Reflecting on the heritage tree

Late autumn - amidst the days of worrying news of storms near and far - when the first star apples of the season were looming with a golden hue and the nostalgic wind carried the fragrant scent of areca nuts throughout the village, we returned to Bo Ha, Bac Ninh (formerly Yen The, Bac Giang).

The aglaonema tree in Huong Vy communal house, Lang village, Yen The commune, Bac Ninh .

1 The first intention was to find two fig trees in a communal house that were hundreds of years old. But then fate brought us to many more ancient trees that had been honored as heritage trees. Each tree had its own shape, fate and ups and downs covered in green foliage, whispering about many ups and downs.

Find the Bo market village. The communal house is located by the Thuong River, overlooking the rows of shady bamboo. It is the afternoon of the 30th lunar month, so the elders are cleaning and arranging the worship items for the ceremony tomorrow. The communal house yard is large and shady, and I immediately recognized two tall fig trees standing opposite each other. At the base of each tree is a plaque recognizing the heritage tree and the time of recognition (2017). I have also seen many fig trees, but none of them stand facing the riverbank as charmingly as this. And the elders in the past were so kind to plant a pair of trees as companions.

Not only are there two ancient fig trees in the front yard, behind the communal house there is also a banyan tree that is no less old. When walking up to the banyan tree, before reaching the place, you can already smell the sweet fragrance before the rough, patient appearance of the tree trunk appears. Another signboard with the name of the heritage tree, from the same year as the two banyan trees. I have admired two 700-year-old banyan trees at Dong Ngo Pagoda, Thanh Ha, Hai Duong (old). I was so moved by the traces of time and it is the same here. But above the rough bark, the young shoots are still plump, the leaves are still green and the flowers are still pure white in the moss-covered yard, shining in the sun, in the mist and many changes of the times. In a remote communal house with up to 3 living "witnesses" that have existed for centuries, the villagers must be very proud and cherish them!

2 Leaving Bo market communal house following the map, we found our way to Ben Nhan temple. Another temple by the river. And again the bustling atmosphere preparing for the first day of the same village festival. The only difference is that here the women, girls, and sisters are preparing. Offerings, fresh flowers, cakes, etc. Everyone sat together under the thousand-year-old banyan tree, working and chatting. After removing some flower beds and chairs, we saw the sign saying heritage tree. The women enthusiastically told stories about the temple and banyan tree. This is also the place where everyone in the village and commune always comes back to, and organizations and unions also flock to visit.

I walked around the tree, the canopy covered a long row of leaves forming a giant, cool umbrella, the roots sticking out among the luxuriant trunks. Although every village has the shade of banyan trees, in the courtyards of communal houses and temples, I have never seen such a huge and overwhelming banyan tree as this one. The wind rustled through the leaves like the sound of the past, evoking many strange and secret things. When we were about to leave, the ladies warmly invited us to come back to the temple tomorrow to attend the ceremony. We thanked them for their kindness and made an appointment to visit the temple again with the elderly banyan tree another time.

3Continuing the journey, the nearest destination is an extremely interesting heritage tree. It is the cypress tree (actually a Bodhi tree, a Sanh tree and a Banyan tree combined on one trunk) with a circumference of up to 15.7 m at Huong Vy communal house. The most unique point of this tree is the interweaving and intertwining of all three types of trees, harmonizing to the point of not being able to distinguish the boundary. In particular, a large branch of the tree stretches out, extending like a strong, proud arm, occupying almost half of the yard; on it, the leaves and branches still compete and are dense. Looking at one side of the Banyan leaf, the other side of the Bodhi leaf, the other side of the Banyan leaf, one cannot help but admire the ingenuity of creation. Perhaps this is the only tree with such an interesting "three in one". I don't understand what fate brought them together, then shared a house, shared a door and lived together for life.

4Leaving the village communal house, the last stop is the fig tree at Bo Ha communal house. The communal house is right on the main road and also faces the Thuong River. But unlike other communal houses and temples, the space here is wide, airy, clean and is still being expanded and built. When completed soon, this place will be a solemn and bustling construction. In the yard, there are many trees - both new and old, but the most prominent is the tall fig tree in the middle of the yard. The tree's canopy is not wide because it has been neatly trimmed. The old man also told more about the history of this tree, which was several hundred years old. There was a time when the core was burned away because the elders burned incense. Later, thanks to the painstaking work of saving it, it was revived. Perhaps that is why the tree now produces very little fruit, probably focusing on nurturing the leaves and branches.

Returning after an afternoon with a cluster of heritage trees in Bo Ha, although I have not yet visited all the abundant heritage trees in the old Bac Giang - new Bac Ninh land, my heart is still restless and wistful. I am moved by the meaning of life and appreciate more the days I am living, even though I know that life still has many obstacles and difficulties. The green years and the hardy years! I look at the trees to nourish the life's vitality.

Looking at the green leaves shining in the late afternoon sunlight, I suddenly felt moved. The simple green color of the leaves contains hidden vitality and endless inner strength. Trees, like people, must accumulate abundant life force to grow up and overcome storms and tempests. The rough bark will once again sprout green shoots, catching the sun, the wind, and the light of life.

One Last Fragrance

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ngam-cung-cay-di-san-post910383.html