Unsolved mystery of headless stone dragon pair in 600-year-old heritage

Ho Dynasty Citadel (also known as Tay Do Citadel) is located in Vinh Long and Vinh Tien communes, Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province. This is one of the most unique stone architectural works in Vietnam and the world .

This structure was built by Ho Quy Ly in 1397 and was once the capital, the cultural - political - social center of Dai Ngu country under the Ho Dynasty. After more than 600 years of existence, most of the structures inside the imperial citadel have been destroyed, but the citadel remains almost intact.

A pair of stone dragons at the center of Ho Dynasty Citadel (Photo: Thanh Tung).

Over the years, the Ho Dynasty Citadel World Heritage Site has still held many mysteries that researchers have not been able to explain. For example, how the ancients were able to build the citadel in just three months with large stones weighing tens of tons, or what was the adhesive that held the stone blocks together.

In addition, there are also mysterious stories such as the stone slab with a human head printed on it at Binh Khuong temple...

Notably, in the central area of ​​the Ho Dynasty Citadel, there is still a pair of headless stone dragons. Up to now, there has been no specific research to verify the reason why they lost their heads and where their heads are now.

Stone dragon 3.8m long, 1.2m high (Photo: Thanh Tung).

Ms. Vu Thi Lanh, a tour guide at the Ho Dynasty Citadel World Heritage Center, said that the pair of dragon statues were discovered by locals in 1938, during the process of digging for a road. Afterwards, the authorities cleaned them and placed them in the center of the Ho Dynasty Citadel.

"Each dragon is 3.8m long, 1.2m high, and carved from a single block of green stone. According to sculptors, this pair of dragons has the characteristics of Tran Dynasty dragons. They have a strong shape, their bodies gradually tapering towards the tail, curving in seven sections, covered with scales. The dragons have four legs, each with three sharp claws and soft, wavy tufts of fur.

The head of the dragon statue is missing (Photo: Thanh Tung).

"Dragons of the Tran and Ho dynasties in particular, as well as Vietnamese feudal dynasties in general, often symbolize royal power. What is special is that the heads of this pair of dragons have been lost, but their long manes are still there. Their designs are similar to the dragons carved on the steps of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long ( Hanoi ) and the main hall of Lam Kinh (Thanh Hoa)," said Ms. Lanh.

According to Ms. Lanh, despite many studies, the reason why the dragon's head was lost remains unanswered.

However, there are some hypotheses. One hypothesis is that in ancient times, because the pair of dragons were placed facing Xuan Giai village (Vinh Tien commune), fires often broke out in the village. People believed that the dragons breathed fire and caused trouble, so they cut off the dragons' heads.

Another theory holds that the dragon was a symbol of the authority and power of the feudal dynasty. When the Ming army invaded, they may have beheaded the pair of stone dragons to mark the fall of the Ho dynasty.

In addition to the pair of stone dragons, during the excavation of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, archaeologists also discovered dozens of stone artifacts in the shape of a lion (a combination of a lion and a dog), a crocodile (a lion's head, a squirrel's body), etc. Notably, most of these artifacts had their heads decapitated, giving rise to many hypotheses about intentional destruction in history.

Dr. Le Ngoc Tao, Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Historical Science Association, said that currently there are no documents or historical books recording the reason why the stone dragons lost their heads.

However, through research, many opinions say that when the Ming Dynasty invaded and captured Tay Do citadel, the pair of stone dragons were destroyed and beheaded.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/doi-song/bi-an-chua-co-loi-giai-ve-cap-rong-da-mat-dau-o-di-san-hon-600-nam-20250325175131986.htm