(HBO) – After restoration, Hang (Cave) Pagoda in Yen Tri commune of Hoa Binh province’s Yen Thuy district still has the unique architectural features of a pagoda in a cave maintained while the landscape improved.
The special feature of the Hang Pagoda in Yen Tri
commune (Yen Thuy district) is that its entire space of worship is located
inside a cave.
Hang Pagoda is the common name of a Buddhist
temple built in Hang Chua (Pagoda Cave), also known as Van Quang Cave. In the
past, it has the courtesy name of Thanh Lam Tu.
The pagoda and the cave accommodating it are
about 85km to the south of the centre of Hoa Binh city, 5km away from Hang Tram
town, and 13km from Nho Quan town of neighbouring Ninh Binh province.
The cave was named Hang Chua (Pagoda Cave) since
two of the four caverns in the mountain house pagodas. The caverns are
decorated with not only the temples’ architecture but also poems and texts
engraved on their stone walls.
Archaeologists also discovered traces of the Hoa
Binh civilisation in Hang Chua such as food vestiges like snail and clam shells
and tool fragments.
Not only the architectural features but the
landscape full of greenery here also makes this place special.
In 1994, the site of Hang Pagoda and Chua Cave
was recognised as a national historical and cultural relic site by the Ministry
of Culture. Since then, the Hang Pagoda festival has been organised at the
beginning of every year, offering an occasion for visitors to admire the unique
pagoda landscape, pray for wealth, and join locals in folk cultural activities.
In 2020, some of the site’s facilities were restored
and built so as to help preserve and bring into play the site’s value./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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