On the morning of January 22, 2024, the People's Committee of Tan Lac district solemnly held a ceremony to receive the certificate of ranking as a provincial historical relic of Loc Pagoda, Man Duc town, Tan Lac district. Attending the ceremony were representatives of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, including Mr. Bui Xuan Truong - Deputy Director of the Department; representing Tan Lac district, Mr. Le Chi Huyen - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee.
On behalf of the delegation, Comrade Bui Xuan Truong - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Awarding of provincial historical relic certificate of Loc pagoda, Man Duc town, Tan Lac district
Loc Pagoda has existed for a long time. The elders say that in the past, the land had a beautiful terrain, the natural landscape was spacious and airy. Around the relic was a rice-growing area. Initially, people took advantage of a natural stone slab with an area of about 2.5m2 under the ancient banyan tree to make a place of worship. The stone block looked like a Ru, on the stone slab people only placed 01 Buddha, 01 Tho Ha ceramic incense bowl and some worship items such as flower vases, cups, plates... Later, to protect the place of worship from the rain and sun, people built a house with a bamboo frame, a roof made of palm leaves, an area of about 4m2, facing south.
Around 1957-1958, after the land reform period, there were no more worship activities at the relic. By 1980, the local people had repaired and rebuilt the pagoda. The pagoda has brick walls, a cement roof, and imitation tube tiles; it is 2.15m high; 1.45m long; 1.35m wide. The altar here is made from the flat surface of a large turtle-shaped stone block, designed in a three-level style and paved with red bricks. On it are placed a stone Buddha, a statue of Lady Chieu, a Tho Ha ceramic incense bowl and some other worship items such as a throne, flower vases, candlesticks, etc. On the left and right sides are two small altars, of equal size: 90cm wide, 94cm deep, 70cm high. The roof is made of concrete in a dome-shaped architecture. The altar on the left worships the God of Wealth, inside there is an incense bowl, a statue of the God of Wealth and some worship items. The right altar worships the Five Tigers, inside the altar there is an incense bowl and a Tiger statue.
In 1983, because the temple area was too narrow, to meet the religious needs of the local people, the people contributed to build a horizontal house behind. The house faced west, was built in the style of a mallet handle, with the following items: Front Hall and Back Hall.
Loc Pagoda is a pagoda with a fairly uniform structure, typical of indigenous folk beliefs (worshiping stone Buddhas), contributing to preserving the national cultural identity. The interweaving and harmony reflect the rich and diverse spiritual life, the tolerance, generosity, and kindness of the Viet-Muong people and the spirit of national solidarity. Like other pagodas, communal houses, and temples in Hoa Binh province, the traditional festival of Loc Pagoda used to take place for 1 day, on the 7th day of the first lunar month (according to the Muong Bi calendar, it is the 6th day of the fourth lunar month).
The pagoda organizes the Khai Ha Festival, also known as the "Down to the Fields" or "Forest Opening Ceremony" for people to come and offer incense to show their gratitude and respect to the gods and Buddhas. According to ancient village customs, only after the Khai Ha Festival are people allowed to go to the fields to cultivate, produce, and go into the forest to collect bamboo shoots, firewood, hunt, etc.
Due to many objective factors of natural and social history, the festival was not held from 1957 to 1979. In 1980, Loc Pagoda was restored, but the Khai Ha festival held on the 7th day of the first lunar month has not been restored.
Currently, the pagoda only holds four ceremonies each year on the following days according to the lunar calendar: Thuong Nguyen Ceremony (full moon of January); Buddha's Birthday (April 8); Vu Lan Ceremony (full moon of July); and New Year's Eve Ceremony (December 15). In addition, on the first and full moon days, there are incense, flowers, tea, fruit, and candy offered to Buddha and the gods.
Loc Pagoda is a long-standing cultural and religious work of the people of Muong Dinh in particular and Muong Bi in general. The existence of the relic is also one of the factors reflecting the process of formation and development of the village of the residents in this land. As we know, this is the residential area of Muong Dinh people - one of the ancient Muong areas of Tan Lac district, but with the presence and existence of Loc Pagoda, it has contributed more data on the relationship of origin between the two ethnic groups of Viet and Muong.
Loc Pagoda, which exists today, has a certain historical length. Ancient relics such as the stone Buddha, Tho Ha ceramic incense burner, bearing the artistic imprint of the 18th century, have proven that the relic existed several hundred years ago. Through many historical events, time has somewhat affected the relic. Currently, the original relic no longer exists, but the relic still preserves valuable antiques of high artistic and cultural value, contributing to enriching the country's cultural treasure.
The ancient Loc Pagoda Festival is a unique cultural beauty. Organizing and preserving the Loc Pagoda Festival is not only an opportunity for people to convey their feelings, ethics and aspirations to each other, but also an opportunity for people to reconcile with the past and the present. Those traditional cultural beauties blend to create a cultural value that needs to be preserved and promoted. In addition, preserving and promoting traditional festivals is also original material for researchers on local history and ethnology. It is the basis for comparing the cultural characteristics of ethnic groups, promoting the culture imbued with national identity and following the Party and State's policies and guidelines on preserving and promoting the advanced Vietnamese cultural identity imbued with national identity. Relics are ancient and valuable assets ineducating and promoting the fine traditions of the nation.
With the above great values, the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province issued Decision No. 44/QD-UBND, dated January 9, 2024, recognizing Loc Pagoda as a provincial historical relic.
The recognition of Loc Pagoda as a provincial historical relic is an honor for the people of Man Duc town in particular and Tan Lac district in general, and is a legal basis to protect and further promote the value of Loc Pagoda relic.
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