The two ancient lychee trees at Svay Ta Hon pagoda remain lush and green after more than 300 fruiting seasons. Photo: THANH TIEN
A century of lychee fragrance
During my trip back to the heroic land of O Lam, I had the opportunity to revisit the two 300-year-old lychee trees at Svay Ta Hon Pagoda. Returning a second time, I was still delighted to see these two ancient trees. Lychees aren't rare, but these "elderly" lychee trees, over 300 years old, are truly unique! Even though I arrived at the pagoda courtyard at midday, I didn't feel any heat. In the vast courtyard, the two lychee trees provided refreshing shade.
Approaching the trees, one could clearly see the marks of time etched on their aged roots. Meeting Abbot Chau Hen of Svay Ta Hon Pagoda, he was as healthy as he had been a few years ago. When asked about the two lychee trees, Abbot Chau Hen cheerfully replied: “I heard from the elders that the trees’ age matches the age of the pagoda. A senior monk went all the way to Siem Reap (Kingdom of Cambodia) and brought back three lychee trees to plant in the pagoda courtyard. After several hundred years, two of them are still thriving. The abbot and the pagoda’s followers consider them treasures!”
According to Venerable Chau Hen, in the summer, the two lychee trees are lush and vibrant. In the autumn, the leaves are soaked with rain. When spring arrives, the trees stretch to welcome the golden sunlight. In February, the lychees begin to bloom. In March, the first clusters of fruit peek out, their reddish-pink hues visible through the leaf axils. Venerable Chau Hen says that the lychees have a balanced sweet and sour taste, not as intensely sweet as the lychees sold in markets today. Buddhists who come to the temple often ask the Venerable for a few fruits to offer to Buddha, and then enjoy the century-old flavor distilled from their homeland.
Over time, the Svay Ta Hon pagoda has undergone many changes, and the surrounding Khmer villages have also transformed, but only the two lychee trees remain. They have become a part of the history of this land, witnessing countless changes throughout history. Because these two ancient lychee trees are very rare, tourists often stop by to admire them and take pictures. Standing before the two large, old trees, anyone would be amazed by their longevity and steadfastness, having offered hundreds of seasons of ripe fruit.
Possessing unique value, the two lychee trees at Svay Ta Hon Pagoda have been recognized as "Vietnamese Heritage Trees" by the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment. "Because these two lychee trees were passed down from our ancestors, the monks must carefully preserve them and pass them on to the next generation. We hope the trees will always thrive and live a long time so that our descendants can continue to know about the heritage left by our ancestors," shared Venerable Chau Hen.
When the name of a tree becomes the name of a place
Not only the Bay Nui region but also the upstream area of Khanh Binh boasts a rather ancient tree. If you have the chance to visit Khanh Binh commune and ask about the Banyan Tree hill, everyone knows about it. According to the locals who have lived there for many years, the tree must have originated from the time of the first migrants who came to settle and make a living in this upstream area. Mr. Nguyen Van Liet, a resident living near the banyan tree, said: "No one knows exactly when this banyan tree was born. When I was a child, my great-grandfather told me that when he came to this area and built his house, the banyan tree was already very tall. Its circumference is enormous; it would take more than a dozen adults with their arms outstretched to encircle it. By my generation, the banyan tree has lived through four generations of my family!"
According to Mr. Liet, this fig tree is also known by another name: the "cheering fig." Due to the large size of its leaves, when the wind blows, it creates a pleasant sound, like a cheering sound. Previously, the fig tree had a round, full canopy like a giant bonsai. Due to war and time, many branches have broken off. Approaching the tree, one can clearly see the marks of time, with large hollows in the trunk, big enough for children to crawl into to play hide-and-seek.
Because the tree is very old, the local people also place their faith in it. They often refer to the tree as "Ông" (Mr.), setting up a solemn altar to worship it. Next to the tree's base, they have built a shrine to Ông Tà, a type of folk belief closely linked to the spiritual culture of the people in the Mekong Delta. During holidays and festivals, people often come here to pray for peace and success in their work. "During the Pol Pot bombing, the people of this area evacuated from the shelling, and I'm sure no one was left behind in the Banyan Tree area except for 'him.' After the war, people returned to their homeland, and the banyan tree was still there. To this day, the people living in the area still cherish the banyan tree very much," Mr. Liệt recounted.
Having the opportunity to visit the banyan tree, one truly sees its majestic grandeur. Its enormous canopy provides shade over a vast area. Local children often gather under its shade, laughing and joking just like their parents' generation did. Beyond mere belief, locals say the banyan fruit has medicinal properties for treating stomach aches. It resembles a fig; when unripe, it's sour and astringent, but when ripe, it's slightly sweet.
Through countless seasons of rain and sunshine, the ancient banyan tree remains lush and green on the Banyan Tree Hill, witnessing generations of people being born and growing up to build this upstream region. With its spiritual value closely intertwined with the lives of the people, the banyan tree needs to be better protected and preserved so that it may forever flourish, retaining a part of the history of development of the sweet, fertile upstream region of An Giang .
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/cay-tram-tuoi-giu-hon-que-a481423.html
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