Tien Linh, simple countryside

(Baonghean) - Temporarily leaving the bustling Vinh city, from Cua Tien crossing the railway, we stop by Tien Linh village in Hung My commune (Hung Nguyen) to explore and enjoy the suburban land with its simple, familiar countryside features, of banyan trees, village pagodas, ancient temple roofs...

According to the elders, the old village had 3 hamlets: Thuong, Trinh, Dinh, with Dinh hamlet as the center. On Vang field, there are cultural and entertainment facilities of the village. Tien Linh Pagoda was established long ago, in front of the pagoda gate there are 2 old gioi trees, so the villagers called it Gioi Pagoda. The main hall has 2 rooms, hidden under the shade of ancient trees, inside are many Buddha statues and a big bell. On new moon and full moon days, holidays, and Tet, villagers often come to the pagoda to offer offerings and pray for peace. Before the revolution, this place was the meeting place of Ngoc Dien Party Cell, during the resistance war against the French, it was the military base.

Tien Linh Temple in Hung My Commune (Hung Nguyen).

In front of the pagoda is the Bell Well, an ancient well “as wide as a pond” with a bridge up and down made of stone blocks. The well is where the people of the whole Tien Linh - Thai Lao (Ke Trieng) area often come to get water for drinking. To the right of the pagoda is the festival yard - a high and dry land, used as a playground for the village. On festival days, the village often sets up poles, raises flags, and organizes folk games such as swinging, pole climbing, cockfighting, etc., which are very noisy. The pagoda has several hectares of rice fields for people to cultivate, which annually collects profits, serving the purpose of offering incense, candles, and sticky rice cakes.

On the left of the pagoda is the Saint's house, consisting of 2 rows of 10 lim doi rooms, tiled roofs, built walls, worshiping Confucius and the sages. Every year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, the village organizes a ceremony to worship the Saint with all the officials, dignitaries and educated people, to honor Confucianism and pray for learning for the village. Each time the Saint is worshiped, the village organizes a solemn palanquin procession, with the hamlets in the village taking turns to take responsibility. The pagoda, the Saint's house, the Bell well, and the festival yard are connected together as a unified entity, creating a unique feature in the cultural landscape and daily life of the village.

Time has passed into oblivion, on Vang field there are only traces of the village well, the festival yard, in 2012, local people and Buddhists from near and far have united, contributed to restore the village temple. On the old location, the main hall, Buddha statue have been built spaciously, other items such as monk house, entrance gate, surrounding wall, bonsai system, walkway are being constructed and renovated. After many years only in memory, Tien Linh pagoda roof has returned to its former existence, continuing to be a place for cultural, spiritual and religious activities of the village, guiding people to a compassionate and holy heart. The village also has Tien Linh temple worshiping Cao Son Cao Cac, with 2 majestic upper and lower buildings under the shade of an old banyan tree. The upper hall has 2 rooms, the lower hall has 5 rooms, both made of ironwood. Every year, the temple often holds Khai Ha ceremony, Ky Phuc ceremony... each time there is a ceremony, the villagers organize a very solemn procession of royal decrees.

Right on the village road, in front of the temple, there is a banyan tree hundreds of years old with lush shade. Mr. Chuoc, a villager, said that when his hair was still in a tuft, it was as big as it is now, and children in the village often came here to play mock battles. In the years 1930 - 1931, on this banyan tree, the revolutionaries hung the red hammer and sickle flag, calling on and encouraging the villagers to rise up and fight. Overcoming rain, sun, bullets and bombs, the village banyan tree still grows green and lush, as a testament to the ups and downs and changes of this countryside. The banyan tree is considered a precious tree of the village, and is being cared for and preserved by everyone. For the Tien Linh people, the banyan tree, the well, and the temple roof are familiar images of the homeland, which have entered the hearts of many generations.

Tien Linh is peaceful with the traditional beauty of the countryside. Even though we have left for the city, the song still echoes in our hearts: "Our village was originally Tien Linh/ The banyan tree is still there, the communal house garden is still here". The suburban land has changed a lot, but the love of the land and the people here still preserve the village traditions.

Huy Thu