Spirit of Hung Kings-era general at Cay temple
Cay temple in Binh Giang Commune, Hai Phong City, is dedicated to Bao Phuc Dai Vuong, a renowned general who helped the 18th Hung King defeat invaders and defend the country.
Spirit of a Hung Kings-era general
Bao Phuc Dai Vuong, whose real name was Phuc Cong, was born into a family of herb doctors. From an early age, he was known for his intelligence, good manners and respect for others.
When the country was invaded by the Thuc army, he went to the royal court to pay his respects to the 18th Hung King and was appointed Great General. Together with other generals, he commanded troops in the fight against the invaders, repeatedly leading forces to break through encirclements and contributing to glorious victories that safeguarded the territory of Van Lang (old name of Vietnam).
After peace was restored, he was granted a fief in Hai Duong. Following his death, he was posthumously honored as Phuc Than Nhat Vi Bao Phuc Dai Vuong and worshipped by local people as a village tutelary deity at Cay temple.
Today, Cay temple still preserves seven royal honor-conferring edicts granted from 1854 to 1924. These are valuable artifacts affirming the site’s long-standing historical and cultural significance.
To commemorate the contributions of the village tutelary deity, local residents organize two annual festivals in the 2nd and 9th lunar months. The main festival, held from the 10th to the 16th day of the 2nd lunar month, attracts large numbers of local residents and visitors.
After Cay temple was recognized as a national historical relic in 1994, many traditional rituals were revived, and the festival was gradually restored and maintained annually, becoming a cultural beauty of the locality.
Preserving the spirit of the relic
Over time, many parts of Cay temple were seriously deteriorated. After specialized agencies surveyed and assessed its condition, the temple was restored in accordance with its traditional architecture, with every effort made to preserve its original values. The restoration was completed in early 2025 at a total cost of more than VND15 billion, funded through social contributions.
The restoration not only helped preserve a valuable structure but also fulfilled the wishes of local residents who had witnessed its deterioration over many years. Since completion, Cay temple has welcomed many groups of visitors and people originally from the area who came to offer incense and learn about the history and culture of the land.
The temple’s revival following the restoration contributes to preserving and promoting the value of the relic, ensuring that stories of the Hung Kings-era general and the patriotic tradition of previous generations continue to be preserved and passed on.
HUYEN TRANG