Four Palaces
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2021) |
Four Palaces (Tiếng Việt: Tứ Phủ; Chữ Hán: 四府) is a major denomination of the Mother Goddess religion, an indigenous polytheistic religion in Vietnam. This branch is popular in the Northern and have a profound association with the worship of Đức Thánh Trần.
Its name literally means "Four Palaces" as its deities are believed to reside in four palaces, each of which serves as a ministry governing one realm of the universe.
There are four realms: Heaven, Mountains, Water and Earth. The palaces governing those realms are named as follow:
- Thiên phủ (Heaven Palace), ruled by Mother Goddess of Heaven (Mẫu Thượng Thiên)
- Nhạc phủ (Mountains Palace), ruled by Mother Goddess of Highlands (Mẫu Thượng Ngàn), also known as Mother Goddess of Forest Residence (Lâm Cung Thánh Mẫu)
- Thoải phủ (Water Palace) ruled by Mother Goddess of Water (Mẫu Thoải), also known as Mother Goddess of Water Residence (Thủy Cung Thánh Mẫu).
- Địa phủ (Earth Palace) ruled by Mother Goddess of Earth (Mẫu Địa Phủ), also known as Mother Goddess of Earth Residence (Lục Cung Thánh Mẫu).
The Pantheon of Four Palaces[]
The pantheon of Four Palaces includes the following ranks. While the hierarchy and names of the ranks are widely recognized and agreed upon, each rank might have some variations which include a different number of deities or a deity could have various stories and biographies. The belief is that a deity could manifest in various historic figures.
For the ranks with many variations, the first three or four figures are usually widely recognized and venerated, with the first position of Heaven, the second of High Mountains, the third of Water and the fourth as an Imperial Commissioner. The deities after the third or fourth position may have different names, titles and stories.
Mother Goddesses (Thánh Mẫu)[]
First Mother Goddess of Heaven (Mẫu Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)[]
The common short title is First Mother Goddess (Mẫu Đệ Nhất). Since she resides in the far-away Heaven Palace, it’s believed that she authorized Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh, who is the Mother Goddess of Earth herself, to present her on Earth. Therefore, people are familiar with the concept of the Triad of Four Palaces Mother Goddesses even though there are four Mother Goddesses of Four Palaces.
Mother Goddess of Mountains and Forests (Mẫu Thượng Ngàn)[]
Third Mother Goddess of Water Palace (Mẫu Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ)[]
The common short title is Mother Goddess of Water (Mẫu Thoải).
Mother Goddess of Earth (Mẫu Địa)[]
Venerable Mandarins (Quan Lớn)[]
This rank is usually referred to as the Five Venerable Commanders (Ngũ Vị Tôn Quan). There is also another less common form of Ten Venerable Commanders (Thập Vị Tôn Quan), where the multiple of the number 5 appears.[1]
First Venerable Mandarin of Heaven (Quan Lớn Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)[]
His full title is the First Crown Prince and Princely Mandarin of Heaven (Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên Hoàng Thái Tử Vương Quan)
Second Venerable Mandarin of Mountains and Forests, Inspector General (Quan Lớn Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn Giám Sát)[]
His full title is the Second Crown Prince and Princely Mandarin of Mountains and Forests (Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn Hoàng Thái Tử Vương Quan)
Third Venerable Mandarin of Water Palace (Quan Lớn Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ)[]
His full title is the Third Crown Prince and Princely Mandarin of Water Palace (Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ Hoàng Thái Tử Vương Quan).
Fourth Venerable Mandarin, Imperial Commissioner (Quan Lớn Đệ Tứ Khâm Sai)[]
His full title is the Fourth Imperial Commissioner of the Four Palaces (Đệ Tứ Khâm Sai Quyền Cai Tứ Phủ). His other common title is the Imperial Commissioner Mandarin (Quan Khâm Sai).
Fifth Venerable Mandarin, Governor of the Tranh River (Quan Lớn Đệ Ngũ Tuần Tranh)[]
His full title is the Fifth Venerable Mandarin, Governor of the Tranh River (Quan Lớn Đệ Ngũ Tuần Tranh)
Holy Courtier (Thánh Chầu)[]
Most of the devotees of Four Palaces refer to this rank as the Twelve Court Dames.
First Courtier of Heaven (Chầu Bà Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)[]
Second Courtier of Mountains and Forests (Chầu Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn)[]
Third Courtier of Water Palace (Chầu Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ)[]
Fourth Courtier, Imperial Commissioner (Chầu Đệ Tứ Khâm Sai)[]
Fifth Courtier of the Lân Stream (Chầu Năm Suối Lân)[]
Sixth Courtier of Six Residences (Chầu Sáu Lục Cung)[]
Seventh Courtier of Kim Giao (Chầu Bảy Kim Giao)[]
Eighth Courtier Bát Nàn (Chầu Bát Nàn)[]
Ninth Courtier of Nine Wells (Chầu Chín Cửu Tỉnh)[]
Tenth Courtier of Đồng Mỏ (Chầu Mười Đồng Mỏ)[]
Little Courtier of Bắc Lệ (Chầu Bé Bắc Lệ)[]
Local Courtier of the Shrine (Chầu Bà Bản Đền Bản Cảnh)[]
Holy Princes (Thánh Hoàng)[]
This rank is usually referred to as the Ten of Princes.
First Prince of Heaven (Ông Hoàng Cả Thượng Thiên)[]
Second Prince, Imperial Commissioner (Ông Hoàng Đôi Khâm Sai)[]
Third Prince of Water Palace (Ông Hoàng Bơ Thoải Phủ)[]
Fourth Prince (Ông Hoàng Tư)[]
Fifth Prince (Ông Hoàng Năm)[]
Sixth Prince (Ông Hoàng Sáu)[]
Seventh Prince of Bảo Hà (Ông Hoàng Bảy Bảo Hà)[]
Eighth Prince (Ông Hoàng Tám)[]
Ninth Prince of the Cờn Estuary (Ông Hoàng Chín Cờn Môn)[]
Tenth Prince of Nghệ An (Ông Hoàng Mười Nghệ An)[]
Holy Mistresses (Thánh Cô)[]
It is widely recognized that there are twelve Mistresses in this rank. Similar to the rank of Court Dames, other Mistresses from various towns are also considered to belong to this rank.
First Mistress of Heaven (Cô Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)[]
Second Mistress of Mountains and Forests (Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn)[]
Third Mistress of Water Palace (Cô Bơ Thoải Cung)[]
Fourth Mistress of Earth Palace (Cô Tư Địa Phủ)[]
Some people believe that the Fourth Mistress of Earth Palace is worshipped at the Ỷ La Shrine, thus the title the Fourth Mistress of Ỷ La. However, some others believe that the Fourth Mistress of Ỷ La is among the Twelve Goddesses of Mountains Village.
Another title of the Fourth Mistress of Earth Palace is the Fourth Mistress of West Lake's Four Villages (Cô Tư Tứ Tổng Tây Hồ).
Note: She is not the same with the Fourth Mistress of Ỷ La who is one of the twelve Fairies of Mountains and Forests.
Fifth Mistress of the Lân Stream (Cô Năm Suối Lân)[]
Sixth Mistress of Mountains Village (Cô Sáu Sơn Trang)[]
Seventh Mistress of Kim Giao (Cô Bảy Kim Giao)[]
Eighth Mistress of Tea Hills (Cô Tám Đồi Chè)[]
Ninth Mistress of Mount Sòng (Cô Chín Sòng Sơn)[]
Tenth Mistress of Đồng Mỏ (Cô Mười Đồng Mỏ)[]
Little Mistresses of Mountains and Forests (Cô Bé Thượng Ngàn)[]
Each region usually has its own young female deity/deities. These young goddesses are believed to follow the Mother Goddess of Mountains and Forests in the Mountains Palace. They are the "Local Mistresses". One would be named "The Little Mistress of [name of the region]".
Little Mistresses of Water[]
Holy Masters (Thánh Cậu)[]
Little is known about the rank of the Holy Masters. They are usually young squires who attend on the Princes.
The popular Masters include:
First Master of Mount Sòng/ First Master of Dầy Palace[]
Second Master[]
He is believed to reside in Mount Sòng, Phố Cát, Ngang Hill.
Third Master[]
He attends on the Father Emperor of Water Palace, Mother Goddess of Water Palace or Third Prince of Water.
Fourth Master[]
He attends on the Fourth Grand Mandarin or the Fourth Courtier, both are the Imperial Commissioners
Little Master of Ngang Hill[]
He was a son to Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh in her third incarnation
Local Masters[]
Each shrine might have its own Young Master.
Five Tigers (Ngũ Hổ) and Ông Lốt[]
References[]
- ^ Ngô, Đức-Thịnh (2009). Đạo Mẫu Việt Nam. Book 1. Vietnam: Nhà xuất bản Tôn Giáo. p. 65.
- Vietnamese mythology
- Vietnamese folk religion