Visiting the ancient village of Vân Cổn

Located about 6km from Trieu Son town, there is a centuries-old village situated beside the Nhom River, which is Van Con village in Van Son commune.

The Tia Temple in Van Con village has been recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic.

In the early 19th century, Van Con was a village belonging to Co Dinh (Nong Cong) district. During the reign of Emperor Dong Khanh, due to population growth, the village was recognized as a commune belonging to Yen Dinh district. After 1945, Van Con belonged to An Nong commune.

From 1953 to the present, Van Con has belonged to Van Son commune (Trieu Son district).

Van Con village currently has 4 hamlets, with a total natural area of ​​230 hectares, 800 households, and 3,500 inhabitants (equal to 43.5% of the total population of the commune). Van Con village has many large clans that have settled and established their lives there. Legend has it that during the Ly Dynasty, four families from the Kinh Bac region came to live there, later forming four branches of the Le family: Le Van, Le Quang, Le Trong, and Le Kim. The ancestor of the Le family divided the land, with the Le Van and Le Quang branches in the middle of the village, the Le Kim branch at the beginning, and the Le Trong branch at the end. Over time, the fertile land along the Nhom River became a destination for many families and clans from various regions in the province and district to settle, live, and establish their lives.

According to legend passed down by the villagers of Vân Cổn, during the Lý Dynasty, a military general, under the king's command, led his army to fight the Champa invaders in the South. When passing through the village, he ordered his soldiers to stop and rest. That night, he dreamt of a pink cloud before him, and from within the cloud appeared a celestial general on horseback who descended. The next morning, the Lý Dynasty general set up an altar and prayed to the celestial general for his army's victory, promising to build a temple upon his return. After returning victorious, the general petitioned King Lý Thánh Tông to issue a decree naming the village Vân Cổn, meaning "a swirling pink cloud." He also ordered the construction of a village temple to worship the deity.

On the southwestern slope of Mount Tía, in the village, there has long been a shrine dedicated to Lady Triệu (called Tía Shrine). Legend says that when establishing a base on Mount Nưa (in 248 AD) to fight against the invading Wu Dynasty army, Lady Triệu once visited this area, and it later became one of the operational bases of the rebel army. To commemorate her contributions, the people of Vân Sơn built a shrine to her. Every year, on the 16th day of the 2nd lunar month, Tía Shrine (or Tía Temple) holds a festival, attracting many people to offer incense, visit, and admire the scenery. Currently, Tía Temple has been recognized by the Thanh Hóa Provincial People's Committee as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic and has been restored and renovated to a grand standard, fulfilling the aspirations and spiritual needs of the people.

Following the successful August Revolution, the people of Van Con village, along with the people of the whole country, participated in the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism. Throughout these two wars, hundreds of young people from Van Con village volunteered to defend the Fatherland; 52 martyrs fell and 19 were wounded. The village also has two mothers posthumously awarded the title of Heroic Vietnamese Mother. Many families and individuals have received numerous medals and awards from the Party and the State.

According to Mr. Le Ba Sang, Party Secretary of Van Con village, after the merger according to Resolution No. 786/NQ-UBTVQH14, Van Con village currently has 4 hamlets: Hamlet 5, Hamlet 6, Hamlet 7, and Hamlet 8. In 2021, Hamlet 7 was one of the first two hamlets in Trieu Son district to be recognized as a model new rural area, and is currently developing into a smart village. The material and spiritual lives of the villagers have continuously improved, with an average income of 70 million VND per person per year, and no longer any poor households. On average, around 30 children from the village pass the entrance exams to universities each year. Many children from the village have achieved academic success and hold important positions in state agencies, including 1 professor, 4 PhDs, and 5 colonels...

Continuing that tradition, and in line with the country's renewal process, generations of people from Van Con village have always upheld the traditions of diligence and creativity, the tradition of studiousness, and the fervent patriotism, making important contributions to building a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilized homeland and country.

Text and photos: Khac Cong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ve-tham-lang-co-van-con-220634.htm