Visiting sites honoring female General Le Chan
Le Chan was a talented female general, who helped the Trung sisters to fight foreign invaders during 40-42 AD and reclaimed the ancient An Bien village, now Hai Phong City.
To honor her merits, Hai Phong people have built numerous worship sites, serving as spiritual destinations for generations.
Amid Hai Phong city center route, the Monument of General Le Chan stands prominently as a cultural and historical symbol of the city. The structure was inaugurated in 2000, solemnly placed in front of the City Fine Arts Exhibition Center. Cast in solid bronze, the statue stands 7.5 m tall and weighs 19 tons, creating a strong impression with its artistic beauty and majestic demeanor.
The monument area hosts many cultural and traditional educational activities of the city. During festivals, Tet holidays, or anniversaries, locals and tourists come to offer incense, expressing their reverence for the national heroine.
Leaving the city center route, visitors can head to NgheTemple at No. 55 Le Chan Street, one of the representative relics worshiping female General Le Chan.
Originally just a small thatched-roof shrine, the temple was built and renovated in 1919 in the Nguyen dynasty's artistic style. From 2008 to 2009, it underwent further restoration, becoming spacious as it is today.
Nghe Temple's highlight is its exquisitely carved wood and stone systems featuring traditional motifs like dragon, unicorn, turtle, phoenix, pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo, and apricot blossom. Valuable artifacts include a large stone stele recording General Le Chan's biography.
In 1975, Nghe Temple was recognized by the State as a national historical relic.
Not far from Nghe Temple is An Bien Communal House, a representative ancient architectural artwork located at No. 50/170 Hai Ba Trung Street, with a courtyard over 3,000 m².
The house's highlight is its exquisite carvings in the Nguyen dynasty's 19th-century artistic style, featuring the four sacred animals and four noble plants.
Due to its outstanding historical and artistic values, An Bien Communal House was recognized as a national historical relic in 2009.
The Le Chan General Monument, Nghè Temple, and An Bien Communal House are also the main venues for the annual traditional Le Chan General Festival to commemorate and honor her contributions, igniting national pride and the tradition ‘When drinking water, remember its source’.
This year, the traditional festival honors female General Le Chan is scheduled from March 25 to 27 (Lunar February 7 – 9) with special cultural and sports activities: rural market, display of orchids, ornamental creatures, human chess, and folk games.
Not only in the city center, An Lao Commune also has a temple worshiping General Le Chan in the Hang Temple area. Legend has it that she recruited soldiers, trained troops, and stockpiled provisions here to join the Trung Sisters' uprising.
These sites worshiping General Le Chan have become familiar cultural and spiritual destinations for locals and tourists visiting Hai Phong. Each spring, locals and tourists come to offer incense, pay respects, and express their gratitude to the female general who reclaimed An Bien land; they also remind today's generations to preserve and promote the patriotic tradition and resilient spirit of their ancestors.
Hai Phong News