Forever echoing the sound of Dong Loc bell

Every day, the Dong Loc bell in Ha Tinh resounds, blending with the spirit of heaven and earth in a sense of respect, gratitude, and pride for the contributions of the heroic martyrs here. There have been countless books and songs about the arduous and sacrificial struggle in this land.

There were many forces participating in the battle at Dong Loc T-junction. These were the Youth Volunteers companies, anti-aircraft artillery units, traffic workers, militia forces, police, medical, postal ... and the people of 6 neighboring communes of Can Loc district. Many people from these forces fell on the Dong Loc T-junction battlefield, including the heroic sacrifice of 10 heroic female Youth Volunteers from Squad 4, Company 552, Youth Volunteers Group 55 Ha Tinh.

Dong Loc fire line in 1968. Documentary photo

To commemorate the heroic martyrs, at the Dong Loc T-junction relic site, many works have been built, including the Dong Loc bell tower, which was built with donations from charitable organizations and individuals, initiated by the "Golden Heart Fund" of the Labor Newspaper, Investment Newspaper and Ha Tinh Provincial Youth Union. The bell tower, designed by the Hanoi University of Architecture, has received comments from experts in architecture, culture, history and spiritual research from all over the country.

The bell was cast in Ngu Xa craft village (Hanoi) by the hands of skilled and talented craftsmen. The bell tower is 7 stories high (36.6m), in the shape of a regular octagon, combining the traditional tower and watchtower form, with a modernized tower body. On top of the tower hangs a bell weighing 5.7 tons and 3.6m high. In 2011, the project with a total cost of nearly 24 billion VND was completed.

To commemorate the heroic martyrs, many structures have been built at the Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site, including the Dong Loc Bell Tower. Photo by Dinh Nhat

Mr. Ha Van Thach - former Head of the Steering Committee for the construction of Dong Loc bell tower shared: “The bell tower has 7 floors, 8 roofs, and a central core. 7 floors represent the sustainable structure of matter, a perfect structure of the universe such as: East, West, South, North; heaven, earth, human or East, West, South, North; past, present, future. The octagonal (8 roofs) represent the harmony of yin and yang, the development of reincarnation, the central core; connecting the traditional cultural and spiritual values ​​of our nation. Looking at the soaring bell tower, we see the great merit of our ancestors throughout the history of building and defending the country; see the fighting spirit and noble sacrifice of our people, of the young generation”.

The bell tower is a cultural and spiritual work that leaves a lasting and everlasting value to the homeland and country, has great significance in educating revolutionary traditions, demonstrating the morality of remembering the source of water for the current generation. "Now the country is peaceful and glorious / Millions of hearts turn to Dong Loc / Sincerely express gratitude, join hands / Cast a bell and hang it in the sky" ⁽¹⁾ ; " The bell will resound forever, glorious for a thousand years / Echoing the hearts of thousands of grateful generations / Millions of people forget themselves for the country / For the glorious day of reunification of the Fatherland" ⁽²⁾ .

Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem - Vice President of the Executive Council and Head of the Propagation Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Executive Committee of the Hanoi Buddhist Sangha, spoke about the meaning of the Dong Loc bell: “That bell is the bell of a thousand years of aspiration for peace; the bell shows gratitude to the children of Vietnam who fell for independence and freedom; hearing the bell is liberated. The bell is a warning to those who are still ignorant and causing hatred and war in the world, please stop.”

Clearing the way for vehicles to the front line at Dong Loc Junction. Photo: document

Cultural heritage researcher, Associate Professor Tran Lam Bien affirmed: “When the bell rings, it sows something spiritual in people’s hearts, reminding them to think of the feats, first of all of the Dong Loc girls. The bell speaks of the glory of this land, of this nation.”

The war has long gone, on the old bomb craters, the mua flowers are still purple with nostalgia; treetops, grass patches are drenched in dew, and the departed have become immortal. Monuments have turned to stone with time, but people's hearts are forever engraved. "Golden fire casts a bell to unite the North and South/ Gathering the sacred energy of heaven and earth to resound/ Praying for the souls to be liberated to nirvana/ Praying for national wealth, people's peace, and a prosperous life" ⁽³⁾ . The gentle and leisurely sound of the bell echoes to the next thousand generations. That one should never forget the past, because a peaceful life originates from the days of life and death that have passed. "The bell rings melodiously/ The sound echoes forever/ Remembering those who have gone far away/ For life to be colorful again/ Plants and grasses to bloom/ Harvesting season" ^(4).

The new generations of citizens in Dong Loc today, in the history books of the country, the homeland still seems to be covered with the dust of war. History does not repeat itself, but the lessons of history are always soaked in blood and flowers.

The graves of 10 heroic female youth volunteers at Dong Loc T-junction. Photo: Dinh Nhat

In the incense smoke, in the admiration for the sacrifices of the previous generation, I was able to calm my soul and feel sorry for my brothers and sisters "Falling before dawn, no longer able to be happy and joyful/ The sound of pine trees filled my soul/ The stream flowed with tears" ⁽⁵⁾ .

“The tower of the people's hearts reaches seven stories and eight roofs/ The eight-way doors radiate high and thick merit/ The bells awaken, thousands of people gather/ The land of Lac Hong joins hands to build” ⁽⁶⁾ . Like a source spreading from here, the sacred place reaches high levels, blessing and protecting thousands of families for peace. The fields of the past were full of deep bomb craters, now the golden rice season is full of grain. The people of Dong Loc today, although still having many worries, have a more fulfilling life. Creation has changed, but the victory of Dong Loc will forever resound “A time of bravery and eternal glory/ ... Thousands of miles of mountains and rivers are famous for their reputation” ⁽⁷⁾ .

Dong Loc Bell Tower blends into the relic complex at Dong Loc T-junction, the sound of Dong Loc bell echoes in the green pine forest, echoes in the souls of the young generation... Photo: Dinh Nhat

The late Professor Vu Khieu (1916-2021) spoke about the eternity of Dong Loc, that is, "Dong Loc will exist forever on this land. As long as the Fatherland and Vietnam's mountains and rivers remain, Dong Loc Junction will remain."

The bell ringing from Dong Loc is a message of history engraved into the eternal space about the great sacrifices of many generations of Vietnamese people and the failure of the war of aggression. The bell always reminds everyone to do everything to protect the independence, freedom, and sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. Let the bell ring forever in a peaceful life.

Today, the land and sky of Dong Loc have changed in a new, rosy color so that anyone who returns to this place, under the blue sky, beside the pine trees, can calm their souls with the sound of Dong Loc bells of today and tomorrow.

(1) "The Ringing of the Dong Loc Bell" - Dang Quoc Vinh

(2), (3), (6) according to "The Bell of Dong Loc" - Le Canh Nhac

(4) “The bell of Dong Loc” - Professor Nguyen Hue Chi

(5) “The bell tolls for the sacred souls of the 10 girls at Dong Loc T-junction” - Professor Vu Khieu

(7) “The stele of the heroic martyrs of Dong Loc” - Professor Vu Khieu.

Phan Trung Thanh