National treasures and aspirations at the Swan Tower.

Evidence of the early days of Buddhism in Nghe An

Located within the grounds of Hong Long Temple, a national historical monument and a highly sacred site in the cultural and spiritual life of the local people, lies the remains of the Yan Tower. Walking on the ancient ground with the Chairman of the Hong Long Commune People's Committee, Pham Hong Son, and directly touching the bricks stained by time, listening to the stories passed down through generations about this Buddhist structure dating back 14 centuries, we were truly captivated by the mysteries surrounding the tower. So many questions about this ancestral work, even in its ruins, lingered in our minds.

The remains of the foundation of the Nhạn Tower in Hồng Long, Nam Đàn, were built in a stepped manner. Photo: Thành Duy

From the 1930s, French scholars came to study the site, but it wasn't until 1985 that the mysteries beneath Hong Long were truly revealed when Vietnamese archaeologists, along with the provincial Department of Culture, excavated the foundation of the Nhan Tower. Behind layers of vegetation, only the foundation of the Nhan Tower, 0.95m deep and built in stepped levels, remained. Strangely, the bricks were arranged with irregular joints and no binding material. Here, researchers collected 318 artifacts, including various types of tiles and bricks of different sizes and patterns.

Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the caretaker of Hong Long Temple, showed me a brick with a relief of a seated Buddha on a lotus pedestal, believed to have been used to decorate the tower's walls. A noteworthy detail is that the brick bears the inscription "Trinh Quan 6th Year," meaning it was made in the 6th year of the Trinh Quan era (623 AD) during the Tang Dynasty (China). Based on this clue, it is believed that the Yan Tower was built in the early 7th century.

But that's not the most remarkable and captivating aspect of the Swallow Tower. During the excavation of its base, archaeologists discovered a reliquary box. The excavation report clearly states: "This is perhaps the first time such a box has been found in Vietnam. The box, made of pure gold, was crafted by a goldsmith using a cold-forging method. This type of box is very similar to the lacquered reliquary boxes found in Myanmar."

Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the caretaker of Hong Long Temple, introduces a brick from the Nhan Tower featuring an image of Buddha seated on a lotus pedestal. Photo: Nhat Le

The reliquary box is divided into two parts: the lid and the body. The lid is rectangular, with slightly concave edges, resembling the eaves of a roof. The top of the lid is decorated with a band of small, six-petaled chrysanthemums. The body is rectangular, with finely crafted edges. Around the body is a band of stylized lotus flower patterns. According to researchers, the construction date of the pagoda and the date of the reliquary box's burial are the same, and this discovery also reveals to posterity some aspects of early Buddhism in Nghe An province.

The relic box found at Thap Nhan Tower is one of three artifacts discovered in Nghe An that have been recognized as national treasures by the Prime Minister.

Concerns of future generations

Located on the left bank of the Lam River, the Nhan Tower relic boasts unique architectural features, a rich history, and exquisite artistic craftsmanship rarely found elsewhere. Sadly, however, this relic remains largely undiscovered. Mr. Pham Hong Son, Chairman of the Hong Long Commune People's Committee, is a local resident who has worked in the commune's cultural sector for many years. In his stories about the Nhan Tower, the Chairman expresses his fervent hope that one day this relic will be restored and its rare values ​​fully realized.

Chairman of Hong Long Commune People's Committee Pham Hong Son (left) introduces the Nhan Tower historical site. Photo: Nhat Le

Since 2012, the People's Committee of Hong Long commune has submitted a proposal to the People's Committee of Nam Dan district and relevant agencies requesting their opinions on the restoration of Nhan Tower. Subsequently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the Department of Culture and Sports, and Nam Dan district have taken many steps to implement the necessary measures to preserve and restore the historical relic of Hong Long Temple and restore Nhan Tower. The detailed plan for the investment project to preserve and restore the historical relic of Hong Long Temple and restore Nhan Tower was also announced a few years ago on the main road in Nhan Thap hamlet, right before the road leading to the relic.

However, to this day, despite the planning documents fading with time, the project remains only on paper. Mr. Pham Hong Son stated: "Since 2015, the relevant agencies, along with the commune and 11 affected households, including 4 households that need to be relocated, have drawn up a land acquisition agreement. The residents have also agreed and signed the agreement, but the project has yet to be implemented."

Reportedly, in May, the Nghe An Department of Culture and Sports held a meeting to review the design drawings for the restoration of this historical site, with the participation of the industry's scientific council, representatives from the Nam Dan District People's Committee, and the consulting unit. Following the meeting, the Director of the Department of Culture and Sports also issued a notice clearly outlining the necessary steps to be taken before submitting the design for approval.

The detailed plan for the investment project to preserve and restore the historical relic of Hong Long Temple and reconstruct Nhan Tower, which was published recently, has faded with time. Photo: Thanh Duy

The discovery of the Nhan Tower and its hidden secrets provides future generations with a treasure trove of invaluable knowledge, helping us to understand a period of development of the land and people of Nghe An province over time. Therefore, the timely restoration and preservation of the Nhan Tower is not only the aspiration of the people of Hong Long (Nam Dan) but is also essential for more professional management and protection of the monument, preventing objective and subjective impacts that could erode it, and ultimately answering the questions of future generations…