The story of the treasure on the mountain that once had a false reputation

TTRANSMISSION "Bat Nghia Son"

Follow Highway 15 then turn into Rao Tru valley (Truong Xuan commune, District.Quang Ninh), where there are overlapping rocky mountains, Than Dinh mountain appears with majestic power. For a long time, this sacred mountain has become a "screen" to protect and shelter the spiritual life of the people. Quang Binh.

Living at the foot of the mountain since the years when Rao Tru valley was still deserted, Mr. Nguyen Duc Khang (68 years old, Rao Da village, Truong Xuan commune) still remembers the thrilling stories at this mountain. "I have researched and read documents recorded about Than Dinh mountain. It is quite surprising that a mountain that the people here worship and are sacred has a legend of being called an ungrateful mountain", Mr. Khang shared.

According to legend, the mountain was named “Bat Nghia” since the Le Dynasty. At that time, the king was on a march to fight the Champa army and stopped at Than Dinh Mountain. After observing for a while, he discovered that along the Truong Son range, all the mountains faced west, except for this mountain which faced the opposite direction. “This king ordered his soldiers to attack the mountain as a punishment to show the power of a king. Even if he was a god, being unrighteous and opposing the king would still be punished. The king called it Bat Nghia Son,” Mr. Khang recalled. This strange story is still circulated among the people.

Over time, Than Dinh Mountain is still considered a place where the essence of heaven and earth converges, where animals come to live, where people worship, and on the top of the mountain there are still traces of an ancient temple hundreds of years old.

NTREASURE NOTES

On the top of Than Dinh Mountain, there are still very old relics, especially Kim Phong Pagoda, also known as Non Pagoda. Since then, this mountain has become sacred, many Quang Binh people do not hesitate to climb thousands of steps to visit the pagoda, praying for peace at the beginning of the year.

Mr. Khang also learned about the stories associated with this ancient pagoda, especially about the treasure hidden in the pagoda. Many times he met strangers from other places who came to "inquire" about the precious treasure that was said to be in Kim Phong pagoda. "During the time I was an official at the Commune People's Committee, I once met two strange men who came here to stay for a few days to learn about the story of the treasure in Kim Phong pagoda," Mr. Khang said seriously.

According to Mr. Khang, after the Nguyen Dynasty collapsed, many people found a book kept in the Hue capital that recorded the story of a large amount of treasure kept in Kim Phong Pagoda. Following that story, people flocked to Than Dinh to dig for treasure. However, besides the available items in the pagoda, people only found stone jars used to store rice.

Today, near Kim Phong Pagoda there is a small temple, protected and worshiped by the people. About 100 meters from the pagoda is the entrance to the fairy well, where cool water flows from the mountain, it is said that drinking it will bring good health, less illness and disease.

Having gone through many historical ups and downs, being forgotten and damaged by treasure hunting, Than Dinh Mountain and Kim Phong Pagoda are still majestic and maintain their position in the spiritual life of Quang Binh people. The thrilling anecdotes make the sacred mountain more mysterious and attractive than ever.

Every year, on the occasion of Lunar New Year, tourists from inside and outside Quang Binh province flock to Than Dinh mountain. They bring flowers, water bottles and prepare enough health to climb more than 1.200 steps leading to Kim Phong pagoda. To conquer Than Dinh mountain and return to the foot of the mountain, pilgrims have to walk for hours. Although quite tiring, this activity is a familiar spiritual habit of the people here with the wish that the gods will grant them a year full of luck, health and peace. (to be continued)