What is Tu Bat Tu?
Tu Bat Tu is the collective name for four saints revered by Vietnamese people across generations: Tan Vien Son Thanh, Saint Giong, Chu Dong Tu, and Holy Mother Lieu Hanh. The word "immortal" here does not mean living forever in the physical body, but refers to saints whose merits or cultural symbolism have been remembered and worshipped by the people over a long period. These figures became spiritual models for the community across historical periods.
Origin and Formation
These four saints are associated with different legends and mystical tales, passed down in folk tradition and gradually systematized within Vietnamese saint worship. Tan Vien Son Thanh is linked to the legend of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh, symbolizing the desire to conquer nature and fight floods. Saint Giong is linked to the legend of fighting the Yin invaders, symbolizing the strength of resistance against foreign invasion. Chu Dong Tu is linked to a legend of love and filial piety. Holy Mother Lieu Hanh is linked to the tale of three descents to earth, and is the only female saint in the group.
Why Are They Called the Four Immortals?
The term "immortal" emphasizes the enduring presence of these figures in spiritual and cultural life. Each represents a dimension of life: fighting natural disasters, resisting foreign invasion, love and filial duty, and the role of women in Mother Goddess worship. Through festivals, temples, and folk stories, their images are reenacted and passed on to later generations.
Distinction from Easily Confused Concepts
Tu Bat Tu is not the only supreme group of deities in all Vietnamese belief, but a specific name for four representative saints. It should be distinguished from "Tu Phap" (four deities related to natural phenomena such as Cloud, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning) and from pantheons in Buddhism or Taoism. Worship of these saints is traditional and for reference, and has not been scientifically verified.
Significance in Cultural Life
Tu Bat Tu reflects how Vietnamese people remember and honor community values through the images of saints. Festivals such as the Giong Festival in Hanoi have been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, showing the vitality of these legends in contemporary life.