Four Immortals Explained

Four Immortals
Qn:	Tứ bất tử
Chuhan:	四不死

The Four Immortals (Vietnamese: Tứ bất tử, chữ Hán: 四不死) refers to the four chief cult figures in the pantheon of genii worshiped by the Vietnamese people of the Red River Delta region in legend and mythology.^[1] They are Tản Viên Sơn Thánh (chữ Hán: 傘圓山聖), also known as Sơn Tinh (山精) the god of Tản Viên Mountain, Phù Đổng Thiên Vương (扶董天王, also known as Thánh Gióng, Ông Dóng) a giant who defeated northern invaders, Chử Đồng Tử (褚童子) a sage, and Princess Liễu Hạnh (柳杏公主), a heavenly spirit and Mother Goddess.

Full development of the mythology and honouring of the Four Immortals took place in the Lê dynasty.^[2] Each of the four immortals has association with helping historical national figures. For example, Thánh Gióng in legend helped the sixth Hùng King to repulse foreign invaders.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Tran Quoc Vuong: 14 Tran Quoc Vuong (University of Hanoi). "The Legend of Ông Gióng from the Field to the Text," in Taylor, K. W., and John K. Whitmore, editors. Essays into Vietnamese Pasts. Ithaca: Cornell University, 1995
2. Keith Weller Taylor, John K. Whitmore Essays into Vietnamese pasts 1995 - Page 14 "In the pantheon of genii worshipped by the Vietnamese in the Red River Delta of northern Viet Nam, beginning in the Le dynasty (fifteenth-eighteenth centuries), four have been considered as the "Four Immortals" or chief cult figures in .."
3. Laurel Kendall Vietnam: Journeys of Body, Mind, and Spirit 2003 Page 19 "One of four immortals in Vietnamese folk belief, Thánh Gióng helped the sixth Hùng King to repulse invaders."