Four Palaces

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 North of Vietnam and has 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 follows:

• 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), 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)

A portrait of the First Mother Goddess of Heaven in the Lê dynasty's costumes. This painting is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ Phủ.

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.

Third Mother Goddess of Water Palace (Mẫu Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ)

The common short title is Mother Goddess of Water (Mẫu Thoải).

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.

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)

A portrait of the First Courtier of Heaven. This painting is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ Phủ.

Second Courtier of Mountains and Forests (Chầu Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn)

A portrait of the Second Courtier of Mountains and Forests. This painting is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ Phủ.

Holy Princes (Thánh Hoàng)

This rank is usually referred to as the Ten of Princes.

Seventh Prince of Bảo Hà (Ông Hoàng Bảy Bảo Hà)

A portrait of the Seventh Prince of Bảo Hà. This illustration is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ Phủ.

The Seventh Prince of Bảo Hà is among the Holy Princes of the Four Palaces - Mother Goddess religion. The rank of Holy Princes follows the rank of Holy Courtiers and before the rank of Holy Mistresses. The 7th or 17th of the Seventh lunisolar month is considered the time to honor the Seventh Prince

Priests are usually approved to serve His reflection in a hầu bóng (serving the reflection) ceremony.

It is told that under the reign of Emperor Lê Hiển Tông (1740 - 1786), the Bảo Hà region (nowaday Bảo Hà commune, Bảo Yên district, Lào Cai province) and the northern border were usually in dangerous situations. The Chinese enemy’s ambition to invade and the clan chiefs’ aggression towards each other threatened the national security.

The imperial court assigned a renowned military general whose last name is Nguyễn to this area in order to secure the border. Under His brilliant leadership, the enemy from the north was defeated and the clan chiefs finally stopped their hostility to each other. Since then Bảo Hà became one of the most critical military bases defending the nation's border.

Eventually, the brave general died in a bloody battle. The moment He was killed by the enemy, the wind started to pick up and the clouds to roll in forming into a shape of a horse in the sky. The horse radiated an aura then flied to Bảo Hà. When it reached Bảo Hà; the sky suddenly got clear and five-colored clouds turned into the Four Divine Beasts.

Meanwhile, His body also flew on the river to the same location. The local people, with their deep laments for the brave and courageous general, built a shrine in His honor.

Tenth Prince of Nghệ An (Ông Hoàng Mười Nghệ An)

A portrait of the Tenth Prince of Nghệ An. This illustration is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ Phủ.

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)

A portrait of the First Mistress of Heaven. This illustration is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ Phủ.

Second Mistress of Mountains and Forests (Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn)

A portrait of the Second Mistress of Mountains and Forests. This illustration is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ Phủ.

Third Mistress of Water Palace (Cô Bơ Thoải Cung)

A portrait of the Third Mistress of Water Palace. This illustration is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ Phủ.

Fourth Mistress of Earth Palace (Cô Tư Địa Phủ)

A portrait of the Fourth Mistress of Earth Palace. This illustration is from the project Divine Portraits by Four Palaces - Tứ 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.

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]".

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:

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.