Xua Temple Festival opens

Delivering a speech praising Great Physician - Zen Master Tue Tinh’s contributions to the national medicine

The Organizing Board of the Traditional Xua Temple Festival opened the festival and offered incense in commemoration of Great Physician - Zen Master Tue Tinh on March 6 in his hometown of Nghia Phu hamlet, Cam Vu commune, Cam Giang district.

Great Physician - Zen Master Tue Tinh’s real name is Nguyen Ba Tinh.

He was born in 1330 in Nghia Phu village, Van Thai tong (an intermediary administrative unit between a district and a commune in the old days), Thuong Hong phu (a former administrative unit more important than a district).

Tue Tinh was raised by the head monk of Nghiem Quang pagoda (also known as Giam pagoda) after having lost his parents at the age of six.

Leaders of Cam Giang district and delegates offer incense to commemorate Great Physician - Zen Master Tue Tinh

He passed the court examination as the second-rank doctor at the age of 22 (1351) but refused to become a mandarin.

He researched on and planted medicinal herbs, collected precious folk remedies, and established clinics at pagodas for frequently witnessing large-scale deadly epidemics.

Tue Tinh was among those sent to China as the king’s envoys at the age of 55.

He was given the Royal Physician - Zen Master title and kept to work at the Imperial Hospital by the Ming king for curing his queen. He passed away some time later.

A delegation from Cam Dien commune offers the words “Nam duoc thanh nhan” (saint of Vietnamese traditional medicine) at the Xua Temple Festival

Tue Tinh made great theoretical and practical contributions to the national medicine over 30 years of medical practice.

For his great merits, there are three places of worship of Tue Tinh in Cam Giang district, namely Xua temple and Giam pagoda in Dinh Son commune and Bia temple in Cam Van commune.

The three relics were recognized as special national ones on December 25, 2017 by the Prime Minister.

The Xua Temple Festival is taking place in three days, including a Saint word offering ceremony, a unique ritual that is only held at the Xua Temple Festival and Mao Dien Temple of Literature.

TIEN HUY