Y Lan (1044-1117)

It is said that Queen Mother - Y Lan’s name was Le Thi Khiet or Le Thi Yen. She was born on March 7^th, 1044 and a native of Tho Loi (Currently belonging to Nhu Quynh commune, Van Lam district). She was the daughter of Mr. Le Cong Thiet and Mrs. Vu Thi Tinh, who were farmers. When she was 12 years old, her mother died. Two years later, her father got married to a girl from the Dong family. When she was 16 years old, her father died and she was brought up by the step mother.

At that time, King Ly Thanh Tong (1023 - 1072) reached the old age but had no son. The King and his queen went to many places to pray for a son but did not succeed. His courtiers organized a festival to pray for good chances in love in Tho Loi village and demanded that all beautiful girls in the nearby villages be well-dressed and attend the festival.

When the King reached the gate of Tho Loi village, he heard a sweet voice by a girl in mulberry terrace-field and he began to walk. The girl hid behind a mulberry tree to look at the King. After exchanging some questions and replies, the King found that the girl, who was Khiet Nuong, was very intelligent and decided to recruit her and took her to Lan palace in Kim Co village, Tho Xuong district of Thang Long Capital. Since then, Khiet Nuong was named as Y Lan.

She had chance to study more. When she gave birth to the first son, named Can Duc, she was titled Than Phi. When bearing the second son, called Minh Nhan Vuong, she was granted Nguyen Phi title. When King Ly Thanh Tong died, Can Duc came to the throne and titled her Mother Queen.

Y Lan acted as Queen Regent for two times

The first time was in 1069, when Ly Thanh Tong led troops to fight the enemy in the south but failed and had to withdraw his troops. When he reached Mat Lien (Presently Tien Lu district), he heard that Nguyen Phi Y Lan participated in State affairs and sustained the stability of the country as well as won the popularity of people.

Ly Thanh Tong said: “Nguyen Phi is a woman but she can make such a contribution; I am a man but can do nothing.” He went back to the southern battle and made a victory. Y Lan played an important role in Ly Thanh Tong’s career of constructing the country.

The second time was when Ly Thanh Tong died (1072), Ly Nhan Tong (Can Duc), only 7 years old, was enthroned and she was titled Hoang Thai Phi and then Queen Mother. As a talented and righteous woman, and with the support of Ly Thuong Kiet, she made significant contributions to the Ly dynasty.

Among eight Kings of the Ly dynasty, Ly Nhan Tong made the most brilliant feat of arms. Under the direction of Ly Thuong Kiet, the people and army of Dai Viet defeated Tong invaders in 1076, successfully defending the independence of the country. The State in Ly Nhan Tong’s reign was respected by big states and admired by small ones. The country was in peace and people lived in comfort.

In terms of internal affairs management, she issued progressive policies allowing redemption of slave-servants, freeing imperial maids, reducing taxes and banning the slaughter of buffalos and oxen. Admiring Buddhism, she built hundreds of pagodas and had a deep understanding of Buddhism. She composed a lesson:

Sac thi khong, khong tuc sac
Khong thi sac, sac tuc khong
Sac khong quan bat quan
Phuong dac khe chan khong.

("Sac" means "khong"; "khong" means "sac"
"Khong" is "sac", "khong" is "none"
"Sac" and "khong" should make no difference to people
Then they can master Buddhism)

("Sac" and "khong" are two elements of Buddhism philosophy mentioning the status of "having something" and "none")

With this poem, Queen Mother Y Lan has been considered a famous author in the Ly – Tran period by literature researchers. 

She died on July 25^th, 1117. Many temples and pagodas for worshipping her have been built in her native land and other places. Hung Yen now has two temples: Ghenh temple in Nhu Quynh commune and Huong Lang pagoda in Minh Hai commune of Van Lam district, not to mention to some big temples in Gia Lam district of Hanoi.