(HBO) - On a sunny Autumn day, we made out way to Tac Duc pagoda which has been popular for years. Over 5km from the centre of Lac Thinh commune, Yen Thuy district, Tac Duc pagoda sits on the foot of Kha mountain. With three compartments and a tiled roof, the pagoda is surrounded by high hills and mountains. In particular, in front of the pagoda is an ancient apple tree aging hundreds of years. Next to it is an altar dedicated to the Goddess Mother while a cool stream behind runs down from the mountain all year round.
Tac Duc pagoda
attracts visitors for incense offering, sightseeing.
According to local elderly, the pagoda was built
a long time ago with an aim of using Buddhist teachings to promote goodness, eliminate
evils and spread human kindness. Due to wear and tear over the time, the ancient
pagoda was damaged. Till the middle of the 20th century, the pagoda
was rebuilt with ironwood. The column feet were buried underground like those
of Muong ethnic people’s stilt houses. They are surrounded with planks and floored
with clay. Inside the pagoda is an altar sitting on rock pillars with other
object of worshiping.
In 2016, Tac Duc pagoda was recognised as a local
cultural and historical relic. It made active contributions to fostering
neighborliness among communes and enriching local spiritual lives. During the
anniversaries like Buddha’s birth and lunar New Year, the pagoda becomes a rendezvous
of many Buddhist followers and visitors who come to pray for peace and well-being.
The relic is an invaluable site for education about national traditions.
With convenient transportation and well-known
relics in Yen Thuy district such as Chua cave, Hang pagoda, Xam temple, Nuoc
and Thien Ton caves, and ecological tours of Muong hamlet, Thau village in Lac
Sy commune, Tac Duc pagoda has attracted numerous tourists inside and outside
the province./.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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