At the foot of Chieu Bach mountain

Even today, when time and changing circumstances have diminished many values, the presence of ancient temples, pagodas, shrines, and stone steles against a picturesque landscape still manages to paint a picture of a distinctive and unique scenic, historical, and cultural area at the foot of Chieu Bach Mountain (now Yen Son commune, Ha Trung district).

The temple dedicated to General Lê Phụng Hiểu was restored and renovated in 2006.

From afar, Mount Chieu Bach resembles a swallow, hence its other name, Yen Son (Swallow Mountain). It belongs to Binh Lam village (ancient name Hoa Lam), Yen Son commune. The village is situated in a rather special location, with the Len and Chieu Bach rivers flowing through, reflecting the shadows of the moderately high, leafy mountains. It is known that the Hoa Lam area in the past had up to 20 mountains, both earthen and rocky. Among them, the "main mountain" of Hoa Lam is Mount Chieu Bach, with its lush trees and serene landscape. Against this picturesque natural backdrop are a unique and diverse collection of historical sites, including: the Le Phung Hieu Temple, the Cao Son Temple, the Nguyen That Ly Temple, the Lady Chua Temple, Phuc communal house, ancient pagodas, and various stone steles. With its harmonious mountains and rivers, peaceful villages, and rich cultural and spiritual life, Binh Lam is truly a charming place, inviting poets and scholars.

Returning to Binh Lam, to the foot of Chieu Bach mountain, one can explore the typical historical sites and gain a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural heritage of this village. The old river that once flowed close to the mountain is no more; some relics are also a thing of the past. At the foot of Chieu Bach mountain today, the remaining relics such as Phuc communal house, Binh Lam (Chieu Bach) pagoda, the temple of General Le Phung Hieu, and stone steles inscribed with poems... are witnesses to history, whispering stories of the land and people of Binh Lam to visitors from all over.

Hidden in the shadows of the mountains, ancient stone steles recount the stories of the Le kings who once set foot on this land, and, moved by the beauty of this scenic region, composed poems. It was the year Tan Dau (1501), the fourth year of the Canh Thong reign, when King Le Hien Tong returned from the capital Thang Long to visit his ancestral land. After paying respects at the royal mausoleum, he passed through and stopped to admire the scenery of the mountains and rivers of Chieu Bach. Thirteen years later, on another spring day, King Le Tuong Duc moored his dragon boat and visited Chieu Bach to admire the scenery and compose a poem. The words inscribed on the stone, preserved for hundreds of years, reflect the prestige and pride: "...The spring light moves across the blue sky / The high, deserted rocks shimmer in the swirling water / The land and water reflect the jade, gazing ahead / The jade lake reflects the graceful voice of the poet / The mountains are like brocade, the poetry is joyful forever / The Way is far removed from the world, the meaning of the Way is profound..."

While ancient stone tablets recount stories of people visiting the area and composing poems, the Phuc communal house, for generations, has humbly and quietly watched the movements of the Len River in front of it. Elderly villagers say that the communal house was built during the Nguyen dynasty, structured in the shape of the Chinese character "Đinh," consisting of a five-bay front hall with two side wings and a three-bay rear hall. The communal house has undergone many renovations and restorations but still retains its traditional architectural features. The age of the communal house reflects the history of the formation and development of Binh Lam village in particular, and Ha Trung district in general. Phuc communal house is a place that preserves many significant revolutionary events of the village, commune, and Ha Trung district. In 1945, during the General Uprising to seize power for the people, Phuc communal house witnessed the event where the district chief of Ha Trung, Ta Quang De, handed over all his seals and documents to the provisional revolutionary government. To this day, the communal house continues to fulfill its function as a place where villagers gather, discuss common affairs, participate in cultural and artistic activities, and worship the village's guardian deity... Therefore, through countless changes, the image of the banyan tree, the riverside, and the communal house courtyard remain important and indispensable pieces in painting the picture of the village, along with deep memories and nostalgia.

The natural scenery of Chieu Bach Mountain.

The passage of time and the vicissitudes of history diminish many values. But time itself provides the clearest answer regarding the vitality of heritage and historical-cultural values ​​in spiritual life. For example, consider the story of the restoration and renovation of Chieu Bach Pagoda and the shrine of General Le Phung Hieu on this land of Binh Lam.

Mount Chieu Bach is a place associated with the legend of General Le Phung Hieu in his youth. The story goes that Mount Chieu Bach was once home to five fierce tigers, a mother tiger and her cubs, who constantly harassed the villagers. To make a living, young Le Phung Hieu would cross the river daily into the deep, dark Hoa Lam forest to gather firewood. With his unusually strong and tall physique, he helped the villagers eliminate the tigers. Each time he killed a tiger and brought its carcass down the mountain, Le Phung Hieu asked for nothing but a full meal. As a distinguished figure in Vietnamese history, General Le Phung Hieu dedicated his entire life and career to serving the country and its people, achieving many meritorious deeds. Therefore, after his death, many places in Thanh Hoa province worshipped him to commemorate him, expressing their deep admiration, respect, and gratitude.

At Chieu Bach Mountain, the temple dedicated to General Le Phung Hieu (Chieu Bach Mountain God Temple, Bung Shrine) was built during the Ly Dynasty, shortly after his death. During the Hoang Dinh Dynasty, under King Le Kinh Tong, the court urged the temple's renovation and entrusted its care and worship to the local government and people. Previously, the temple had five front halls and two rear halls, facing the Chieu Bach River. Legend says that in front of the temple was a large stone bearing a giant footprint, nearly two meters long and seven decimeters wide. The original temple no longer exists. In 2006, a small worship space was restored at the foot of Chieu Bach Mountain, within the grounds of Chieu Bach Pagoda. Although not as grand or imposing as before, its presence serves as a sacred connection between the past and the present, a heartfelt expression of gratitude from today's generations to their roots and the merits of their ancestors.

The tranquil and elegant beauty of the natural scenery of Chieu Bach Mountain soothes the hearts of visitors. Amidst the regret and melancholy over what has been lost forever, the "revival" of historical sites such as Chieu Bach Pagoda, the shrine of General Le Phung Hieu, and the way generations of local people have worked together to preserve and promote the value of these historical and cultural traditions, has written a beautiful chapter in history.

Hoang Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/duoi-chan-nui-chieu-bach-230685.htm