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EveryJaadu

Four Palaces

In its own language: Tứ Phủ

A Vietnamese spiritual system where mediums channel four elemental goddesses.

Living

The Four Palaces, or Tứ Phủ, are a framework of spirits in Vietnamese indigenous religion. Mediums wear specific colours to match the four goddesses they channel during rituals. These spirits govern the heavens, forests, water, and earth.

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  • The Four Palaces are spirits in Vietnamese indigenous religion.
  • Mediums wear clothes matching the colour of the possessed spirit.
  • Each palace is ruled by a specific mother goddess.
  • The system is distinct from the Trần Dynasty spirit.

What it is

The Four Palaces, known as Tứ Phủ, represent a collection of spirits within Vietnamese indigenous religion. These entities inhabit four distinct realms: the Heavens, the Forest, the Water, and the Earth. Each realm is overseen by a specific mother goddess. The system is clearly separated from other venerated figures, such as the Trần Dynasty spirit.

How it is done

Rituals involve mediums entering a state of spirit possession. When a medium is guided by one of the Four Palaces, they wear clothing dyed in a specific colour. This garment signals which of the four deities is currently active through the practitioner.

Tools and materials

The primary tool used in these ceremonies is the medium's attire. The fabric is chosen to match the designated token colour of the possessing spirit. This visual marker helps observers identify the active deity.

Four Palaces, drawn and placed

Emblem With the circle shape. Drawn from this page, not a photograph.
  1. Living
  2. Revived
  3. Fading
  4. Historical
  5. Legendary
  6. Performed
Standing: Living Practised today by communities who hold it as their own. This says whether people still do it, not whether it works.
A ritual circle: a marked space set apart for a rite, with its edge and a sign at the centre. Found in ceremonial, folk and neopagan practice.
Lineage
Vietnamese indigenous religion
Where it sits The tradition it belongs to, and when it is done.

What it is for

Practitioners engage in these rituals to commune with the palace spirits. The goal is to allow the medium to channel the authority of the sky, highlands, water, or earth. This connection facilitates communication between the human and spirit worlds.

Who does it

The practice relies on mediums who serve as vessels for the deities. These individuals are selected or trained to host the spirits of the Four Palaces. Their role is to embody the goddesses during the ceremony.

Peoples and places

This spiritual framework belongs to the indigenous traditions of Vietnam. It remains an active part of the religious landscape, with altars dedicated to the spirits located in numerous temples across the country.

At a glance: who, where and when

Peoples

Vietnamese

What people believe

The core belief holds that four powerful spirits reside in their respective palaces. Each palace is ruled by a mother goddess, including mẫu Thượng Thiên for the upper sky, mẫu Thượng Ngàn for the highlands, mẫu Thoải for water, and mẫu Địa Phủ for the earth.

Compare and confuse

The Four Palaces are distinguished from other local spiritual figures. For instance, the Trần Triều spirit, associated with the Trần Dynasty and its supreme commander, is treated as a completely separate entity from the four palace deities.

Questions people ask about Four Palaces

What are the Four Palaces?

They are a group of spirits in Vietnamese indigenous religion. The spirits reside in realms governing the heavens, forests, water, and earth.

Who channels the Four Palaces?

Mediums act as vessels for these spirits. During rituals, they become possessed by one of the four palace goddesses.

How can you tell which spirit is present?

The medium wears clothes in a specific colour. This colour matches the token colour assigned to the particular palace spirit.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Four Palaces", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-14.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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