takes place for 3 days 8, 9, 10 to pray for the National peace.
During the festival, there is a custom of carrying lanterns and releasing paper boats at the time of Ti (ie 11pm on the 9th day of the 2nd lunar month). The festival not only meets the spiritual tourism needs of local people but also contributes to promoting the potential, strengths, and tourism products of Do Son to domestic and foreign tourists.
