National historical relic Bia Ma Nhai - The eternal epic
(Baonghean) -Con Cuong is endowed by nature with many famous landscapes: Ta Bo stream (Nuoc Moc stream), Tham Nang Man, Tham Hoi (Snail cave) in Yen Khe commune; Pu Mat National Park has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in Western Nghe An; famous historical relics such as Tra Lan Citadel, Vi Van Khang's house and Da Con Chua tree in Mon Son commune,... In particular, with its important historical significance, in August 2011, the Ministry of Culture - Sports and Tourism issued a Decision to recognize the historical relic "Bia Ma Nhai" in Thanh Nam mountain (now in Tien Thanh village, Chi Khe commune) as a national historical and cultural relic.
From Con Cuong Town to Chi Khe Commune, going into the limestone mountain range about 300m to the South, you will admire a unique historical relic - Ma Nhai Stele. This is a stele carved into the stone arch of the mountain, in front of the cave called "Ma Nhai Stele". Ma Nhai Stele is an inscription recording the feats of our generals and people during the Tran Dynasty in defending the border, conquering foreign invaders, reclaiming lost land, demonstrating the prestige of the Dai Viet State in the cause of consolidating the independence of the nation.
Tourists visit the Ma Nhai Stele historical site.
Historical records show that in 1335, the southwest of Nghe An was constantly harassed and robbed of land by outside rebels. The court appointed Nguyen Trung Ngan - a prime minister who was both literary and martial, and had strategic talent, to be the Governor-General, to take care of quelling the rebellion. King Tran Hien Tong also personally went to supervise the battle. The headquarters was located at Cu Don Mountain, Mat Chau (now Tien Thanh village and Thanh village).
At this time, the Tran Dynasty king and mandarins used the tactic of both attacking and recruiting. The rebel groups could do nothing against our army's counterattack. Furthermore, in the face of our army's leniency, the rebel groups gradually withdrew from the border, only Nghich Bong refused to surrender and continued to harass more ferociously.
The Ma Nhai Stele is deeply engraved on the cliff.
Because of urgent government affairs, King Tran Hien Tong had to return to Thang Long. After that, the retired Emperor Tran Minh Tong (real name Tran Manh Cong, who abdicated the throne to his son in 1329), despite his old age, still personally led the army to Mat Chau, together with Nguyen Trung Ngan to suppress the rebels. The two men were of one mind and heart, and had gone through life and death together, and now they fought together. With the combined strength of the generals, along with the steadfastness and bravery of the Tran Dynasty's army, just one first battle made Nghich Bong (a foreign general) "go crazy". Nghich Bong saw that the Tran Dynasty had a strong army, so he quickly retreated, followed the wind and fled, not daring to look back.
With this feat, right on Mat Chau land, the retired Emperor Tran Minh Tong issued an edict to retreat the troops, then ordered Nguyen Trung Ngan to record the glorious feat of the Tran Dynasty's generals and soldiers and our people at that time on a limestone mountain arch called: "Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van" (In the intercalary December of the Khai Huu era, the seventh year of At Hoi).
The Ma Nhai stele is a message reminding future generations to always remember the great contributions of the Tran Dynasty's mandarins and people in protecting the country's borders, a vivid testament, shining forever with the names of the retired Emperor Tran Minh Tong, Prime Minister Le Trung Ngan - the heroic sons of the Vietnamese land. The Ma Nhai stele is an immortal heroic epic about the fight against foreign invaders, protecting the country's borders, about the spirit of solidarity of the Tran Dynasty's mandarins and people, the indomitable will before the enemy, with the aspiration to unify the country, and keep the borders of the Dai Viet people safe.
Nearly 700 years have passed, despite the rain and sun, the stone stele has been eroded by the years, covered with dust by time, but still cannot erase the words of our ancestors engraved deep in the stone, as if wanting to send to future generations forever about the spirit of patriotism, the will of national independence. To make the heroic epic - Ma Nhai Stele shine forever, contribute to educating the spirit of patriotism for future generations, so that descendants will forever remember the merits of our ancestors who bravely fought against foreign invaders, kept the border peaceful, while serving the goal of tourism development, all levels need to pay attention to investing in embellishing, preserving and promoting the quintessence, the eternal value of Ma Nhai Stele. That is also a beautiful feature in expressing the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source" of our nation.
Vi Van Kim
