Floating Stone Palace in the middle of the field

Floating Stone Palace is located in the middle of the field.

Leave a mark on the pioneers

On the weekend, I had the opportunity to cross the Mac Can Dung canal to bridge number 10, then turn right along the S-shaped canal running along the vast fields. This season, each plot of young rice plants dyes the entire field green, creating a picture of a rich countryside. Running along the canal for about 5km is the gate of Dinh Da Noi. Running across the cast-iron bridge over 100m long from the canal bank to the high mound, the scene looks very peaceful. Sitting under the shade of an ancient star tree to cool off, Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan (Head of the Quy Te Committee of Dinh Da Noi) and the villagers told stories about doing volunteer work every day here.

Referring to the legend of Dinh Da Noi, Mr. Tuan said that about 100 years ago, Mr. Nguyen Van Anh (Ut Anh) and his wife, Mrs. Do Thi Anh, came to this land to reclaim land to grow seasonal rice and raise buffaloes. At that time, this area was still wild, people had to stay up late and wake up early. When the sun was about to set, people quickly returned home because the fields were very far from their homes. To make it easier to take care of the fields, every day Mr. Ut Anh and his wife carried soil to build a high mound, and set up camp to live. In the wild, finding a source of drinking water was very difficult, so the couple worked hard to dig wells to get water for daily use.

While digging the well, they discovered underground many cups, bowls, and plates made of earthenware lying around, most of them not intact. Continuing to dig deeper, they discovered some large pillars. Mr. Ut Anh believed that this was a logistics area related to the Lang Linh - Bay Thua uprising led by Quan Co Tran Van Thanh against the French. Therefore, he temporarily built a small house for folk worship. Today, in front of the Da Noi palace yard, there is still a pond of about 200 square meters, with a few lotus plants growing sparsely, storing water all year round. According to the locals, this pond never dries up or is contaminated with alum.

Although they no longer use the water in the pond, the villagers still preserve it, reminding the next generation to be grateful to their ancestors for conquering nature and opening up the land. At that time, farmers in the area had a good harvest and had plenty to eat. They gathered together to contribute their efforts and money to renovate a spacious house to worship Quan Co Tran Van Thanh. However, after the renovation, the house was only about 2 square meters wide, with 3 small altars: worshiping Tam Bao, worshiping Quan Co Tran Van Thanh and worshiping the nine generations. Then the villagers discussed with each other, choosing the 21st - 22nd of the second lunar month every year as the day to offer rice to Mr. Tran Van Thanh. They have not yet thought of a name for this worshiping house.

The floating stone was built and preserved by the people.

The story of the "sacred" stone in the middle of the field

Around 1930, Mrs. Do Thi Anh's brother (Mr. Do Van Cam) discovered a rock in an empty area near the temple of Quan Co Tran Van Thanh. He then informed the local people of this strange news. In 1936, the people in the area came to rebuild the temple of Quan Co made of bamboo and leaves, and named it Dinh Da Noi. Currently, Dinh Da Noi is built spaciously and neatly on a high mound of land. Every day, the temple is carefully watched by the people to burn incense.

Crossing a small wooden bridge, following the ditch, running about 300m, we asked the farmers who were tending the rice about the floating stone, and they enthusiastically guided us. Entering deep into the rice field, we saw a small shelter. At the bottom of the valley was a round stone, looking very mysterious, carefully preserved. Strangely, in the middle of the vast field there was a stone floating, with a diameter of about 1m. The farmers here said that, in the past, they tried to use human strength to pry it up, but failed. Since then, people have built and maintained a camp to preserve it until today.

There are many mysterious stories surrounding the stone. Not knowing where the sacred rumors originated, some superstitious people came to pray and ask for all kinds of fortune. Then, from the inanimate stone, people "sanctified" it into a sacred object. The day we stood admiring the stone, we saw a few people come here to pray. When they saw us raising their cameras to take pictures, they hurriedly avoided us, for fear of being published in the newspaper.

Currently, Da Noi Palace is built with a 3-room, 2-wing architectural style, enhancing the aesthetics and ancient beauty. Inside, two national heroes Tran Van Thanh and Nguyen Trung Truc are worshiped. The walls are decorated with many paintings with the theme of the life and career of Quan Co Tran Van Thanh from the time he became an official to studying Buddhism with the Tay An Buddhist master, leading the Gia Nghi army to fight against the French.

Visitors to Dinh Da Noi, in addition to visiting and worshiping, can also sit and enjoy the cool breeze under the shade of ancient trees, listening to stories about the process of reclaiming land, conquering nature, and establishing villages by our ancestors. Occasionally, they can feel the cool breeze blowing through the fields, making their souls more profound.

Dinh Da Noi has a history of formation and development of 100 years. Through the ups and downs of history, the palace has been restored and repaired. This is considered a folk religious work built according to traditional Southern architecture, closely associated with the land of Lang Linh in the past.

LUU MY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/dinh-da-noi-giua-dong-a420409.html