HUONG THAO (Fictional character)

Nearly 2,000 years ago, in Bich Trang village, An Thi district (now Bich Trang village, Tien Phong commune, An Thi district), there was a poor but beautiful girl, who was good at farm work, especially cutting the grass. She cut grass so fast that grasshoppers not flying would die in mass. Therefore, she was called as Thao.

In the village, a rich man hired her to cut grass and herd. He found her beautiful and pressed for a concubine but she refused and tried to escape. He tied her without food. Nearly there were two poor grandfather and grandson, whose names were Bach and Nhat. On a heavy rainy night, they untied her and tried to help her escape.

Then To Dinh ruled our country, causing pains for people. The Trung sisters rose up in arms in Me Linh. Patriots and followers were very crowded. Thao joined the army commanded by Thanh Thien and was assigned to look after and supply food for elephants and horses. Thao returned to her hometown, set up many grass farms, recruited female soldiers to cut grass, serving warriors.

The Trung sisters came to the throne. Huong Thao was appointed as the general, responsible for the grass farms. Three years later, Ma Vien invaded our country, Huong Thao remained in Bich Trang, providing the grass for elephants and horses. In the battlefield, the enemy was strong, the Trung sisters could not resist, sowed themselves into the river. Make sure the invaders would come to the village, Huong Thao and hundreds of female soldiers were ready to fight. The enemy came and arrested her to hand over all the grass for them. She pretended to agree and made an appointment to deliver the grass. The enemy troops pulled and were drunken, then fell to sleep. Huong Thao burned the grass around the base camp, the enemy died a lot. She also sacrificed in this battle.

Formerly in Bich Trang village, there was a small Co pagoda. In the pagoda, there was a statue of Huong Thao. Every year, on January 8th in lunar calendar, people came to the pagoda to commemorate her.