The Thiet Cang stele needs to be protected.
(Baonghean) - On National Highway 1A, in the section belonging to Dien An commune (Dien Chau district), there is a stone stele with Chinese characters erected in the mid-19th century. The stele, named "Thiet Cang" (Iron Canal), was commissioned by Emperor Hien To of the Nguyen Dynasty. Currently, the Ministry of Transport is implementing the project to expand National Highway 1A from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh, so this stele will have to be moved to another location...
At the end of 1842, after completing his investiture ceremony in Hanoi, King Thieu Tri and his courtiers returned to the capital, Hue. While passing through the Iron Canal, located in what is now Dien An commune, Dien Chau district, the king recalled the legend of the past and composed the poem "Thiet Cang" (Iron Port), praising the scenery and recounting the mysterious story. He had it inscribed on a stone stele placed on the eastern bank of the Iron Canal, in Tap Phuc commune, Dong Thanh district (now Dien An commune, Dien Chau district).
The stele is located at the foot of Mount Sở, facing the road, only about 10 meters from the edge of National Highway 1A. Previously, the stele was completely covered by thorny bushes, so its existence was largely unknown. In 2007, Hán Nôm researchers Thái Huy Bích and Trần Đình Vân, during a field trip, cleared the area, revealing the stele as it is today.
The stele measures 63x106cm, with a semicircular top carved with a dragon's head, surrounded by cloud and mist motifs. All of this bears the distinct mark of stele inscriptions from the early Nguyen dynasty. Unlike other stele inscriptions written in Chinese characters, the Thiet Cang stele contains a seven-word, eight-line Tang-style poem interspersed with annotations about related events, recording the date of its erection on an auspicious day in the twelfth month of the 2nd year of the Thieu Tri reign (Thieu Tri second year, twelfth month, auspicious day), and a note stating that the stele was composed by Emperor Thieu Tri himself (a poem composed by the Emperor). The entire inscription consists of 14 lines and 286 characters.
For 170 years, this monument has stood firm against the ravages of time, witnessing the many ups and downs and changes of the Iron Canal as well as the northern highway.
Recently, the Ministry of Transport has been implementing the project to expand and upgrade National Highway 1A through Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh provinces. According to the plan, this section of road will be widened on both sides to a design of four lanes with a median strip. In addition, the road will also include streetlights, trees, and sidewalks. Therefore, the land where the current memorial plaque is located will be leveled. Currently, the land along both sides of the road has been leveled and widened.
The plot of land containing the stele is being reserved pending a plan for its relocation and preservation. Relocating cultural structures to facilitate construction projects requires close coordination among all relevant parties to ensure the proper protection of this historical site.
Tran Tu Quang
