Kept at Lăng Ông Nam Hải mausoleum and the Nhơn Châu communal house, the decrees have survived decades of hardship and upheaval, remaining among the community’s most treasured possessions.
Inside the main hall of Lăng Ông Nam Hải, located in Thôn Tây, members of the Nhơn Châu fishing guild, led by guild head Nguyễn Văn Hạnh, carefully preserve two yellowed royal decrees, which islanders regard as sacred relics. Although one document bears signs of fire damage, both remain legible.
The decrees honour Thủy Long Cung nương nương tôn thần and Đại Càn quốc gia Nam Hải tôn thần and were bestowed by Emperor Bảo Đại in 1933, the eighth year of his reign.
“Islanders consider these decrees priceless treasures. Whether in storms or wartime, our ancestors always found ways to protect them. Our generation continues to cherish and safeguard them, preserving the cultural soul passed down from those before us,” Mr. Hạnh said.
According to local elders, generations of Nhơn Châu residents have relied on the sea for their livelihoods, making the worship of cá Ông, or the Nam Hải deity, and other sea gods an important spiritual tradition. Before heading out to sea, fishermen customarily visit temples, shrines and communal houses to pray for safety, prosperity and abundant catches.
Like many coastal villages in Gia Lai province, Lăng Ông Nam Hải serves not only as a place of worship but also as a centre for community life. During festivals, fishermen gather to make offerings and pray for calm seas, traditions that reinforce social bonds and the islanders’ connection to the sea.
Nearby, the Nhơn Châu communal house in Thôn Trung preserves two additional royal decrees, one dedicated to the village tutelary god and another to Chúa Ngọc nương nương. Both were granted by Emperor Bảo Đại in 1933.
Nguyễn Văn Bi, head of the communal house management board, said the site has long hosted important ceremonies for the local community.
“These decrees are historical evidence tied to the spiritual beliefs of local residents. People cherish them deeply, as they are not only royal edicts but also recognition that this land has been home to a stable community for generations,” he said.
Beyond their historical significance, the decrees reflect the spiritual traditions of coastal communities in central Vietnam and Gia Lai province. The worship of the Nam Hải deity, female deities and village tutelary gods embodies the desire for protection against the forces of nature.
Han-Nom scholar, Dr Võ Minh Hải (Quy Nhơn University), said the preservation of the documents on a remote island highlighted the community’s strong commitment to protecting its heritage.
He said the decrees represent valuable Han-Nom records and provide important material for studying the history of settlement, beliefs and social life in Gia Lai’s coastal areas. The Nguyễn Dynasty’s recognition of sea deities also reflected the longstanding importance of coastal communities to the economy and maritime sovereignty.
As marine tourism expands, more visitors are travelling to Nhơn Châu not only for its beaches and natural scenery but also to experience its cultural heritage. Stories surrounding Lăng Ông Nam Hải, the communal house and the royal decrees add depth to the island’s appeal.
Dương Hiệp Hưng, chairman of the Nhơn Châu Commune People’s Committee, said local authorities are committed to balancing tourism development with the preservation of cultural identity.
“The imperial decrees, traditional festivals, folk beliefs and communal rituals of Nhơn Châu residents must all be preserved and promoted for their true value,” he said.
Mr. Hưng said the commune would propose the recognition of Lăng Ông Nam Hải and the Nhơn Châu communal house as heritage sites, a move aimed at honouring the historical and cultural significance of the frontier island while supporting sustainable tourism development.
Amid the vast sea, the Nguyễn Dynasty royal decrees continue to be treasured by generations of Nhơn Châu residents, standing as enduring testimony to the vitality of Gia Lai’s maritime culture and the community’s deep connection to the ocean.
From the Han script content of the Nguyễn Dynasty imperial decrees currently preserved in Nhơn Châu island commune, it can be determined that Nhơn Châu was formerly an administrative unit named Thanh Châu village under Tuy Phước prefecture, Bình Định province (now Nhơn Châu commune, Gia Lai province).
According to the Đại Nam nhất thống chí (The Comprehensive Geography of Đại Nam, compiled by the Nguyễn Dynasty’s National History Office): “Thanh Châu dữ (Thanh Châu Island) lies south of Tuy Phước district, resting on the seashore, commonly known as Cù Lao, serving as the Thi Nại sea gate outpost; in the early Gia Long era, it belonged to Phú Yên, and in the Minh Mạng era, it was reassigned to Bình Định.”