Compared to other ancient stone bridges in Lang Son, Khao bridge is the largest bridge with a length of 7 m, a width of 3 m, and a height of about 3.5 m. The bridge has one span and is made entirely of stone. The bridge piers are built of green stone blocks with sharp rectangular shapes. The two piers at the two ends of the bridge are connected by a soft curved arch, so it is called an arch bridge. The bridge deck is made of large, thick rectangular stone slabs. However, due to the bridge's deterioration, a layer of concrete was spread on top in 1997 when the bridge deck was repaired.
In the past, every time a bridge was completed, the ancients often erected a stele to record the event and engrave the names of those who contributed to the bridge to pass on to future generations. According to that custom, Khao Bridge also had a stele erected at the head of the bridge. The stele is small in size, only 77cm high in total, consisting of three parts: the forehead, the body and the base. The forehead of the stele is in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. The three sides of the forehead of the stele (the front and two sides) slightly protrude from the body of the stele, creating a "roof" to protect the writing on the stele from being eroded by rainwater. The front side has the name of the stele in Chinese characters in the large-character style: "Thạch Kiều Bi Ký" (Stone Bridge Stele Inscription). The two sides are decorated with reliefs of two fully blooming lotus flowers. The body of the stele is in the shape of a flat rectangular block, 48cm wide. The large border of the stele creates a fairly high embossed edge, and the two sides are decorated with two vases facing each other. The inside of the stele is smooth, quite deep, and the Chinese characters are engraved in the foot-style. The content records the construction of the bridge and the names of the benefactors. The stele body has a mortise and tenon foot that fits tightly into the stele base. The stele base is rectangular in shape, decorated with relief on three sides: the front side is a turtle symbolizing longevity and sustainability. The two sides each have a rabbit symbolizing peace and luck. The mascots are all in dynamic positions, within a frame of softly stylized lotus petal motifs. The back side is left plain.
Khao Bridge is the last stone bridge built in Lang Son, like a landmark marking the transition from ancient stone bridges to modern bridges in Lang Son. Along with Da Nham stone bridge (Diem He commune), this is one of two rare ancient stone bridges in Lang Son that still preserve both the bridge and the stele. Currently, the other bridges are all damaged, only the stele remains. |
From the content of the stele, we know valuable information. That is, in the period from May to August of the 7th year of King Thanh Thai's reign (1895), in Huong Bai village, a stone bridge 18 meters wide and 22 meters long was built. The person in charge of the construction was Hua Viet Tang - Tri Chau Van Uyen. In addition, there were also contributions from Chau Uy Dong Dieu Hung and Chanh Canh Dong Viet Tuan. The total amount of money spent on building the bridge was about 475 dong. Of which, most of it was contributed by the dignitaries leading the local government at all levels: Quan Tri Chau Hua Viet Tang contributed 275 dong; Quan Chau Uy Dong Dieu Hung contributed 50 dong. The head of Dong Dang station also contributed 100 dong. This may have been government money but they were the ones who paid in their names. All the people in the commune and village contributed 50 dong...
As a product of village culture, the birth of Khao bridge is also closely associated with the historical context of Lang Son province in the modern period. At the end of the 19th century, Thuy Hung area was Ha Lung commune, Vinh Dat canton, Van Uyen district - only about 6 km from Dong Dang. This canton included eight communes and towns - including Ha Lung commune and Dong Dang town. The year Khao bridge was built (1895) was the time when the French colonialists had not long occupied Lang Son and were gradually implementing the strategy of pacifying their occupied land. Many works were built in the Dong Dang area such as: Dong Dang, Na Han, Bao Lam forts; Nam Quan bunker, road from Dong Dang to Trung Hoa pass, Lang Son, Na Sam; market, native mandarin's residence, martyrs' memorial... The commander of Dong Dang military zone at that time was Captain Louis de Grandmaison. After returning to France, he wrote the book “En Territoire militaire” (In the military zone) about what the French did in the Dong Dang area from 1893 to 1897 to carry out that pacification. The construction of the Khao bridge was also recorded quite meticulously in the section on Material Construction, Bridge and Road Construction: “... Some local leaders of Ha Lung village, a few kilometers from Dong Dang, also came to me to ask to build them a wooden bridge 12-15 meters long, across a canal that could not be washed away by floodwaters, and the people would cover all the costs. I told them to build a stone bridge with two spans and on that auspicious occasion, erect a stele next to the stream with Chinese characters, praying for the blessings of kind-hearted passersby who donated and the name of the architect. Finally, in July 1895, all the essential works for our settlement were completed...”. Captain Louis de Grandmaison was the one who contributed money to build the bridge, mentioned in the Khao bridge stele. That is why, although Khao bridge is a people's bridge in the mountainous region of Lang Son, it has some characteristics of French architectural style. It is a type of arch bridge that the French colonialists built quite a lot in our country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The image of the rabbit on the stele base also tends to have a symbolic meaning of Western culture. Khao bridge is the last stone bridge built in Lang Son, like a landmark marking the transition from ancient stone bridges to modern bridges in Lang Son. Along with Da Nham stone bridge (Diem He commune), this is one of two rare ancient stone bridges in Lang Son that still preserve both the bridge and the stele. Currently, the other bridges are all damaged, only the stele remains.
Recognizing the value of Khao bridge in the system of stone bridge relics in the province, in recent years, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son has always paid attention to preserving and promoting the value of this relic. Since 1999, Khao bridge has been included in the General Inventory of Relics of the Provincial Museum, and at the same time assigned to Thuy Hung commune for direct management. In 2010, when the Khao bridge stele was found buried in the ground during road construction, the Provincial Museum conducted a translation of the stele, conducted preliminary research on its origin, value, and determined its age... Immediately after that, the stele was cleaned and brought to the nearby Hang Pai communal house relic site for preservation. In 2019, Khao bridge continued to be included in the inventory of relics of the province according to Decision No. 73/QD-UBND, dated January 10, 2019 of the Provincial People's Committee. Khao Bridge and its stele are valuable relics and artifacts that clearly reflect the history and culture of villages in the border region of Lang Son. After 130 years, Khao Bridge still silently reflects on the green stream, creating an impressive highlight in the journey to explore the cultural heritage of Lang Son in the modern period.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/cau-khao-di-tich-lich-su-van-hoa-thoi-ky-can-dai-5054719.html
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