Four Palaces
The Four Palaces are where “spirits of the Four Palaces” reside in Vietnamese [indigenous religion]. The colour of the clothes of mediums reflects the token colour of each of the four spirits of which they are possessed. Trần Triều, the spirit of Saint Trần altars associated with Trần Hưng Đạo, Supreme Commander of Đại Việt during the Trần Dynasty, is distinguished from the spirits of the four palaces. The chair of the four spirits is found in many temples in Vietnam.
The four palaces are:
- Thiên phủ ruled by mẫu Thượng Thiên
- Nhạc phủ ruled by mẫu Thượng Ngàn, also known as Lâm Cung Thánh Mẫu
- Thuỷ phủ ruled by mẫu Thoải, also known as Thủy cung Thánh Mẫu.
- Địa phủ ruled by mẫu Địa Phủ, also known as Lục cung thánh mẫu