According to the history as well as the Khương family’s genealogy in Định Thành Commune, Khương Công Phụ was from Cổ Hiểm Village, Sơn Ôi Sub-prefecture, Ái Prefecture, which is now , Định Thành Commune, Yên Định District, . Under the reign of Emperor Dezong (780-805), Khương Công Phụ passed the imperial examinations. He was a doctorate and could be seen as the first trạng nguyên of our country.

    Khương Công Phụ had will, skill and spirit since he was young. He studied well, passed all examinations, and was entrusted with high positions in the Tang’s court. However, he was not eager for power and perquisite or saw loaves and fishes as his life’s target. He wanted to be helpful to his people. Even though he was a mandarin in a foreign land, his heart was still towards his homeland. He made a great contribution to the written literature of Việt and was regarded as the first person who began the written literature of our country.

    His younger brother Khương Công Phục passed the same examinations with Khương Công Phụ and also was a mandarin in the Tang’s court.

    Today, in , Định Thành Commune, Yên Định District, , there is a temple to Khương Công Phụ, which reminds young generations to forever remember a symbol of intelligence, talent, righteousness and generosity, and national self-strengthening spirit.

Reference:: Ban nghiên cứu và biên soạn lịch sử Thanh Hóa: Danh nhân Thanh Hóa (The Thanh Hóa History Compilation and Research Department: Well-known People in Thanh Hóa). Thanh Hóa Publishing House, Volume 1, 2005.