The legacy of the Duong family's ancient tomb in the Plowshares stone niche
According to the book "Nghi Xuan Dia Chi" by Dong Ho Le Van Dien, "Lach Mountain" is a mountain in the Hong Linh range in An Lac and Tam Dang Ha communes (now Xuan An town and Xuan Hong commune), Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province. Highway 1A runs through the northwest of Lach mountain. At the foot of the mountain, there is the ancient tomb of the Duong family's ancestors in the Plowshares rock hole: "The Duong family's tomb is at the foot of Lach mountain, on the side of the road. The place is often called Tong Cay stone hole. The Duong family was originally in Bat Trac commune (now Yen Loc), Thien Loc district. .
Later, Duong Tri Dung and Duong Tri Trach were descendants of this family, successive generations became high officials (Nghi Xuan Dia Chi translation, p. 106). The Duong family's tomb in the Plowshares stone niche is one of the famous tombs in Nghi Xuan land. The tomb was placed here around the beginning of the 16th century, before Hoang Giap Duong Tri Dung passed the exam, and to this day the heritage is still preserved. The Duong family's tomb still exists next to National Highway 1A, in residential group 1 of Xuan An town. According to people living nearby, "Around 2017, descendants of the Duong family in Yen Loc commune, Can Loc district repaired and "tiled" the tomb, with the national language inscription "Tomb of the Duong family's ancestor." ”.
According to genealogy, the Duong family's hometown was in Hoa Vien commune, Hung Nguyen district (Nghe An) and migrated to Bat Trac commune, Thien Loc district, Duc Quang district, Nghe An town. Today it belongs to Khanh Vinh Yen commune, Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province. During the reign of Duong Tri Dung, he passed the second doctoral degree in the Faculty of Science. During the 8th Le Anh Tong dynasty (1565), he became a mandarin for the Le Trung dynasty, rising to the position of Ta Thi Lang, Minister of the Ministry of Public Works, Duke Lam of the district. Duong Tri Dung's son is Duong Tri Than, a mandarin with the positions of Ta Lang of the Cong Ministry, Thai Bao, and the title of Nham Thach Marquis. Duong Tri Dung's grandson, Dr. Duong Tri Trach (1586 - 1662), passed his doctorate during the reign of Le Kinh Tong (1619), rose to the position of Minister of the Lai Ministry, had the title of Duke Bat, and when he died, he was granted the title of Thai Lord. In the folk land of Nghi Xuan, the "land of outstanding people" passed down through generations, the Duong family in Bat Trac, thanks to the good fortune of the Thai To's tomb at Plowshare Rock, Ru Lach, created a "family of nobles", famous. famous in Thien Loc - Can Loc region.
Discussing the art of ruling the country in peace with its people
Mr. Duong Tri Trach was born in the year of the Dog (1586) in Bat Trac village, Thien Loc district (now Khanh Vinh Yen commune, Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province) in a studious "aristocratic family" at that time. Young people are intelligent and eager to learn, but Huong only passed the baccalaureate exam and was not appointed to become a mandarin. When he was over 30 years old, he passed the Huong Tri exam in Nghe An. In the exam in the year of the Goat (1619), the 20th year of Hoang Dinh, the reign of Le Kinh Tong, taking the Dinh exam, Duong Tri Trach passed the third round of joint doctorate, at that time he was 34 years old.
After passing his doctorate, he became an official serving the court of King Le and Lord Trinh. Internally, defeat the Mac Dynasty in Cao Bang; prevent the Trinh - Nguyen civil war to stabilize and revive the country; Interpret kings and lords every time they make a mistake; In the field of education - the examination department collects research, compiles and reviews 25 doctoral epitaphs from the examination in the year Giap Dan (1554) under King Le Trung Tong to the examination in the year Nham Thin (1652) under King Le Than Tong. In foreign affairs, he served as chief envoy to the Ming Dynasty for 3 years, not humiliating the nation but bringing glory to the country. According to historical records, in the winter of the year Canh Ngo (1630), Dr. Duong Tri Trach was appointed by King Le Than Tong as Chief Envoy to transport tribute to the Ming Dynasty. He completed his foreign affairs duties excellently. In the year of the Rooster (1633), after 3 years in China, the envoy led by Duong Tri Trach as Chief Envoy returned to visit the court. Mr. Duong Tri Trach was praised for his merits and promoted to the position of Trial Officer.
According to the book "Dai Viet Complete History", in December of the year Giap Than (1644), Thai Bao Tay District Duke Trinh Tac and Duong Tri Trach, Governor, went to defeat the Mac Dynasty in Cao Bang, arranged ambushes, and beheaded troops. Great general of the Mac Dynasty, he was able to capture many enemy parties and then withdraw his troops. At that time, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Rites, and also served as Deputy Head of the Academy working in the Secret Court Area, and was awarded the title Duc Van Tan Tri Duc Duc, and the title of Duke Bat. As a person who is especially interested in stabilizing the country, wishing the people to "settle down in peace and prosperity", Dr. Duong Tri Trach twice presented petitions to King Le, clearly stating the danger between the forces of the North and the North. Since the 1630s, Mr. Duong Tri Trach, who made great contributions to maintaining peace between the Trinh and Nguyen dynasties, avoided the disaster of brotherhood.
According to the "Dai Viet Complete History" records, when holding the position of Judge, in order to build a strong Cochinchina, he and the minister Pham Cong Tru presented documents to discuss the tax on building a school and providing things for the school. Incense should be simple and economical to reduce costs for the people. At the same time, Dr. Duong Tri Trach presented a petition saying: The art of ruling a country and peaceful people must use both literature and martial arts: "The wisdom of ruling must reward and punish fairly. Martial generals must fight against the enemy and protect the country. If they know how to be strict and risk their lives to make a meritorious career, they will be rewarded depending on the level of merit. If someone uses cowardice and fear to operate illegally, they will be punished according to military law. The law that encourages such punishment is very strict.
As for civil servants, they must help the king and love the people to promote peace. If you know how to be cautious, honest, hard-working, and fair worthy of your position, you will be rewarded depending on how good your achievements are. If anyone carries out work or conducts interrogations or lawsuits without first amending them, he bends the law, takes bribes, delays the deadline, judges improperly, joins a gang and gangs up to accept personal favors. The invitation to do many things to harass the government and harm the people, for light crimes, they will be demoted from office, for serious crimes, they will be punished according to military law to eliminate bad habits and strictly maintain the country's rules" (Dai Viet Complete History - volume 4 , p. 283).
The comments of Dr. Duong Tri Trach were followed by King Le Than Tong and implemented, reorganizing the country's mandarins. Today, the content of the note he composed for the king has been over 350 years old, but the proposed ideas still have the same humanistic value.
Obeying orders to collect, review and edit 25 doctoral stele
In the year of Tan Suu (1661), Mr. Duong Tri Trach was appointed Minister of the Household Ministry, concurrently with the Academy of Academic Affairs, Chancellor of the Academy of Academic Affairs, and Thieu Bao. When Lord Trinh Trang allowed the construction of doctoral steles of the Renaissance period at the Temple of Literature with a scale of 25 steles, corresponding to 25 Hoi and Dinh examinations. Doctor of Ceremonies Minister Duong Tri Trach has made great contributions in collecting exam records, names and hometowns of those who passed the university entrance exam, diligently researched and recorded, and provided a list of doctorates. , reviewed and edited the system of 25 doctoral steles erected at the Temple of Literature.
When the work was completed, he was promoted to the position of Counsellor, working in Lord Trinh's palace, and was conferred the titles of Young Treasurer, Minister of Lai, Quoc Lao, and Thai Bao. When his position was at its peak, the court allowed him to return to his hometown of Bat Trac to rest and enjoy his old age. In July of the year Nham Dan (1662), Duke Duong Tri Trach, Ph.D. Bat, passed away at the age of 77 and was awarded the Crown Prince by the court.
During the 43 years from the time he became a mandarin until his death, Dr. Duong Tri Trach made great contributions to building and protecting the country to stabilize politics in many fields of domestic, foreign, and cultural affairs. , education, examination, trusted and respected by the royal court. He is a mandarin with progressive ideas, taking care of people's lives with the philosophy of "taking the people as the foundation", "turning the boat to know the people's strength is like water".
King Le Than Tong assessed his talent and virtue as follows: "Four decades of establishing the court, the court pays attention / Seventy years of wisdom, scholars and eunuchs become famous." Meaning: Forty years in the court, the court highly uses it/ At seventy years old, when you retire, you pass the exam and become a famous mandarin. After 40 years as an official, Dr. Duong Tri Trach is a person of integrity, integrity, and integrity, always strictly upholding the law in the official field. When discussing people's affairs and the country's affairs, he was serious in accordance with fairness, and later generations praised him as worthy of a public servant serving the country and the people. Historian Phan Huy Chu commented on Mr. Duong Tri Trach in the history "Lich Dynasty Hien Chuong Loai Chi": "He has been in the court for more than 40 years, has held positions at the Institute of Secret Quarters for a long time, and is straightforward in keeping the law. (of the royal court) no one can request anything, although discussing things is a bit strict but according to fairness and integrity, everyone then praises him as a famous god.
When he died, his descendants and people built a temple to commemorate his merits. At Duong Tri Trach relic, many heritages, carvings and sculptures of the post-Le period art style are still preserved. Duong Tri Trach District Bat Temple has been ranked as a national historical relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Decision No. 3085/QD/BVHTTDL dated October 27, 2020.
