The Tale of the Judge of Tản Viên Temple
The Tale of the Judge of Tản Viên Temple (, Tản Viên từ phán sự lục) is a Vietnamese legend told in Truyền kỳ mạn lục by Nguyễn Dữ in the 16th century. In Truyền kỳ mạn lục The Tale of the Judge of Tản Viên Temple is the eighth story of Nguyễn Dữ's Truyền kỳ mạn lục collection, published in the second volume. Ngô Tử Văn is an upright and vehement man who lives in Yên Dũng, Lạng Giang. In the Ming invasion, a Chinese general was killed and his spirit took over a temple in the region, tormenting the local people since. This angers Tử Văn, so he burns down the temple. Later, Tử Văn falls ill and a man wearing a helmet appears, demanding him to rebuild the temple or be sued in the underworld. Ignored by Tử Văn, the man leaves. Another man appears and congratulates Tử Văn for his deed. The old man introduces himself as a former official of Lý Nam Đế and now a Soil God, and says that the other man is the evil spirit of a Chinese general who has occupied his temple, forcing him to take shelter at Tản Viên