Behind the village gate

Dong Co Temple in My Da village.

My Da is an ancient land of Hoang Hoa district. In the past, this place was called Ke Co, located separately from other villages in the commune. To enter the village, one must follow the trails across Tam Tong field - once a vast, boundless rice area. My Da village was also once likened to a region of "prosperous people, good rice crops". Previously, My Da village had a communal house and a 3-room pagoda worshiping Buddha. In the pagoda, there were 5 Buddha statues made of precious wood, a bronze bell and many other artifacts. However, over time, the pagoda no longer exists, only a natural well remains; the communal house is also lost, leaving behind a stone pedestal. Only Dong Co temple, through the ups and downs of history, still firmly located at the head of the village, becoming the spiritual support for generations of people here.

Dong Co Temple in My Da village is a historical and cultural relic with spiritual value and national tradition in building and defending the country, associated with the miracle of Dong Co god "manifestation". According to legend, in 1020, Crown Prince Ly Phat Ma (son of King Ly Thai To) led his army to fight the enemy from the South, passing through Hoang Hoa, arriving at My Da village at noon, suddenly seeing the sky raining, windy, thundering fiercely, unable to advance. The Crown Prince let his army rest here. Looking around, the Crown Prince recognized the terrain of this land as a lotus flower, thinking it was strange so he ordered his entourage to set up an altar. At night, the spirit saw Dong Co god appear and declare his name: "I am Son Than Dong Co, following the king to defeat the enemy. Now seeing this place is sacred land so I manifest" and then disappeared. On the day of the battle, while the two sides were fighting, suddenly the sound of bronze drums resounded loudly, our army won a great victory. When returning in triumph, the Crown Prince celebrated his army at My Da village. In memory of the god's merits and the sacredness of My Da land, the royal court issued an edict to the village, ordering the people to build a temple. The king gave the god the beautiful name "Thuong Dang Phuc Than", and worshiped him for a thousand years. After many historical events and natural destruction, Dong Co temple no longer exists, but the architectural scale still exists. Around 2000, the temple was restored. In 2004, Dong Co temple was ranked as a national historical and cultural relic.

Party Cell Secretary, Head of My Da Village Le Viet Von said: “For a long time, Dong Co Temple in My Da village has become a place for spiritual and cultural activities of the people in the region. In particular, Dong Co Temple Festival is held on the first day of the second lunar month, which is a big festival of the village. In 2023, the people in the village donated money, contributed to renovating the yard, surrounding fence, tiling, and re-paved the floor inside the temple. That same year, everyone in the village was happy when My Da village gate was built from funds contributed by people and children living far away from home with beautiful architecture, adding vitality to the village. At the same time, people voluntarily exchanged agricultural land right behind the village gate to consolidate into one plot, creating a land fund expected to later build the village's landscape. Along with the State's stimulus, the villagers also contributed more than 550 million VND to build drainage ditches and roads to improve the landscape of their homeland.”

My Da village currently has 388 households, with more than 1,400 people. The younger generation works in factories, the older generation diligently works in the fields. Many of the village's children have passed their studies and become famous. In the flow of development, the most precious thing is the connection of the community, the common features of customs, habits and culture of the villagers are always preserved and promoted. Especially, when the New Rural Development project was deployed, the village had a "change of skin and flesh".

At this point, My Da and other villages of Hoang Duc commune merged with But Son town and the communes of Hoang Dong, Hoang Dao, Hoang Ha, Hoang Dat into a new commune called Hoang Hoa commune. The concern from the change also brought with it the expectation of a development space in the new period. No matter how it changes, the ancient cultural features and historical cultural imprints in this land will certainly continue to be preserved and promoted. So that the village will always be a place to remember, to love, a place to return to, as the reminder written on the village gate: "Welcoming descendants to the homeland to gather/ The ancestors sit in a place of reunion".

Article and photos: Minh Hien

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phia-sau-cong-lang-253498.htm