Four Palaces

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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.[1]

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

His full title is the First Crown Prince and Princely Mandarin of Heaven (Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên Hoàng Thái Tử Vương Quan)

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

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

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

His full title is the Third Crown Prince and Princely Mandarin of Water Palace (Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ Hoàng Thái Tử Vương Quan).

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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]".

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

The popular Masters include:

He is believed to reside in Mount Sòng, Phố Cát, Ngang Hill.

He attends on the Father Emperor of Water Palace, Mother Goddess of Water Palace or Third Prince of Water.

He attends on the Fourth Grand Mandarin or the Fourth Courtier, both are the Imperial Commissioners

He was a son to Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh in her third incarnation

Each shrine might have its own Young Master.