Hello my friends :D
Today I will introduce to you a famous spiritual historical site in Vietnam called: "Giong Temple". This is a historical relic area associated with the legend of Saint Giong - a heroic figure, a saint in Vietnamese history. This temple was built to commemorate the merits of the hero Saint Giong who fought off invaders and brought peace to the country of Vietnam. Giong Temple is located in Phu Linh Commune, Soc Son District, 40 km from the center of Hanoi. This place was included in the list of national historic sites in 1962.
Statue of Saint Giong on top of Da Chong mountain, made of bronze, 11.07m high and weighs 85 tons.
Image source
I have visited the statue of Saint Giong twice already, but I did not take pictures. The place with this statue of Saint Giong is very high, located on the top of the mountain, if I walk from the relic I am standing, it will take about 2 km. You can ride a motorbike to the top of the mountain but I recommend you to choose a motorbike or a car with a strong engine, because the road is very steep, high and dangerous. I was on a scooter that day, and of course was not able to ride the scooter to the top of the mountain. :(
Legend of Saint Giong
This is a story that any Vietnamese people have learned and heard. This legend was printed in the 6th grade Vietnamese book, which means that all the children have learned about it. This legend has been handed down for a long time and its vestiges are still kept in the Temple of Giong, becoming one of the most popular legends in Vietnam. According to legend, Saint Giong's parents had no children. One day, Saint Giong's mother went to the field and pressed a strange footprint. Then, Saint Giong's mother became pregnant and gave birth to Saint Giong. Saint Giong was born without knowing how to speak or laugh, until the age of 3 he was still a child who could not speak. When the country was at war, foreign invaders from the north (ancient China) prepared soldiers to rob the country. The king sent messengers everywhere to find talented people to help the country fight the enemy, and Saint Giong spoke first to his mother that he wanted to speak to the messenger. Saint Giong asked the messenger to inform the king that he needed an armor and a horse to destroy the foreign invaders. People in the village contributed a lot of rice and food to raise Thanh Giong in the hope that Saint Giong would bring independence to the country. Since that day, Saint Giong grew up very quickly, within a few days he became a tall and strong young man. Saint Giong went to the battlefield to destroy all foreign invaders, in front of Saint Giong they were just ants. When Giong's iron weapon was broken, and Saint Giong uprooted bamboo bushes by the roadside to kill the invaders. Finally, Saint Giong brought peace to the country, he rode his horse up to Soc Son mountain and flew to heaven. Thus, Saint Giong was the first hero in the history of Vietnam to fight foreign invaders.
After reading this legend, what do you think? let me know^^
It's a legend but there are many lessons in it, metaphors for the character of the Vietnamese people. I was already a good student of literature when I was in school, so I will write my feelings about this legend haha.
The meaning of the legend of Saint Giong
The Vietnamese people's love for the country is always strong.
Have you read the line: : '" Saint Giong was a 3-year-old boy but still could not speak, he only spoke first when the country was threatened"?
The life of the Vietnamese people in the past was only associated with buffaloes, fields and wet rice, but not because of that, they lost their patriotism. When the country was in danger, the people's love for the country flared up like a flame, strong and vibrant; even children have strong patriotism. You can see the image of the small country of Vietnam on the map, but their hearts are not small. It was a resilient country against the most powerful empires in the world such as: Mongolia, China, Japan, France, America. For several millennia, the Vietnamese have never succumbed to foreign invaders, they have won against all of the world's richest and most powerful enemies. If my country hadn't been at war with foreign invaders, it would probably be a very rich and developed country.
People in the village contributed a lot of rice and food to raise Thanh Giong in the hope that Saint Giong would bring independence to the country.
That is the aspiration for peace - national independence of the Vietnamese people. The people united and donated all the food to the people they trusted with the desire to defeat the foreign invaders.
When Giong's iron weapon was broken, and Saint Giong uprooted bamboo bushes by the roadside to kill the invaders.
The bamboo tree is a symbol of the unity of the nation ( Bamboo plants don't grow separately and they often grow in clusters), and it is a symbol of the honesty, resilience, patience and indomitableness of the Vietnamese soldiers. Bamboo trees symbolize the vitality, which can resist against strong all rain storms or bombs. Saint Giong did not fight the enemy alone, he fought the enemy with bamboo, a symbol of the village and the people of Vietnam.
Finally, Saint Giong brought peace to the country, he rode his horse up to Soc Son mountain and flew to heaven.
This detail shows that Saint Giong always lives in the hearts of Vietnamese people. It was a hero who did not desire wealth, fame or reward, after bringing peace to the country, he returned to heaven.
Giong temple relic area includes: Trinh Temple (or Ha Temple), Mau Temple, Dai Bi Pagoda, Thuong Temple, Non Nuoc pagoda and stele house (where there is an 8-sided stone mausoleum). This is the entrance to the historical site of Saint Giong
Trinh Temple
When entering the gate of this relic site, you will see the first Trinh Temple, this is a temple worshiping mountain gods. In this temple there is a 7-ton statue of the mountain deity.
Dai Bi Pagoda
This is a small temple with unique architecture with a boat-shaped curved roof.
Mau Temple
Located opposite Dai Bi pagoda (worshiping the mother of Saint Giong).
Thuong Temple
The remains of Thuong temple are the oldest. This is the main temple worshiping Saint Giong, this is a typical temple for the architecture of ancient pagodas in Vietnam.
Non Nuoc pagoda
This is a temple located at an altitude of 110m . This is the gate going up to Non Nuoc pagoda
Some other natural scenery here, very peaceful and quiet.
Around this historic site is the Vietnam Buddhist Academy - the first institute in Buddhist education and training of the Vietnamese Buddhist Church.
This is a shop selling buddhist souvenirs, you can buy some things to always remember about this space.
My article only describes some scenes of this spiritual historical site, you should visit here once and feel the natural beauty here.
