(Baonghean.vn) –After more than 500 years, the ancient banyan tree at Van Loc Temple - worshiping the Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Nguyen Su Hoi (eldest son of Grand Master Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi) is still standing strong, becoming an important relic.
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More than 500 years ago, the Grand Marshal of the Navy, Nguyen Su Hoi (the eldest son of Grand Master Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi) returned to the ancient land of Van Loc (Nghi Tan - Cua Lo town today) to establish Cay Bang camp, recruiting soldiers and people from many places to reclaim and expand the land, develop the economy, and many industries were born, especially fishing.In 1506, Nguyen Su Hoi died in Cua Xa. The people mourned him and built a tomb in Lum Co (later moved to Nghi Hop commune, where there is a temple to worship Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi). Nguyen Su Hoi temple was built in 1508. After many restorations and embellishments, the temple still retains its majestic and ancient features. |
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| According to Mr. Phung Ba Diem - Head of the Temple Management Board, a few decades ago there were still 5 "old" banyan trees. But storms and rains have uprooted them and brought them back to history. There is only 1 "old" left on the right side of the upper hall. |
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| After more than 500 years (the temple was built in 1508), the remaining ancient banyan tree retains its ancient features over time. |
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| Because it is over 500 years old, the trunk of the banyan tree at Van Loc temple is almost hollow. There are gaps in the heart of the straight pine tree on the outside that look like the eyes of the tree, also known as "Ancient tree eyes". |
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| Mr. Phung Ba Diem said that the "ancient wood" banyan tree has existed since 1508 until now, so the place where the tree is located is also a sacred place of the temple. |
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| Although it has been more than half a millennium of ups and downs, the leaves on the top of the tree are still green, protecting the fruit trees and the temple grounds below. |
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| A broken branch sprouts green shoots again. |
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| Ms. Dinh Thi Oanh, who is in charge of incense burning at Van Loc communal house, said that a delegation of officials from the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment came to collect samples to calculate the age of the tree, and the "old banyan tree" was determined to be around 500 years old. |
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| Over time with many changes, the banyan tree roots have formed many caves. |
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| Many places on the tree trunk can see through to the garden behind the temple. |
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| "Ancient wooden eyes" of the ancient banyan tree |
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Van Loc Temple faces north, reflecting on the Cam River and is located in the middle of a lively mountain complex of “human and mountain”. Bang Nhan Mountain stands in front; on the right is Dau Rong Mountain; on the left is Voi Mountain, behind is Lo Son Mountain; to the east and south are Lan Chau and Song Ngu islands, Mat island; to the west are Mao Mountain, Co Mountain, Kiem Mountain. The embankment in front of the temple used to be a stone beach. The dozens of tons of stone were brought by Nguyen Su Hoi from Sam Son (Thanh Hoa) to build a sea dike to protect against enemies. |
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| In front of the temple gate there is a 50-year-old jackfruit tree. The jackfruit is edible like figs and bears fruit all year round. |
Tran Hai
