From Ly Nhat Quang to the intersection between Thang Long - Hanoi and Nghe An

Towards the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi, Nghe An Newspaper reporter had an interview with Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao - a researcher of folk culture of Nghe An, Chairman of Nghe An Folk Arts Association, about the career of Ly Nhat Quang in Nghe An under the Ly Dynasty and the relationship between Thang Long - Hanoi culture.Noi and Nghe An.

Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao.

Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao: Ly Nhat Quang was born and raised in Thang Long Citadel, but established a great career and then entered eternity and became a saint on Nghe An land.

Nghe An land during the Ly dynasty was a camp, border, and southern fence of the Fatherland. Therefore, in order to bring Dai Viet into a period of prosperity, the Ly dynasty's strategy was to stabilize Nghe An's internal affairs in all aspects, and to prevent the Champa and Chenla Lao Qua armies from invading the country. To consolidate and develop this important fence, the Ly dynasty sent Ly Nhat Quang - the eighth son of Ly Thai To to Nghe An. Ly Nhat Quang was born in the year of Mau Ty (988).

As a child, he was trained by his father and the royal family. Naturally intelligent, Ly Nhat Quang soon revealed his bravery, loyalty and talent for governing the country. In 1039, Ly Nhat Quang was appointed by the royal court to Nghe An to oversee tax collection. In the year Tan Ty (1041), Ly Nhat Quang was appointed as the Governor of Nghe An and chose the mountainous and rugged land of Bach Duong as his base.

The provincial capital of Nghe An was established by Ly Nhat Quang at the foot of Qua Son mountain, in the Bach Duong region. From this provincial capital, he could manage and control the coastal, plain, midland and highland areas quite tightly. After stabilizing the Bach Duong provincial capital, Ly Nhat Quang actively recruited people and used prisoners of war to promote the reclamation of wasteland on an unprecedented scale.

The lands of Khe Bo, Cu Don in Tuong Duong, Nam Kim (Nam Dan), Hoang Mai (Quynh Luu), Cua Hoi, Ky Anh at the foot of Deo Ngang... were all created by his wisdom and merit. To have a force to act as the main force to maintain the border and security within the people, Ly Nhat Quang established the Nghiem Thang army, with its headquarters located on the left bank of the Lam River.

Later, the people of this land established Nghiem Thang village (now Dong Son commune, Do Luong). Ly Nhat Quang paid attention to opening two vital roads in Nghe An. That was the upper road from Bach Duong headquarters to Thanh Hoa and the northern provinces, the road to the Vietnam - Laos border through Ky Son district. He also organized the dredging of Da Cai canal, dug Ba Hoa canal to open the waterway from North to South, established military camps, including Ba Hoa warehouse camp to store food to actively serve the national economy and people's livelihood.

He also wisely initiated the construction of the Lam River dike to prevent floods and protect villages. Nghe An is a land of many internal and external political changes, but since the court sent Ly Nhat Quang to govern, with his people-friendly policies full of wisdom and humanity, with a long-term vision, Nghe An has entered a stable situation, with stable politics, economic development, and the people enjoying peace and happiness!

PV: There are many different opinions surrounding the death of Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang. So, in your opinion, what do we need to know?

Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao: On December 17, Dinh Dau year (1057), Ly Nhat Quang breathed his last at Bach Duong citadel. His body was buried by the people at Qua Son mountain. Later, he became a saint, always protecting the country and the people. The life and career of Uy Minh Vuong Tri Chau Ly Nhat Quang were mythologized by the people of Nghe An. In Nghe An - Tinh land, people built more than 60 temples to worship him. But the main temple is at Qua Son mountain, Boi Son commune, Do Luong district. From ancient times to the present, it has been said that Ly Nhat Quang was seriously injured in the last battle against the Lao Qua enemy.

Procession at Qua Son Temple (Do Luong)

PV: From the career of Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang in Nghe An, we clearly see that in Vietnamese history there has always been a relationship and interaction between Thang Long and Nghe An?

Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao: Throughout the history of the country, regardless of the era, Nghe An has always been a stopover, an important base for generals and kings on their march from Thang Long. They passed through Nghe An and trusted and chose it as a place to rest and restore soldiers and food.

From the Tran Dynasty, the 19th year of Hung Long (1311), King Tran Anh Tong personally led the army to attack Champa. The army's boat stopped at Can Hai Gate (Cua Con, Phuong Can Commune, Quynh Luu District) to rest. At night, the king dreamed of a goddess crying and saying: "I am a concubine of the Trieu Tong Dynasty, forced by the enemy, drowned in big waves and drifted to this place. God appointed me as a sea goddess here for a long time, now seeing Your Majesty leading the army, I ask for your help to make a contribution".

The next morning, Tran Anh Tong immediately invited the elders in the area to ask. When he understood the story, Tran Anh Tong held a ceremony. The sea was calm and the king led his army straight to Cha Ban and won a great battle. The following year, when he returned, the king ordered the Right Ty to build a larger temple, to worship the Great Can Thanh Nuong of the country all year round. Then in the first year of Hong Duc (1470), King Le Thanh Tong personally led his army to pacify the South, also stopped at Cang Xuoc, rested and reorganized the soldiers and entered the temple to worship. After winning the battle, the king and his subjects led their army to march straight to Thang Long. As soon as the king's boat reached the sea gate, a northeast wind blew up, and the fleet had to enter Cua Con at the foot of the temple to take shelter from the wind. Le Thanh Tong was surprised and gave more gifts, had statues carved, several more temples built, and wrote royal poems.

Due to the characteristics of natural conditions and the long-standing tradition of heroic struggle, the people of Nghe An have the precious courage to sacrifice everything, wholeheartedly support heroic deeds, and fight to regain a peaceful and prosperous life for their homeland and country. For that reason, throughout his entire career, Nguyen Hue - Quang Trung paid great attention to the people of Nghe An. On September 3, the 11th year of Thai Duc (1788), Nguyen Hue - Quang Trung issued an edict: "Only establishing the capital in Nghe An is a balanced route, can control the South and the North, and will make it convenient for people from all over to come and file lawsuits". Nguyen Hue - Quang Trung assigned the Governor Than and La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep to organize the construction of Phuong Hoang Trung Do Citadel. It can be said that Phuong Hoang Trung Do is a heroic testament demonstrating the cultural vision of the "cloth-clothed hero" in the process of fighting to unify the country, building a peaceful and prosperous life for the Vietnamese people...

Today, the children of Nghe - Tinh people have also achieved many successes in their career in Thang Long. It is impossible to count how many professors, doctors, scientists, managers... are currently holding many important positions in the capital Hanoi. They are continuing the cultural tradition, the tradition of academics of the land of culture with a 985-year history called Nghe An in the land of 1,000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi.

PV: Thank you very much, Associate Professor.

Thanh Thuy (performed)