Chi Linh - a cultural homeland

(Baonghean) - Located on the right bank of Lam River, near Ro center, Chi Linh village (Vo Liet commune, Thanh Chuong district) is a culturally rich countryside with a tradition of studiousness and revolution. Here, there are still banyan trees, ferry docks, communal house yards - typical images of ancient villages...

Chi Linh village is the hometown of Phan Da, a talented young general with a strong patriotism in the 15th century. Growing up when the Ming army was invading our country, Phan Da joined Le Loi's army. Appointed as a commander, he went to battle "left and right", fighting side by side with the army to establish resounding victories in Bo Dang, Tra Lan, Tien Hoa, Binh Ngo... During a battle with the enemy on the left bank of Lam River, he was seriously injured, his war horse took him to Vo Liet and he breathed his last when he was 18 years old. With Phan Da's great contributions in the fight against the Ming invaders and liberating the country, the Le Dynasty issued an edict to build Bach Ma Temple to worship him in his hometown, which the locals called Phu Noi - one of the four most beautiful temples in Nghe An.

Vo Liet Communal House.

In the middle of the village is Chi Linh temple, also known as Phu Ngoai temple, worshiping Phan Da's parents and the General as the village's tutelary god. According to the elders, Chi Linh temple used to be large in scale, located on several hectares of land. From the outside, going in, passing two pillars of elephants, arched gates with civil and military mandarins, pink and white horses standing guard, then reaching the main hall. The lower hall, the upper hall, each house has 3 rooms. Through the half wall on the right hand side is the house of the husband and wife, in front of which is a 5-room communal house, where the community gathers for each ceremony. Today, in the old temple grounds, the houses are all occupied, the only remaining ancient structure is the arched gate built during the Tu Duc period. After many years, only traces remain, the temple worshiping Phan Da's parents was restored by the local government and people in 2012.

In front of the Ngoai Palace, next to the main road is a hundred-year-old banyan tree. Although no longer luxuriant due to the destruction of historical storms, the ancient banyan tree is still a testament to many changes in this countryside. Next to it is the Phu wharf, the gateway to the village, leading to the Lam River. For the people of Chi Linh, the banyan tree, the wharf, and the communal house yard are familiar images that have entered the hearts and become memories of each person.

From the Palace gate, following the road to the village field, is the location of Vo Liet communal house. The communal house was started to be built by bachelor Hoang Chinh Truc in 1859, to worship the village's tutelary god (Phan Da), Confucius and the ancestors. The communal house has a majestic architecture, through the main gate, there are 4 buildings: front, back, left, right, closed in the shape of the letter "khau". The rear communal house has 7 rooms in the overlapping style, 8 majestic roofs. In front of the communal house yard, there are 2 rows of stele houses, erected 6 large stone steles, engraved with Chinese characters, recording the names of 455 children who passed the exams (bachelor, bachelor, doctor, and vice-president) of Vo Liet commune, from the Le to the Nguyen dynasties. Over the past 155 years, Vo Liet communal house has not only been a place for worship and activities of the village and commune community, but also a witness to many historical events: a meeting place for patriotic scholars such as Phan Boi Chau, Nguyen Sinh Sac, Dang Nguyen Can...; the revolutionary headquarters in the 1930-1931 movement; the place where the Party cell of Vo Liet commune was reorganized; the headquarters of the district government after the August Revolution; the Congress of delegates of the Inter-zone IV Party Committee (1947) with the presence of General Nguyen Chi Thanh and Major General Nguyen Son; the place where General Vo Nguyen Giap visited in 1986... Vo Liet Communal House was recognized by the State as a National Historical - Cultural Relic in 1988 and was restored, embellished, and spacious, worthy of being the district's cultural capital, preserving the tradition of studiousness and revolution of Thanh Chuong people.

In the village, there is a Ton family temple built during the Nguyen Dynasty, famous for its descendants who have made great contributions to the homeland and the country, such as Mr. Lo Xuyen - Ton Duc Tien, revolutionaries Ton Quang Phiet, Ton Thi Que, Ton Gia Chung... Currently, the temple still preserves 2 royal decrees of the Nguyen Dynasty; 2 ancient stone steles, carved by students of the predecessors in the 28th year of Tu Duc (1875), recording the merits of the Ton family teachers in the work of educating people. The Ton family temple was recognized as a provincial historical relic in 2012.

Coming to Vo Liet, visiting Chi Linh land, each step is like immersing yourself in the historical space. Looking at the ancient moss-covered Phu gate, listening to the nostalgia of the old scene and people of hundreds of years ago. In the emerging new features, there are still here the "banyan tree, ferry, communal house yard" echoing the sound of the "thirty drum" of the past, forever reminding children and grandchildren of the pride, continuing the tradition of the heroic Soviet homeland.

Huy Thu