Four Palaces

A watercolor painting depicting the pantheon of the Four Palaces denomination in Vietnam's indigenous Đạo Mẫu shamanic belief.

Four Palaces (Vietnamese: Tứ Phủ; chữ Hán: 四府) is a major denomination of the Đạo Mẫu, an indigenous shamanic belief in Vietnam. This branch is popular in the North of Vietnam and has a profound association with the worship of Đức Thánh Trần.

An antique Hàng Trống painting depicting the Four Palaces pantheon of the Mother Goddess belief, dating back to the late 19th to early 20th century.

Its name 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, Earth, Water and Mountain. The palaces governing those realms are named as follows:

• Thiên phủ (Heaven Palace): ruled by Mother Goddess of Heaven (Mẫu Đệ Nhất Thiên Tiên)
• Địa phủ (Earth Palace): ruled by Mother Goddess of Earth (Mẫu Đệ Nhị Địa Tiên), also known as Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh.
• Thoải phủ (Water Palace): ruled by Mother Goddess of Water (Mẫu Đệ Tam Thuỷ Tiên), also known as Mother Goddess of Water Residence (Thủy Cung Thánh Mẫu).
• Nhạc phủ (Mountain Palace): ruled by Mother Goddess of Mountains (Mẫu Đệ Tứ Nhạc Tiên), also known as Mother Goddess of Forest Residence (Lâm 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)

A watercolor painting depicting the four Mother Goddesses of Four Palaces.

First Mother Goddess of Heaven (Mẫu Đệ Nhất Thiên Tiên, Mẫu Cửu Trùng Thiên)

A portrait of the First Mother Goddess of Heaven in the Lê dynasty's costumes.

The First Mother Goddess of Heaven is also addressed as the Mother Goddess of Nine Heavens. 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.

Second Mother Goddess of Earth (Mẫu Đệ Nhị Địa Tiên, Mẫu Liễu Hạnh)

A portrait of the Second Mother Goddess of Earth in the Lê dynasty's costumes.

The Second Mother Goddess of Earth is Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh.

Third Mother Goddess of Water (Mẫu Đệ Tam Thuỷ Tiên, Mẫu Thoải)

A portrait of the Third Mother Goddess of Water in the Lê dynasty's costumes.

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

Fourth Mother Goddess of Mountains (Mẫu Đệ Tứ Nhạc Tiên, Mẫu Thượng Ngàn)

A portrait of the Fourth Mother Goddess of Mountain in the Lê dynasty's costumes.

Venerable Mandarins (Quan Lớn)

This rank is usually referred to as the Five Venerable Mandarins (Ngũ Vị Tôn Quan). There is also another less common form of Ten Venerable Mandarins (Thập Vị Tôn Quan), where the multiple of the number 5 appears.

First Venerable Mandarin of Heaven (Quan Lớn Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)

A watercolor painting depicts the First Venerable Mandarin in the Four Palaces denomination, Vietnam's indigenous Mother Goddess religion.

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 Mountain (Quan Lớn Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn)

A watercolor painting depicts the Second Venerable Mandarin of Mountain in the Four Palaces denomination, Vietnam's indigenous Mother Goddess religion.

His full title is the Second Crown Prince and Princely Mandarin of Mountain (Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn Hoàng Thái Tử Vương Quan)

Third Venerable Mandarin of Water (Quan Lớn Đệ Tam Thuỷ Phủ)

A watercolor painting depicts the Third Venerable Mandarin of Water in the Four Palaces denomination, Vietnam's indigenous Mother Goddess religion.

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 of Earth (Quan Lớn Đệ Tứ Địa Phủ)

A watercolor painting depicts the Fourth Venerable Mandarin of Earth in the Four Palaces denomination, Vietnam's indigenous Mother Goddess religion.

Fifth Venerable Mandarin, Governor General (Quan Lớn Đệ Ngũ Tuần Sát)

A watercolor painting depicts the Fifth Venerable Mandarin in the Four Palaces denomination, Vietnam's indigenous Mother Goddess religion.

His other title is the Fifth Venerable Mandarin, Governor of the Humans Realm (Quan Lớn Đệ Ngũ Nhân Vi Chủ Quản.

Divine Courtier (Thánh Chầu)

Most of the devotees of Four Palaces refer to this rank as the Twelve Court Dames.

Divine 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.

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 said that under the reign of Emperor Lê Hiển Tông (1740 - 1786), the Bảo Hà region (nowadays 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 toward each other threatened 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 rolled in forming into a shape of a horse in the sky. The horse radiated an aura and 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.

Divine 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 Cả Thượng Thiên)

A portrait of the First Mistress of Heaven.

Second Mistress of Mountain (Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn)

A portrait of the Second Mistress of Mountain.

Third Mistress of Water (Cô Bơ Thoải Cung)

A portrait of the Third Mistress of Water Palace.

Fourth Mistress of Earth (Cô Tư Địa Cung)

A portrait of the Fourth Mistress of Earth Palace.

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 as the Fourth Mistress of Ỷ La, one of the twelve Fairies of Mountains and Forests.

Little Mistresses of Mountain (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 Mountain in the Mountains Palace. They are the "Local Mistresses". One would be named "The Little Mistress of [name of the region]".

Divine Masters (Thánh Cậu)

Little is known about the rank of the Holy Masters. They are usually young squires who attend to 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 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.