Dao Quang Nhieu Duke and Lao-style Buddhist temple in Huong Son, Ha Tinh

Abstract

Duke Dao Quang Nhieu (1601-1672) was a famous general during the Le Trung Hung period. He was born in An Khoai village, Tuyen Cam commune, Thanh Oai district, Ung Thien prefecture (present-day An Khoai village, Dan Hoa commune, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi City). In 1655, Dao Quang Nhieu was dispatched by Trinh Lord to Nghe An to pacifyregional chaos. From 1661-1672, he was appointed Commander of Nghe An. During that conflict in Nghe An, Dao Quang Nhieu successfully fulfilled his military duty. The man himself and his descendants then organized land reclamation and established new hamlets. Those efforts both brought wealth to the newly-opened villages and fostered peaceful diplomatic relations with Laos. As a result, many Buddhist vestiges were left as fascinating evidence of cultural exchanges between the two, including a Lao-style Buddhist temple in Huong Son, Ha Tinh. In addition, Duke Dao Quang Nhieu also left many imprints with useful contributionsto his homeland, An Khoai village, Dan Hoa commune, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi. The ancient temple named Phuc Khanh in Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province, was funded by Laotian kings whose money was given to Dao Viet Hoa, a descendent of Duke Dao Quang Nhieu for the construction. This temple was styled after Lao Buddhist architecture, worshipping Buddha, Dao Quang Nhieu, and Dao Viet Hoa. The legacies that Duke Dao Quang Nhieu left behind are abundant with many cultural and historical values.