Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van - Deserving of being recognized as a National Treasure

Carved directly into the limestone cliff nearly 700 years ago, the stele is not only a testament to the glorious feat of Emperor Tran Minh Tong in the conquest of foreign invaders, but also a symbol ofspirit of territorial defense and profound humanitarian consciousness of the Vietnamese peopleWith its special historical, cultural and scientific value, this stele is completely worthy of being recognized as a National Treasure.

Grinding mountain to engrave stele

After three great victories over the Mongol Empire, the Tran Dynasty quickly began to restore and develop the country. Under the reign of wise kings and talented ministers, the prestige of Dai Viet grew stronger and stronger. However, during this time, local chieftains as well as neighboring countries often sent troops to harass the border areas. After defeating Nguu Hong in Da Giang, the Ai Lao lord Bong caused trouble in the western border area of ​​Nghe An.

The retired emperor Tran Minh Tong personally led six troops to fight the Bong rebels in the year At Hoi, the 7th year of Khai Huu (1335). After seeing the great power of the Tran army, the Bong rebels fled, the retired emperor immediately ordered the Transport Envoy Nguyen Trung Ngan to compose this article and carve it on the Tram Huong mountain wall to commemorate the victory. This stele was named "Ma nhai ky cong bi van" (the stele commemorating the victory carved on the rock mountain) by historians in the National History Institute of the Nguyen Dynasty, also known as Thanh Nam stele. According to the content engraved on the stele, the power of the Tran army made the Bong rebels panic and flee without needing a bloody battle. After the victory, the retired emperor ordered the Transport Envoy Nguyen Trung Ngan - a famous Confucian scholar of the Tran Dynasty - to compose the article and carve it on the Tram Huong mountain wall to commemorate this event.

With only 14 lines and 155 words, the short but concise stele clearly demonstrates the "resounding prestige" spirit of the Tran Dynasty, while also sending a warning message to forces intending to invade Dai Viet's borders.

This event was not only a military feat but also had profound political significance. The fact that Emperor Tran Minh Tong personally led the army not only to quell the rebellion but also to assert territorial sovereignty, marking a stone “milestone” in the southwestern region of Nghe An.

Unique value

The Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van stele possesses characteristics that make it a unique artifact. This is an original, unique artifact, remaining intact after nearly 700 years of ups and downs. The stele was placed on a limestone mountain, has no decorative motifs, no stele name, but the content does not match any other stele of the same period. It is the only ancient Tran Dynasty stele discovered in Nghe An, and is the second oldest Ma Nhai stele in Vietnam to date.

In the overall Vietnamese stele literature, this is the only stele associated with the career of protecting the country's borders of the Tran Dynasty emperors. This is also a unique and rare heroic piece of literature from the Tran Dynasty in Nghe An in particular and Vietnam in general.

In Vietnam, the earliest recorded stele is the stele of the Kien Hung 2nd year (314) of Thanh Hoai village temple, Thanh Khuong commune, Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province. Most of the stele dates mainly from the Later Le dynasty and the Nguyen dynasty, while there are very few stele from the Ly and Tran dynasties and earlier.

The Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van stele is currently the only stele of the Tran Dynasty in Nghe An province. This is also a unique stele because it was carved directly on the rock mountain, while other steles are all manufactured. These steles often record the marches or tours of kings, such as the Ma Nhai stele "Personally conquering Phuc Le Chau Deo Cat Han" in Lai Chau and Hoa Binh by King Le Thai To, the Ma Nhai stele "Que Lam royal preparation" by King Le Thai Tong, or the poems carved on the cliffs at Ho Cong cave by King Le Thanh Tong, King Le Hien Tong, Lord Trinh Sam, Prime Minister Nguyen Nghiem...

The oldest stele in Vietnam is the stele (without a name) carved on the cliff of Co Phong mountain (also known as Lien Hoa mountain), Phong Phu village, Ninh Giang commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province, bearing the Kien Gia era (1211-1224); and ranked after that is the Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van stele bearing the Khai Huu era 7 (1335) at Tram Huong mountain, Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district, Nghe An province. This is also the oldest stele in Central Vietnam today.

Besides being one of the two oldest Ma Nhai steles in our country, Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van stele, although only 14 lines with 155 words, is a large stele (213cm x 155cm). What is quite interesting is that its letters are record-breakingly large, worthy of being ranked among the stone stele with the largest letters in Vietnam. According to preliminary measurements, each letter has an average diameter of about 10.5cm. The largest and most important book on Vietnamese geography under the feudal period, Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi, clearly states: "... letters as big as a hand, engraved more than 1 inch deep into the stone, still remaining today".

Thus, this is a very special type of record, often appearing in border areas and areas with many rocky mountains. Due to its fixed nature, the stele cannot be moved, thus further affirming the authentic value of the content conveyed by the stele. This is truly a particularly rare document in interdisciplinary scientific research.

The current state of the stele is also a miracle. Despite nearly seven centuries, thanks to its location under a protruding rock and natural cover of bushes, the stele still maintains its amazing integrity, defying both time and harsh nature. This not only demonstrates the stone carving talent of the ancients but also affirms the genuine, irreplaceable value of the artifact.

Historical significance and humanistic spirit

The Ma Nhai Ky Cong Stele inscription not only provides many rare sources of information in the fields of calligraphy, fine arts, and historical geography, but also helps in the study of history, calendars, and writing during the Tran Dynasty.

Stele affirming the territory and borders of the Fatherland

The Northwest or Southwest of Nghe An has always been considered an important area by feudal dynasties. Since the Ly Dynasty, there has been a policy of defense from afar. History also recorded that: dozens of times King Ly and his talented generals led troops to conquer the western border. The Tran Dynasty also continued the policy of the Ly Dynasty, there were up to 9 times of conquest here. In the 7th year of Khai Huu reign of the Tran Dynasty, Ai Lao disturbed the western border of our country, and the retired Emperor Tran Minh Tong personally led the army as a general to suppress it. Although the Tran Kings did not claim the title of Dong Chu like the kings of the early Le Dynasty, they were always conscious of composing literature carved on the stone mountains, both commemorating the victories and creating "landmarks" to mark the demarcation of the territory. The stele "Ma nhai ky cong bi van" carved by Hoang Giap Nguyen Trung Ngan on the cliff of Tram Huong mountain in the winter of At Hoi year under King Tran Hien Tong is the clearest proof of our ancestors' consciousness of preserving the territory in the past.

Inheriting that will, under the Le So Dynasty, in just three reigns, King Le Thai To, King Le Thai Tong and King Le Thanh Tong led troops to conquer rebellious chieftains who wanted to completely separate from the influence of Dai Viet eight times. As King Le Thai To concluded:

Lava carving exam

The Viet Tay town fell.

(Poem engraved on rock mountain)

To guard the West of our Vietnam)

Thus, writing or composing poems and carving them into rocks in places where our army personally visited was like a firm affirmation of the nation's territorial sovereignty.

The stele praises the humanistic spirit in military art.

In the context of war, humanity and peace have become extremely important concepts to preserve human life. War always brings pain, loss and suffering to humanity, making us deeply feel the value of peace. Instead of using violence and force, the application of deterrence, dialogue and mutual understanding between parties should be promoted to end conflicts.

The stele records the Tran Dynasty's victory against the Ai Lao invaders. However, it does not mention any scenes of killing or bloody fighting, but only mentions that our army showed its morale and prestige to make the invaders retreat, and our king immediately brought his troops back. Our country protected the border but there was no loss of life between the two sides. This clearly shows the transmission of profound strategic thinking, emphasizing avoiding war with intelligence and strategy, instead of relying solely on force to win. It shows humanity and wise political strategy, minimizing damage to both sides, showing the wisdom and noble qualities of the Vietnamese people under the Tran Dynasty imbued with Buddhist compassion.

Peace is the goal to aim for. Perhaps it was later that Nguyen Trai, the national hero and world cultural celebrity, demonstrated the art of "fairness" through his brilliant political strategies in the Lam Son uprising. The strategy of "hitting the hearts of the people" was the outstanding method that helped him and Le Loi subdue the Ming army without having to use force. His work "Binh Ngo Dai Cao" is not only a declaration of independence but also reflects the ideology of humanity, patriotism, love for the people, and the clear justice of the resistance war.

The mark of Confucian scholar Nguyen Trung Ngan

Unlike other stone steles, the Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van Stele is carved directly on the rock mountain and does not clearly state the author, the writer, or the decorative motifs. However, it is mentioned in official history books such as Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu by Ngo Si Lien or Kham Dinh Viet Su Thong Giam Cuong Muc by the National History Institute of the Nguyen Dynasty and states that the author is Nguyen Trung Ngan - the first-class graduate of the Giap Thin exam, the 12th year of the Hung Long reign of King Anh Tong of the Tran Dynasty (1304).

He held many important positions in the royal court such as Inspector, Censor-in-Chief of the Imperial Censorate, Deputy Envoy of the Privy Council... In particular, in the year of Giap Dan (1314), he was sent as an envoy to the Yuan Dynasty. In 1341, he was assigned to hold the position of Kinh Su Dai Doan (equivalent to the position of Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee today) and was the most famous Kinh Su Dai Doan in the history of Thang Long - Hanoi.

Therefore, in Hanoi today, there are up to 7 temples worshiping him. Phan Huy Chu rated him as one of the 10 meritorious assistants of the Tran Dynasty, on par with General Tran Quang Khai, Mac Dinh Chi, Truong Han Sieu, Doan Nhu Hai, and Pham Su Manh.

Not only was he a famous mandarin in politics, he was also a talented writer, poet, and composer. Regarding law, he and Truong Han Sieu compiled the Penal Code and the Royal Code, which are no longer extant. Regarding poetry, he left behind about 84 poems scattered in poetry collections by later authors such as Viet Am Thi Tap by Phan Phu Tien, Nam Ong Mong Luc by Ho Nguyen Trung, Hoang Viet Thi Tuyen by Bui Huy Bich, and Toan Viet Thi Luc by Le Quy Don. Because of his literary talent, the Retired Emperor always ordered him to accompany him to compile the real records. Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van is his only remaining literary work.

In particular, in Nghe An, the Nguyen Cong family in Thai Son commune, Do Luong district is considered to be the lineage of Nguyen Trung Ngan. The Nguyen Cong family temple in Thai Son commune, Do Luong district has been recognized by Nghe An province as a "Historical and cultural relic at the provincial and city level". The Nguyen Tai family in Thanh Van commune, Thanh Chuong district is also a descendant of Nguyen Trung Ngan with names such as Nguyen Tai Can, Nguyen Tai Tue. Also in Nghe An, Linh Kiem temple is also the place to worship Hoang Giap Nguyen Trung Ngan, in Thuan Ly village, Thuan Son commune, Do Luong district. Many streets are named after him such as in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh city... Many schools in Vietnam are also named after him.

Deserving of the title of National Treasure

With its outstanding historical, cultural and scientific values, the Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van stele meets all the criteria to be recognized as a National Treasure. This is an original, unique artifact, with a unique form and contains rare information about the Tran Dynasty - a golden period in Vietnamese history. On August 2, 2011, the stele was ranked as a National Historical Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and now, the effort to elevate it to the status of a National Treasure is a necessary step to preserve and promote the value of this heritage.

The recognition of stele inscriptions is not only a recognition of the achievements of our ancestors but also a source of inspiration for today's generations.

The Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van stele is not only a stone stele but also a living history book, deeply engraved on the cliff of Tram Huong mountain. It tells the story of the heroic spirit of Dong A, the intelligence and humanity of the Vietnamese people, and is also a reminder of the responsibility to protect the territory and maintain peace. Preserving and honoring this heritage is not only the duty but also the pride of every Vietnamese person, so that these values ​​will last forever.

The Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van steles have the physical and chemical properties of stone, so many steles are still preserved almost intact. This is truly a rare source of original documents, valuable in history and culture, heritages that need to be preserved, researched, and widely disseminated among the masses. In order to preserve and promote the cultural and historical values ​​of the nation, to recognize the great contributions of our ancestors; at the same time, to propose solutions for sustainable development in preserving and promoting values.

The Ma Nhai Ky Cong Bi Van stele is an original, unique artifact, an ancient, rare stele, containing many valuable documents for research on history, calligraphy, calendar, and administrative place names. This stele meets all the conditions to be proposed by the State to be recognized as a National Treasure.