Legendary heroes in Ninh Binh: King Dinh (Dinh Bo Linh)
Dinh Tien Hoang (Dinh Bo Linh) is one of Vietnam’s most prominent national heroes, who greatly contributed to unifying the country after a period of turmoil. He founded the Dinh Dynasty, the first feudal dynasty of Vietnam after more than a thousand years of Chinese domination.
Background (Family)
Dinh Bo Linh was born on the full moon day of the second month of the year Giap Than (924), in Dai Huu village, Dai Hoang Chau (now Gia Phuong commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province).
His father, Dinh Cong Tru, was the Governor of Hoan Chau (now Nghe An province). His father died early, so Dinh Bo Linh followed his mother back to his hometown, and lived with his uncle, Dinh Du, as a buffalo herder.
When Dinh Bo Linh was a child, he led a group of buffalo herders who picked reeds to make flags and set up mock battles. Dinh Bo Linh was so intelligent that the children looked up to him as a leader, they often folded their arms to make a palanquin to carry him like an emperor. At this time, Dinh Bo Linh had already shown his talent for command.
Career stories
In 944, when Dinh Bo Linh was 20 years old, King Ngo Quyen passed away, and the country fell into chaos, history called the 12 warlords chaos. Seeing the country in danger, Dinh Bo Linh first recruited his childhood friends who picked reeds to make flags and set up mock battles, then the righteous men in the area. Thanks to his intelligence, strategy, and spirit, Dinh Bo Linh raised the flag of righteousness, hoping to establish a great cause, and many people in the area followed.
Dinh Bo Linh’s power grew stronger and stronger with many talented generals and young men from the present-day Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, and Thanh Hoa regions. Dinh Bo Linh continued to build his forces, recruit talented people, raise the flag to call on the people, defeat the warlords, and win wherever he fought, his reputation was resounding. The generals and soldiers honored him as the King of Van Thang. Within just one year, Dinh Bo Linh had defeated 12 warlords, the four directions sang songs of victory, the country was reunited, and the period of chaos ended.
In the year of Mau Thin (968), Van Thang Vuong ascended the throne as Emperor Dai Thang Minh Hoang De, named the country Dai Co Viet (Great Viet), and established the capital in Hoa Lu (now Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province). The king minted “Thai Binh Hung Bao” bronze coins – the oldest coins in our country. He also established discipline and laws to keep the people safe.
Although Dinh Tien Hoang reigned for only 12 years, he was a national hero who initiated and laid the foundation for national unification. Dinh Tien Hoang’s career will forever remain in the hearts of our people and our country.
Remembrance and Worship
To commemorate the great contributions of Dinh Tien Hoang, after the king’s death (in 979), in the capital Hoa Lu, the courtiers honored him as Tien Hoang De (First Emperor).
Later, the temple of King Dinh was built to commemorate his merits. This temple is located in the Hoa Lu ancient capital relic cluster (Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province). This place is one of the country’s architectural wonders and was recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in the Trang An World Heritage Complex in 2014. If you have the opportunity to come to Ninh Binh, don’t forget to visit this historical site.
Besides, to show gratitude and respect to the national hero, many schools across the country also took the title Dinh Tien Hoang to name their schools.
Dinh Tien Hoang is truly a hero of the Vietnamese people. He is a respectable king with great contributions to building the country. He is a king of eternity who is always honored and remembered by Vietnamese people as the first emperor of the Dai Co Viet state.
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