At the Hung Temple Historical Site, in addition to the 6 main temples, Thien Quang Pagoda and the 6th Hung King's tomb, there are also "destinations" associated with many special legends.
Cycas tree nearly a thousand years old
From the main gate, passing through high stone steps, visitors will first arrive at the Lower Temple. Legend has it that this is where Mother Au Co gave birth to a sac of one hundred eggs, the meaning of “compatriots” (same sac) also originates from here. Next to the temple is Thien Quang Pagoda, whose full name is “Thien Quang Thien Tu” and whose ancient Chinese names were “Vien Son Co Tu” and “Son Canh Thua Long Tu”.
The ancient cycad tree has survived through eight centuries.
Right in front of the temple gate is a 3-top cycad tree with a unique shape, estimated to be over 800 years old. This is one of the oldest trees in Hung Temple. The tree is over 5m high, the base diameter is about 35cm, the trunk is inclined about 30 degrees. From the trunk, 3 branches spread out in different directions, symbolizing the 3 regions of North - Central - South having the same origin.
Under this tree, on September 19, 1954, President Ho Chi Minh listened to comrade Thanh Quang - Chief of the Central Military Commission Office and comrade Song Hao - Political Commissar of the Vanguard Army Corps report on the situation of the Corps and the plan to bring troops back to take over the capital Hanoi .
Stone table set
From Thien Quang Pagoda, climb more than a hundred stone steps to the Trung Temple area, also known as “Hung Vuong To Mieu”. In the middle of the temple yard, visitors will see a stone table with 8 seats. The stones are rustic, discolored over time. Legend has it that this is where King Hung and the Lac Hou and Lac Tuong sat to discuss national affairs.
8-seat stone table set at Trung Temple, Hung Temple Historical Site.
This is the place associated with the familiar legend of “Banh chung, banh giay” which has been passed down through many generations. According to the old legend, Hung Vuong VI organized a competition to choose a successor to the throne. The youngest son Lang Lieu, with his intelligence and filial piety, created two types of cakes in square and round shapes symbolizing heaven and earth, expressing the philosophy of thinking about the universe, expressing the wish for the complete development of the ancient Vietnamese people.
Oath Stone
Located at the highest point on Nghia Linh peak is Thuong Temple. The temple’s name is “Kinh Thien Linh Dien”, meaning the Temple of Heaven on Nghia Linh Mountain. In front of the temple gate, on the right side, there is a large stone pillar called the Oath Stone Pillar, associated with the legend of the oath of Thuc Phan - An Duong Vuong.
Stone pillars associated with the oath to protect the border.
The "Ancient Genealogy of the Eighteen Generations of the Hung Kings" states: "When King Thuc took over the country, out of gratitude for King Due's act of ceding the country, his merit was as great as the heavens and the earth, he sent his envoy to Nghia Linh mountain to build a temple as a place of worship for the country, erected two stone pillars in the middle of the mountain pointing to the sky and prayed: May the high and mighty heavens shine without fail, the Southern country will last forever, the Hung Kings' temple will last forever, if in the future the kings succeeding him and break their oaths, the hammer, the moon, the wind and the ax will punish him so as not to betray the oaths of the previous generations."
In 1968, researchers found ancient stone pillars deep underground in the Upper Temple area and restored and re-erected the stone pillars. In 2010, the old stone pillars were replaced with monolithic agate and have been preserved to this day.
Ancient Well
The ancient well with roof was restored and renovated in 2004.
Ancient Well is associated with the story of mother Au Co giving birth to a hundred eggs.
From the Upper Temple, through the Hung King Tomb, following the stone path of more than 700 steps down to the Well Temple, visitors will encounter a large, covered well, which is the Ancient Well or also known as the Dragon Well. Legend has it that after Mother Au Co gave birth to a sac of one hundred eggs that hatched into one hundred children, she used the water from this well to bathe her children.
In 2002, scientists excavated the Ancient Well and discovered many cultural vestiges of the Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties inside the well.
Jade Well
Right below the Ancient Well, more than a dozen stone steps away, is the Gieng Temple area, where in the past, the two princesses Tien Dung and Ngoc Hoa, daughters of the 18th Hung King, often came to look in the mirror and comb their hair.
Tourists pray reverently at the Jade Well.
In the back of the Gieng Temple, there is still a circular well, called the Ngoc Well, whose Chinese name is Ngoc Tinh. The well is nearly 2m deep, and has very clear and cool water all year round. The bottom of the well is lined with stones, and the well body is made from a single block of stone.
At Gieng Temple, President Ho Chi Minh sat down to talk with officers and soldiers of the Vanguard Army Corps and assigned the task of taking over the capital after the Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954.
Not only having the opportunity to visit ancient worshiping structures and admire meaningful antiques, coming to Hung Temple, visitors will live in the space of the green Hung Temple National Forest Complex, enjoying the fresh, sacred atmosphere of the Ancestral Land.
According to hanoimoi.com.vn
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