A place of magnificent scenery and sacred energy!

“Oh, the beautiful mountains and rivers, the profound and glorious reputation. The future will follow in those footsteps (...). May this land and its people forever be ranked among the most famous places!” These were the heartfelt words of Nguyen Thuong Hien, a Second-Class Doctor of Philosophy during the Nguyen Dynasty, when speaking about the strategically important land of Thanh Hoa.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Site.

There's an interesting observation that the essence of nature, however beautiful, creates mountains and rivers, but it becomes meaningless if people don't see its beauty, value, and possess it. Perhaps that's why the ancients often "inspired their emotions upon the scenery," because natural landscapes can evoke profound feelings in the soul, stimulating creativity and allowing words to flow from the pen, "releasing" intense emotions? Ultimately, however, for a poet's soul to be moved by the scenery, that scenery must be either a place of "renowned beauty and picturesque waters" or a place where "sacred energy converges."

On one occasion, upon returning to pay homage at the royal mausoleum, encountering the scene of "warm mountains and spring flowers and grasses" at Long Ham Mountain, the Lord of Thien Nam Cave - Emperor Thanh Tong Thuan - was inspired by the scene and composed the following poem: "The beautiful scenery on the green mountain slope makes me feel nostalgic / Looking far into the vast universe / Thinking that after completing the task of sealing the jade box / Unexpectedly wandering to the edge of the world / Leisurely clouds cover the ground, unswept / Empty houses shrouded in mist / Winding streams beside the deserted forest / Especially welcoming the royal carriage and the green flowers."

The scenic spot that stirred the poetic soul of the "Lord of Thien Nam Cave," inspiring admiration, was none other than Ham Rong – "the land where dragons reside." However, looking across the Thanh Hoa region, it's not just the ancient, legendary land of "Dragons playing with pearls, Cranes swimming in the city," but also countless other beautiful landscapes: mountains and rivers, high peaks and white clouds, water and sky in one color, a paradise far removed from the dust of the world... Therefore, Professor Hoang Xuan Han once affirmed: "With its mountains and rivers and scenic spots, nowhere in Vietnam is as rich and beautiful as Thanh Hoa !" At the same time, Second-Class Doctor Nguyen Thuong Hien couldn't help but exclaim: "The scenic beauty of mountains and rivers is where people and things are connected; within that beautiful space, fame resounds (...). A slab of stone at Thuy Son, leaning against the clouds and looking south. Long Mountain stretches for a thousand meters, with Minh Chau Mountain in front. The inscription of a poem by King Thuan Hoang is still clearly visible in the mountain cave. The Bo Dien mountain range, shrouded in mist and wind, reflects the majestic wind of Le Hai Vuong, which is still praised today. A slab of stone at Tay Giai citadel withstands wind and rain, allowing people to both weep and sing with joy. Nua Mountain is verdant, far beyond the earthly realm; seeing the scene of a woodcutter reading a book, the scene of immortals singing, suddenly makes one want to leap over the wind and fly. Oh, the beautiful mountains and rivers, the profound and sacred voice. The future will follow in those footsteps (...). May this land and country forever be ranked among the famous places."

Located on the S-shaped strip of land with its "endless beauty," and often described as a "miniature Vietnam," Thanh Hoa boasts numerous natural wonders and historical and cultural values, creating a unique and special appeal for a land deeply marked by time, intensity, and a touch of mystery. From the high mountains to the sea, every place offers breathtaking scenery that stirs the human spirit. There are majestic forests and challenging ravines – where nature displays all its power, might, value, beauty, and allure. There is the vast ocean – sometimes fierce, sometimes gentle – lying beneath a shimmering, sweet golden layer of sunlight, allowing human emotions to paint its vibrant colors... Legendary stories about the formation of rivers and mountains still etched on every rock, interwoven across the majestic forests, and still echoing in the depths of the ocean, always amaze people with the immense power of nature.

Because of the "spiritual essence" forged from time immemorial, this land has accumulated a rich and valuable cultural heritage. From the dawn of time, when humans first established their presence on earth, Thanh Hoa has left behind numerous traces of prehistoric people. Simultaneously, it reflects the fierce desire for survival of our ancestors, which can awaken in each person a sense of pride and a powerful spirit of praise. For, throughout humanity's long journey of thousands of years, facing sun and rain, light and darkness, erosion and deposition, and the terrifying mysteries of nature, to build human society, Thanh Hoa has "dedicated" to the nation many civilizations and cultures along the banks of the Ma River. The Mount Do site – a place that "witnessed the fierce and arduous struggle of our ancestors against all the obstacles of nature," or a place that "witnessed the first seeds of human talent and creativity." The Dong Son culture is a vivid testament to the ability of the ancient Vietnamese people in Thanh Hoa to master the plains. From Mount Do to Dong Son, the nation progressed from a rudimentary civilization to one of the most brilliant peaks of ancient Vietnamese civilization. To put it vividly, "from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, from the unconscious to the conscious, it is a relentless, arduous process of striving for upward growth, a profound cultural depth spanning generations."

Ba Trieu Temple Festival.

The most vivid evidence of Thanh Hoa's rich cultural heritage is perhaps its tangible heritage. From the isolated stone foundations amidst the reeds, bearing witness to a period of decline, as seen in the lines "The ancient traces of carriages and horses, the soul of autumn grass / The old foundation of castles, the shadow of the setting sun," to the now revived Lam Kinh, the "memorial capital," which has become an unmissable historical and cultural destination when visiting Thanh Hoa. Or the Ho Dynasty Citadel, considered "a materialized message from our ancestors to future generations"—a brilliant "message" about a turbulent period in history, built with the sweat, intellect, and even blood of our forefathers. This UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage site was once listed among the 21 most beautiful world heritage sites (as selected and published by the prestigious CNN in 2015). The more than 600-year-old stone citadel – “a prominent symbol representing the new style of Southeast Asian royal courts” – is compared to world heritage sites renowned for their grandeur, magnificence, and mystery, such as Valletta (Malta), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Bagan (Myanmar), or the Acropolis (Greece)... Moreover, every scenic spot here is shrouded in a mystical legend. There's the story of Mai An Tiem and the watermelon, or the journey of humankind in reclaiming and cultivating the land, struggling to conquer and master nature. It's also the place "with a path to heaven," where a single misstep by Tu Thuc meant a lifetime. And there's the story of Binh Khuong throwing herself into the stone, carving a tearful tale at the foot of the ancient citadel walls...

“Thanh Hoa is a land of emperors for hundreds of thousands of years. It is a place of spiritual significance and outstanding people, with pure and beautiful customs.” Therefore, since the dawn of the nation's founding, Thanh Hoa has given birth to and nurtured many heroes and valiant figures whose names and achievements are etched in history and will be remembered for millennia. These include the aspiration to “ride the strong winds, trample the fierce waves, and slay the whales in the East Sea” of the female hero Trieu Thi Trinh, whose uprising shook the entire Giao Chau region. There is the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard, General Le Hoan, who “recreated a Bach Dang River, created a Chi Lang Pass,” ushering in the era of Dai Viet's hundred victories against the Northern feudal regime. There is the ten-year uprising of Binh Dinh King Le Loi, which ended two decades of Dai Viet's humiliation and suffering under the brutal and unforgiving Ming dynasty; At the same time, it laid the foundation for the birth of the most prosperous Later Le Dynasty in the nation's history... Moreover, Thanh Hoa is historically recognized as a sacred land, the birthplace and origin of the Le Dynasty, the Nguyen Lords, and the Trinh Lords. The Le, Trinh, and Nguyen dynasties left a very deep mark on the historical process of preserving and developing the Dai Viet nation into an increasingly prosperous one.

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Thanh Hoa province, "the place with the most beautiful nature, as well as the richest historical memories and legends in Indochina" (H. LeBreton), will forever be a place that captivates the hearts and minds of those who love beauty. And then, those souls easily moved by such beauty – like a taut string that, with just a gentle touch of emotion, will resonate with endless melodies of love for their homeland and the aspiration for the enduring existence of the nation.

Text and photos: Khoi Nguyen

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/995-nam-danh-xung-thanh-hoa-danh-ky-thuy-tu-khi-thieng-hoi-tu-213556.htm