Natural citadel NeLe- By Dong Hong Hoan,Trinh Minh Hien
Natural citadel NeLe
- DoSon under King Asoka’s dynasty
By : Dong Hong Hoan - Trinh Minh Hien
Nele and the ancient tower Asoka in Do Son so far have attracted great attention from both domestic and foreign historians, especially those who major in history of Vietnam Buddhism. A big number of questions has also been raised and wondered many historians: whether Nele was man-made or naturally created by the way ancient people took advantage of geography for fortifications, in which place in Asia and Vietnam the first Indian shanghais had took their first steps on, which regions in Vietnam at that time had satisfactory conditions of geography, politics, economy,...so that the Indian merchants accompanied with Buddism propagandists had travelled to the country. So far researchers as well as historians have tried to submit possible explanations and theories to those puzzles, unfortunately, they failed.
Hereafter, we would like to put forward a brief overview on how Buddism was introduced to Vietnam, on the fact of King Asoka (King ADuc ) sent a group of Buddism propagandists to Asia, including Vietnam and of Chu Dong Tu adopted Budism in Doson. Simultaneously, where is Nele? Where did the Indian Buddism propagandists pay a visit and stay?... And our own points of view together with some researchers’ are to be presented here by.
1. Geographical advantages for Buddhism in India being soon introduced to Vietnam.
- In “ Thien Uyen Tap Anh”, Shaman Dam Thien answered the question raised by King Cao To of Tuy dynasty: “Giao Chau ‘s nearer Thien Truc than our country. As you know, that country had already built 20 towers, employed approximately 500 shanghas and translated 15 prayer- books since Buddism wasn’t adopted to Vietnam....”
- Bonze Lam Nhu Tang in “How Buddism was introduced to our country?” stated: “Vietnam is considered as the back of India- China peninsula, which is between the two countries whose cultures are among the most ancient ones. For such reason, Vietnam is inevitably deeply affected by those two cultures, including religion.
- Nguyen Lang in “Buddism in Vietnam”- “The origin of Luy Lau” indicated: “.... Thanks to Indian merchants, Vietnamese people at that time were more or less aware of farming techniques, medicine and Indian religion. Therefore, it can be said that it’s Indian merchants that introduce Buddism to Vietnam.”
2. King Aduc (Asoka)
- King Aduc (King Asoka) was the King of Mauryan (273-232 BC). Being in favour of Buddhism, he had built stone stele to record achievements by Sakyamuni, whose name was connected with Buddhism propaganda. He was the first king of India who could unify a very big area, which is India today.
- H.G Wells has ever written about Asoka: "The world history had witnessed thousands of kings and emperors consider themselves "notable emperor"…etc. Nonetheless, they was only in their very short heyday whereas, Asoka has remained to be respected up to now."
- Superior monk Thich Duc Nhuan in "Buddism and Vietnam history" stated: "… Buddism was in its 218 years old, great King Asoka had considerably been devoted himself and already accomplished three significant missions:
1. Hold the general meeting "Ket tap kinh dien III"( The dysentery of the canal)
2. Build towers to honour Buddhism and monasteries
3. Set up a delegation of Buddhism propagandists”.
3. Towers in Buddhist architecture
Buddhist towers are located in important relics and for Buddhists and Hollies' corpses storage. King Asoka, in century III BC - the end of Hung King's ruling in Van Lang, built a great number of valuable towers in Mauryan (India) and in other adjoining nations to be in the honour of Sakyamuni and to commemorate the arrival by Buddism propagandists delegations (sent by Asoka)
Khuong Tang Hoi, a respected Buddhist leader in Giao Chau, from the century II - III had already mentioned King Duc Vuong in "The story about Cao Tang"(by Hue Hao): "King A Duc long before had constructed eighty thousand towers. For such reason, putting up towers and pagodas aims to maintain that respectable activity.”
Since Buddhism's acess to Vietnam, a considerable number of towers had been built and existed in many dynasties. However, there has not been those ancient towers' remains.
4. The first introduction of Buddhism in Vietnam since Hung King's dynasty
Some of very well-known Vietnam fairy tales, such as Tam Cam, in which But appear to help out poor and kind Tam, or Neu tree and the Buddhist's frock or Trau cau, which are related to people's rebirth in the form of tree and stone, has proved the fact that Vietnamese people have been for a long time fully aware of Buddhist teachings: causes and effects, samara and karma,…
- Buddhist priest An Thien (century XIX) in "Nguyen Luu Buddhist teachings" in a single chapter demonstrated Buddhism under Hung King's dynasty. The chapter entitled "Hung Vuong Pham Tang" has indicated the close relationship between Buddhism under Hung King's ruling and that of Asoka in Giao Chi’.
- In "Vietnam Buddhism history- from the beginning to Ly Nam De dynasty”, Professor Le Manh That shows:' Buddhism was first introduced to Vietnam since Hung King's dynasty, the first teacher of Buddhism is Phat Quang monk and the first Buddhist is Chu Dong Tu.
- From "Linh Nam Chich Quai" by Vu Quynh and Kieu Phu, there is evidence that Chu Dong Tu was the ancestor of Vietnam Buddhism. He used to inhabit in Chu Xa, Van Duc, the present Gia Lam, Ha Noi.
5. In which place was Buddhism first introduced?
Do Son of Hai Phong in the century II of Mesoproterozotic (about 200 millions years ago) had experienced remarkable earth movements which helped to create ranges of mountains like Trang Kenh, Cat Ba, Voi and Do Son. The bureau of Geology classifies Do Son in the category of hill and agar. Haiphong’s mountains have been so far marvelous, with limestone caves and soil mountains ranging along Do Son beach. Trang Kenh rocky mountain range parallels, reflecting the image in Bach Dang river. Do Son mountains stand as a defending wall of the country.
Do Son is composed of 10 mountains (the biggest one is called Nui Me, the rest 9 ones are called Nui Con). Nui Me is roughly 168 metres..., on the peak of which Asoka tower stood. Unfortunately, the tower was ruined and King Ly Thanh Tong (century XI) then built the other on the ground or at least near the old tower. In century XII, King Tran Nhan Tong stepped on this area (Hai Phong and Hai Duong used to belong to Hai Dong- a key land in China Sea, which is one of the four important regions in the old Thang Long ) to reach the peak of Buddhism and established Thien phai Truc Lam in Yen Tu.
"Do Son Bat Vinh" (8 poems about Do Son by Hoang Xuan Hoan, written in Nho) has to date been preserved in the family annals of Hoang family in Do Son. Hoang Xuan Hoan ,whose penname was Mien Trai, had been presented with 6 units of silver and the title "Hieu Tu" together with the position of an officials who was in charge of education in Kien Thuy by King Ming Mang. He was the Dr Hoang Xuan Triem's son. Dr Hoang Xuan Triem was a mandarin for Le Hien Tong and Chieu Thong government and inhabited in Ngoc Nguyen, Do Son- Kien Thuy- Hai Phong. Hoang Xuan Triem was in the position of ‘Tan tuong quan vu” (a leader in the army) under the control of Duke Dinh Tich Nhuong, an Admiral stationed in Hai Duong.
The fifth poem in "Thap Son Hoai Co" about King Asoka tower in DoSon is interpreted by Nguyen Duyen Nien as follows:
Transcription:
Cổ tháp di hư loạn thảo đôi
Dục Vương khứ hậu ủy yên đồi!
Thiên chung bảo khí minh lưu thủy,
Cửu cấp phù đồ hóa kiếp hôi.
Tiều tử ỷ kha miên thạch đắng.
Mục nhi khu độc há sơn ôi.
Đăng cao dục hội sơn Tăng giảng,
Hà xứ chung lâu khấu nhất hồi.
The poems could hereby be paraphrased:
The old tower is full of grass
The scene was deserted when Asoka was not present
Buddhist bells used to be rang here
The high tower is in ruined
In the slope of the hill paused an woodcutter
Down the mountain came buffalos
Wishing to have a talk with monks
The bell is heard elsewhere
In Do Son existed the pagoda hang (Coc Tu). The local people here said:" Long time ago, at the end of Hung King ..., Su Ban (Ban Tang), an Indian, stayed in Hang pagoda to honour the Buddhist. The pagoda was also the place which witnessed his passing away…”
During the time to stay in Hang pagoda, the monk Ban (Phat Quang) and dwellers in Do Son had together built a pagoda, known as "chua Ban". Right in the ground of Ban pagoda, a family in Do Son (Mr Tao- Ngoc Xuyen - Do Son), collected some exhibitions which are suspected to be the trace of the old Ban pagoda. For confirmation, however, it is of great importance that archeologists and the local government should be involved in the process of further study. 100 metres far away from Ban's pagoda ground, where exhibitions were found, many big stones with chiseled holes can be discovered. Those holes may aim to mark something. The local citizens revealed that such stones had been present here but are already destroyed.
According to "Linh Nam Chich Quai", by Vu Quynh, Kieu Phu: Chu Dong Tu anchored in Quynh Vien moutain and was given the lessons on Budhism by a monk called Phat Quang. Is there a possibility that Su Phat Quang or Su Ban for short and in the same way Mau mountain (or Ngoc, Thap mountain) turns out to be Quynh mountain?
In "Linh Nam Chich Quai", princess Tien Dung- Hung King's daughter and Chu Dong Tu had met an affluent merchant who said: "If you spend an amount of gold, you will gain tenfold of that amount". There off shore existed an island called Quynh Vien (or Quynh Vi in some other books) where the merchant and Chu Dong Tu called on to get fresh water. On the island, there was a temple and a monk known as Phat Quang (or Nguong Quang by other author). Dong Tu was been taught Buddhism and given the tools: a stick and a leaf cone. The monk told "they are the keys for all magic powers".
On the way home, Chu Dong Tu traveled along Van Uc river's mouth, opposite DoSon peninsular to Da Do river's branch (that is Co Tieu today), and came over Minh Lien village (Coc Lien, Minh Tan now) and had the news that Mrs. Da's son had been drowned. Based on the recorded documents, Chu Dong Tu applied acquired magic remedy to make Mrs. Da's son alive. To express her sincere gratitude, Mrs. Da with the local people built a temple to honor her benefactor. The temple has still originally located in Coc Lien, in the edge of Da Do river in Coc Lien and achieved 20 titles so far from King Le Vinh To- Khai Dinh IX.
As mentioned above, monk Ban (Phat Quang) had introduced Buddhism, which is generally accompanied with workable remedies, to Chu Dong Tu. On the way to come back home, Chu Dong Tu passed Minh Lien... (Coc Lien, Minh Tan now) and heard Mrs. Da groaning for her son had been drowned. Without hesitation, he applied Indian remedies which he had adopted from monk Ban to help the son get rid of the death.
Those days, thanks to the advances of science on such fields: ..., anthropology, linguistics and so forth, studies, discoveries and evidences have made clear the secretes of ancient civilizations. A great number of legends spread from generation to generation which used to be considered invented, imagined, magical and, to some extent, as science fictions... have recently been proved realistic with the introduction of modern science. The confirmation by Tran Dai Sy's research in Quang Dong about the real existence of areas in the legend of Lac long Quan, Ngu Linh mountain, Dong Dinh lake could be a very good illustration.
According to the research and publication by Dr Nguyen Viet (director The Center for Southeast Asian Prehistory (CESEAP)), the clothes related to Dong Son culture_ the same age with Chu Dong Tu's time were collected while excavating the ancient Chau Can grave in Chau Can, Phu Xuyen, Ha Tay and the boat tomb in Dong Xa, Luong Bang, Kim Dong, Hung Yen. It, obviously, can be seen that the country of Van Lang under Hung King's ruling had developed the industry of fabric weaving at the age of 230-250 years ago.
There are, consequently, reasonable and logical evidences about the reality of the fact that Chu Dong Tu acquired Buddhism in Nele Do Son, that his saving Mrs. Da in Minh Lien when legends, history and geography of Do Son are taken into consideration. Based on the river, the river's branch, the worship areas of local dweller in Hung Yen, Hang pagoda and the temple built by Mrs. Da in Minh Lien, Do Son, the route on which Chu Dong Tu travelled from Hung Yen to Do Son, calling on Mau Son mountain to get fresh water and meeting Phat Quang ( monk Ban).
6. A brief introduction of viewpoints on Nele citadel in Do Son
We would like to briefly extract here some points of view on Nele citadel in Do Son
- "Thai Binh Hoan Vu ky" by Nhac Su (in Tong dynasty says "There is a citadel called Nele in southeast An Dinh under Han dynasty."
- Those who are in favour of Claude Madroll (Le Tonkin ancient BEFEO, 1937, 263-332) had tried to interpret the name of the Nele, which is black mud and then come to the conclusion that Nele belonged to Do Son, where black mud is popular.
- Luu Han Ky in his book "Giao Chau Ky" (360_420) stated: “Citadel Nele in Southeast Dinh An, 7 miles far from the river, and the tower and the house of worship built by King Asoka have still remained, which are called Kim Tuong by woodcutters."
- Le Dao Nguyen in "Thuy Kinh Chu" (the book 37, page 6b4_6) confirmed:"Quan Tac wharf original comes from that area, yet it passes from the east of the area to An Dinh and truong giang of Bac Dai. The river, where King Viet Vuong built bronze ship, the race of which could be observed when the tide goes away, travels toward the east, where Nele citadel is located, which is said to be put up by King Asoka…”
As well, Dang Xuan Bang aserted in “Su hoc bi khao”: “Cau Lau adjoins river”. “Encyclopedia on Haiphong geographic names” affirms Cau Lau is a part of Haiphong today.
Looking at the map in “Vietnam history” by Vietnam Commission of Social Sciences (published in 1971 by Social Sciences publisher), we can see that Cau Lau is located below Luy Lau and surely composed of an area of Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Haiphong. Similarly, Dang Xuan Bang in “Su hoc bi khao” indicated that the area is near the sea, on the west of Cau Lau and, surely, is Haiphong today. Moreover, “Thuy Kinh Chu” admitted: “Nele citadel is in the southeast of An Dinh”, which adds more evidences to confirm that Nele citadel is located in Do Son in Haiphong for the reason that the region has Do Son peninsular to juts out the sea towards southeast direction.
It is recorded in “ Encyclopedia on Haiphong geographic names”: “An Dinh used to be a suburban district under Han dynasty, one of the 10 suburban districts of Giao Chi. One part of this district together with the other of Ke Tu and Cau Lau, which were in the north of Giao Chi, are in Haiphong today”. The southeast of An Dinh turns out to be Do Son, Haiphong at present.
The following is some remarkable authorities who has so far put ancient Asoka tower in Do Son into consideration in their study:
• In the Western country: Claude Madroll
• In China: Luu Han Ky, Le Dao nguyen
• In Viet Nam: Superior Buddhist monk Thich Duc Nghiep, Profesor Minh Chi,..., Hoang Mien Trai “8 poems about Do Son” and the suty by Ngo Dang Loi (Hai Phong history Association)
Buddhism was introduced in Nele- Do Son- Haiphong in its early time. This is the time when Buddhism had been in its greatly powerful day and successfully laid considerable beliefs of local people in Buddhist-Dharma-Bonze. The image of Indian sanghas in Nele in Do Son was deeply carved in the native people, especially monk Ban (Phat Quang) has been well-known among the Buddhism followers in Nele in Do Son since the century III BC.
On the occasion of United Nations’ Vesak (2008- 2552PL) being held in Vietnam, we have the ambition to carry out a research on the introduction of Buddhism to Nele and on the Nele itself together with Asoka tower in Do Son. We do hope to be offered in- depth points of view on the issue from historians and researchers.
We are grateful, in the same way, to verbatim quote here the statements by late Professor Tran Van Giap who was responsible for the interface of the book: “Historical summary of Vietnam Buddhism” by Superior monk Mat The (Professor of Buddhism in Hue ) as follows: “…Books on Vietnam Buddhism history are available but limited in its quantity… Unfortunately, most of those are recorded in Han. For Vietnamese people, since Han was not accepted to be taught in schools, national language and French have been replaced. Modern researchers seem to be confused when being exposed to books in Han language….”
7. Nele in Haiphong.
Do Son, Haiphong under Hung King dynasty was known as Duong Tuyen, as Giao Chi under Han ruling, later as Giao Chau. In Nguyen historians’ point of views: “The area used to belong to Hai Dong under tan dynasty, belong to Tan An under Minh’s and to Kinh Mon under Le Quang Thuan’s…”. The region has long been considered to be the centre of culture and civilization. Do Son lies among Cat Ba island, Voi mountains and Thuy Nguyen, where Cai Beo culture, the relics Bai Ben, Trang Kenh, Viet Khe, Dong Son,…were existing and developed.
Do Son, Bach Dang, Van Don harbours for a long time was the main gateway to which merchants from regional countries traded with Van Lang, Au Lac right before and after Asoka dynasty (century III BC) and at the same time was the most important waterway traffic area of East China Sea and ancient Southeast Asia.
Doctor Stephen Oppenheimer in his book “Eden in the East: The Drowned Continent of Southeast Asia East” has come to the conclusion that human civilizations laid its origin in areas surrounding East China Sea basing on up-to-date achievements in the domains of genetics, anthropology, mythology, folk literature, linguistics, oceanography, archaeology.
Vu Huu San contends: ...”In century I BC, celebrated scholar Ptolemy made the map of the world, indicating the places of “Golden peninsular” Malaysia/ Indochina, East China Sea with Bac Viet bay extending to the East of India. He made nautical charts and annotated in details the trading position of a port in Giao Chi, obviously named Cattigara (or Kattigara or Katigara) at 177 East meridian, 8.30’ South parallel of latitude with prime meridian passing Canary island)….”
- DoSon under King Asoka’s dynasty
By : Dong Hong Hoan - Trinh Minh Hien
Nele and the ancient tower Asoka in Do Son so far have attracted great attention from both domestic and foreign historians, especially those who major in history of Vietnam Buddhism. A big number of questions has also been raised and wondered many historians: whether Nele was man-made or naturally created by the way ancient people took advantage of geography for fortifications, in which place in Asia and Vietnam the first Indian shanghais had took their first steps on, which regions in Vietnam at that time had satisfactory conditions of geography, politics, economy,...so that the Indian merchants accompanied with Buddism propagandists had travelled to the country. So far researchers as well as historians have tried to submit possible explanations and theories to those puzzles, unfortunately, they failed.
Hereafter, we would like to put forward a brief overview on how Buddism was introduced to Vietnam, on the fact of King Asoka (King ADuc ) sent a group of Buddism propagandists to Asia, including Vietnam and of Chu Dong Tu adopted Budism in Doson. Simultaneously, where is Nele? Where did the Indian Buddism propagandists pay a visit and stay?... And our own points of view together with some researchers’ are to be presented here by.
1. Geographical advantages for Buddhism in India being soon introduced to Vietnam.
- In “ Thien Uyen Tap Anh”, Shaman Dam Thien answered the question raised by King Cao To of Tuy dynasty: “Giao Chau ‘s nearer Thien Truc than our country. As you know, that country had already built 20 towers, employed approximately 500 shanghas and translated 15 prayer- books since Buddism wasn’t adopted to Vietnam....”
- Bonze Lam Nhu Tang in “How Buddism was introduced to our country?” stated: “Vietnam is considered as the back of India- China peninsula, which is between the two countries whose cultures are among the most ancient ones. For such reason, Vietnam is inevitably deeply affected by those two cultures, including religion.
- Nguyen Lang in “Buddism in Vietnam”- “The origin of Luy Lau” indicated: “.... Thanks to Indian merchants, Vietnamese people at that time were more or less aware of farming techniques, medicine and Indian religion. Therefore, it can be said that it’s Indian merchants that introduce Buddism to Vietnam.”
2. King Aduc (Asoka)
- King Aduc (King Asoka) was the King of Mauryan (273-232 BC). Being in favour of Buddhism, he had built stone stele to record achievements by Sakyamuni, whose name was connected with Buddhism propaganda. He was the first king of India who could unify a very big area, which is India today.
- H.G Wells has ever written about Asoka: "The world history had witnessed thousands of kings and emperors consider themselves "notable emperor"…etc. Nonetheless, they was only in their very short heyday whereas, Asoka has remained to be respected up to now."
- Superior monk Thich Duc Nhuan in "Buddism and Vietnam history" stated: "… Buddism was in its 218 years old, great King Asoka had considerably been devoted himself and already accomplished three significant missions:
1. Hold the general meeting "Ket tap kinh dien III"( The dysentery of the canal)
2. Build towers to honour Buddhism and monasteries
3. Set up a delegation of Buddhism propagandists”.
3. Towers in Buddhist architecture
Buddhist towers are located in important relics and for Buddhists and Hollies' corpses storage. King Asoka, in century III BC - the end of Hung King's ruling in Van Lang, built a great number of valuable towers in Mauryan (India) and in other adjoining nations to be in the honour of Sakyamuni and to commemorate the arrival by Buddism propagandists delegations (sent by Asoka)
Khuong Tang Hoi, a respected Buddhist leader in Giao Chau, from the century II - III had already mentioned King Duc Vuong in "The story about Cao Tang"(by Hue Hao): "King A Duc long before had constructed eighty thousand towers. For such reason, putting up towers and pagodas aims to maintain that respectable activity.”
Since Buddhism's acess to Vietnam, a considerable number of towers had been built and existed in many dynasties. However, there has not been those ancient towers' remains.
4. The first introduction of Buddhism in Vietnam since Hung King's dynasty
Some of very well-known Vietnam fairy tales, such as Tam Cam, in which But appear to help out poor and kind Tam, or Neu tree and the Buddhist's frock or Trau cau, which are related to people's rebirth in the form of tree and stone, has proved the fact that Vietnamese people have been for a long time fully aware of Buddhist teachings: causes and effects, samara and karma,…
- Buddhist priest An Thien (century XIX) in "Nguyen Luu Buddhist teachings" in a single chapter demonstrated Buddhism under Hung King's dynasty. The chapter entitled "Hung Vuong Pham Tang" has indicated the close relationship between Buddhism under Hung King's ruling and that of Asoka in Giao Chi’.
- In "Vietnam Buddhism history- from the beginning to Ly Nam De dynasty”, Professor Le Manh That shows:' Buddhism was first introduced to Vietnam since Hung King's dynasty, the first teacher of Buddhism is Phat Quang monk and the first Buddhist is Chu Dong Tu.
- From "Linh Nam Chich Quai" by Vu Quynh and Kieu Phu, there is evidence that Chu Dong Tu was the ancestor of Vietnam Buddhism. He used to inhabit in Chu Xa, Van Duc, the present Gia Lam, Ha Noi.
5. In which place was Buddhism first introduced?
Do Son of Hai Phong in the century II of Mesoproterozotic (about 200 millions years ago) had experienced remarkable earth movements which helped to create ranges of mountains like Trang Kenh, Cat Ba, Voi and Do Son. The bureau of Geology classifies Do Son in the category of hill and agar. Haiphong’s mountains have been so far marvelous, with limestone caves and soil mountains ranging along Do Son beach. Trang Kenh rocky mountain range parallels, reflecting the image in Bach Dang river. Do Son mountains stand as a defending wall of the country.
Do Son is composed of 10 mountains (the biggest one is called Nui Me, the rest 9 ones are called Nui Con). Nui Me is roughly 168 metres..., on the peak of which Asoka tower stood. Unfortunately, the tower was ruined and King Ly Thanh Tong (century XI) then built the other on the ground or at least near the old tower. In century XII, King Tran Nhan Tong stepped on this area (Hai Phong and Hai Duong used to belong to Hai Dong- a key land in China Sea, which is one of the four important regions in the old Thang Long ) to reach the peak of Buddhism and established Thien phai Truc Lam in Yen Tu.
"Do Son Bat Vinh" (8 poems about Do Son by Hoang Xuan Hoan, written in Nho) has to date been preserved in the family annals of Hoang family in Do Son. Hoang Xuan Hoan ,whose penname was Mien Trai, had been presented with 6 units of silver and the title "Hieu Tu" together with the position of an officials who was in charge of education in Kien Thuy by King Ming Mang. He was the Dr Hoang Xuan Triem's son. Dr Hoang Xuan Triem was a mandarin for Le Hien Tong and Chieu Thong government and inhabited in Ngoc Nguyen, Do Son- Kien Thuy- Hai Phong. Hoang Xuan Triem was in the position of ‘Tan tuong quan vu” (a leader in the army) under the control of Duke Dinh Tich Nhuong, an Admiral stationed in Hai Duong.
The fifth poem in "Thap Son Hoai Co" about King Asoka tower in DoSon is interpreted by Nguyen Duyen Nien as follows:
Transcription:
Cổ tháp di hư loạn thảo đôi
Dục Vương khứ hậu ủy yên đồi!
Thiên chung bảo khí minh lưu thủy,
Cửu cấp phù đồ hóa kiếp hôi.
Tiều tử ỷ kha miên thạch đắng.
Mục nhi khu độc há sơn ôi.
Đăng cao dục hội sơn Tăng giảng,
Hà xứ chung lâu khấu nhất hồi.
The poems could hereby be paraphrased:
The old tower is full of grass
The scene was deserted when Asoka was not present
Buddhist bells used to be rang here
The high tower is in ruined
In the slope of the hill paused an woodcutter
Down the mountain came buffalos
Wishing to have a talk with monks
The bell is heard elsewhere
In Do Son existed the pagoda hang (Coc Tu). The local people here said:" Long time ago, at the end of Hung King ..., Su Ban (Ban Tang), an Indian, stayed in Hang pagoda to honour the Buddhist. The pagoda was also the place which witnessed his passing away…”
During the time to stay in Hang pagoda, the monk Ban (Phat Quang) and dwellers in Do Son had together built a pagoda, known as "chua Ban". Right in the ground of Ban pagoda, a family in Do Son (Mr Tao- Ngoc Xuyen - Do Son), collected some exhibitions which are suspected to be the trace of the old Ban pagoda. For confirmation, however, it is of great importance that archeologists and the local government should be involved in the process of further study. 100 metres far away from Ban's pagoda ground, where exhibitions were found, many big stones with chiseled holes can be discovered. Those holes may aim to mark something. The local citizens revealed that such stones had been present here but are already destroyed.
According to "Linh Nam Chich Quai", by Vu Quynh, Kieu Phu: Chu Dong Tu anchored in Quynh Vien moutain and was given the lessons on Budhism by a monk called Phat Quang. Is there a possibility that Su Phat Quang or Su Ban for short and in the same way Mau mountain (or Ngoc, Thap mountain) turns out to be Quynh mountain?
In "Linh Nam Chich Quai", princess Tien Dung- Hung King's daughter and Chu Dong Tu had met an affluent merchant who said: "If you spend an amount of gold, you will gain tenfold of that amount". There off shore existed an island called Quynh Vien (or Quynh Vi in some other books) where the merchant and Chu Dong Tu called on to get fresh water. On the island, there was a temple and a monk known as Phat Quang (or Nguong Quang by other author). Dong Tu was been taught Buddhism and given the tools: a stick and a leaf cone. The monk told "they are the keys for all magic powers".
On the way home, Chu Dong Tu traveled along Van Uc river's mouth, opposite DoSon peninsular to Da Do river's branch (that is Co Tieu today), and came over Minh Lien village (Coc Lien, Minh Tan now) and had the news that Mrs. Da's son had been drowned. Based on the recorded documents, Chu Dong Tu applied acquired magic remedy to make Mrs. Da's son alive. To express her sincere gratitude, Mrs. Da with the local people built a temple to honor her benefactor. The temple has still originally located in Coc Lien, in the edge of Da Do river in Coc Lien and achieved 20 titles so far from King Le Vinh To- Khai Dinh IX.
As mentioned above, monk Ban (Phat Quang) had introduced Buddhism, which is generally accompanied with workable remedies, to Chu Dong Tu. On the way to come back home, Chu Dong Tu passed Minh Lien... (Coc Lien, Minh Tan now) and heard Mrs. Da groaning for her son had been drowned. Without hesitation, he applied Indian remedies which he had adopted from monk Ban to help the son get rid of the death.
Those days, thanks to the advances of science on such fields: ..., anthropology, linguistics and so forth, studies, discoveries and evidences have made clear the secretes of ancient civilizations. A great number of legends spread from generation to generation which used to be considered invented, imagined, magical and, to some extent, as science fictions... have recently been proved realistic with the introduction of modern science. The confirmation by Tran Dai Sy's research in Quang Dong about the real existence of areas in the legend of Lac long Quan, Ngu Linh mountain, Dong Dinh lake could be a very good illustration.
According to the research and publication by Dr Nguyen Viet (director The Center for Southeast Asian Prehistory (CESEAP)), the clothes related to Dong Son culture_ the same age with Chu Dong Tu's time were collected while excavating the ancient Chau Can grave in Chau Can, Phu Xuyen, Ha Tay and the boat tomb in Dong Xa, Luong Bang, Kim Dong, Hung Yen. It, obviously, can be seen that the country of Van Lang under Hung King's ruling had developed the industry of fabric weaving at the age of 230-250 years ago.
There are, consequently, reasonable and logical evidences about the reality of the fact that Chu Dong Tu acquired Buddhism in Nele Do Son, that his saving Mrs. Da in Minh Lien when legends, history and geography of Do Son are taken into consideration. Based on the river, the river's branch, the worship areas of local dweller in Hung Yen, Hang pagoda and the temple built by Mrs. Da in Minh Lien, Do Son, the route on which Chu Dong Tu travelled from Hung Yen to Do Son, calling on Mau Son mountain to get fresh water and meeting Phat Quang ( monk Ban).
6. A brief introduction of viewpoints on Nele citadel in Do Son
We would like to briefly extract here some points of view on Nele citadel in Do Son
- "Thai Binh Hoan Vu ky" by Nhac Su (in Tong dynasty says "There is a citadel called Nele in southeast An Dinh under Han dynasty."
- Those who are in favour of Claude Madroll (Le Tonkin ancient BEFEO, 1937, 263-332) had tried to interpret the name of the Nele, which is black mud and then come to the conclusion that Nele belonged to Do Son, where black mud is popular.
- Luu Han Ky in his book "Giao Chau Ky" (360_420) stated: “Citadel Nele in Southeast Dinh An, 7 miles far from the river, and the tower and the house of worship built by King Asoka have still remained, which are called Kim Tuong by woodcutters."
- Le Dao Nguyen in "Thuy Kinh Chu" (the book 37, page 6b4_6) confirmed:"Quan Tac wharf original comes from that area, yet it passes from the east of the area to An Dinh and truong giang of Bac Dai. The river, where King Viet Vuong built bronze ship, the race of which could be observed when the tide goes away, travels toward the east, where Nele citadel is located, which is said to be put up by King Asoka…”
As well, Dang Xuan Bang aserted in “Su hoc bi khao”: “Cau Lau adjoins river”. “Encyclopedia on Haiphong geographic names” affirms Cau Lau is a part of Haiphong today.
Looking at the map in “Vietnam history” by Vietnam Commission of Social Sciences (published in 1971 by Social Sciences publisher), we can see that Cau Lau is located below Luy Lau and surely composed of an area of Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Haiphong. Similarly, Dang Xuan Bang in “Su hoc bi khao” indicated that the area is near the sea, on the west of Cau Lau and, surely, is Haiphong today. Moreover, “Thuy Kinh Chu” admitted: “Nele citadel is in the southeast of An Dinh”, which adds more evidences to confirm that Nele citadel is located in Do Son in Haiphong for the reason that the region has Do Son peninsular to juts out the sea towards southeast direction.
It is recorded in “ Encyclopedia on Haiphong geographic names”: “An Dinh used to be a suburban district under Han dynasty, one of the 10 suburban districts of Giao Chi. One part of this district together with the other of Ke Tu and Cau Lau, which were in the north of Giao Chi, are in Haiphong today”. The southeast of An Dinh turns out to be Do Son, Haiphong at present.
The following is some remarkable authorities who has so far put ancient Asoka tower in Do Son into consideration in their study:
• In the Western country: Claude Madroll
• In China: Luu Han Ky, Le Dao nguyen
• In Viet Nam: Superior Buddhist monk Thich Duc Nghiep, Profesor Minh Chi,..., Hoang Mien Trai “8 poems about Do Son” and the suty by Ngo Dang Loi (Hai Phong history Association)
Buddhism was introduced in Nele- Do Son- Haiphong in its early time. This is the time when Buddhism had been in its greatly powerful day and successfully laid considerable beliefs of local people in Buddhist-Dharma-Bonze. The image of Indian sanghas in Nele in Do Son was deeply carved in the native people, especially monk Ban (Phat Quang) has been well-known among the Buddhism followers in Nele in Do Son since the century III BC.
On the occasion of United Nations’ Vesak (2008- 2552PL) being held in Vietnam, we have the ambition to carry out a research on the introduction of Buddhism to Nele and on the Nele itself together with Asoka tower in Do Son. We do hope to be offered in- depth points of view on the issue from historians and researchers.
We are grateful, in the same way, to verbatim quote here the statements by late Professor Tran Van Giap who was responsible for the interface of the book: “Historical summary of Vietnam Buddhism” by Superior monk Mat The (Professor of Buddhism in Hue ) as follows: “…Books on Vietnam Buddhism history are available but limited in its quantity… Unfortunately, most of those are recorded in Han. For Vietnamese people, since Han was not accepted to be taught in schools, national language and French have been replaced. Modern researchers seem to be confused when being exposed to books in Han language….”
7. Nele in Haiphong.
Do Son, Haiphong under Hung King dynasty was known as Duong Tuyen, as Giao Chi under Han ruling, later as Giao Chau. In Nguyen historians’ point of views: “The area used to belong to Hai Dong under tan dynasty, belong to Tan An under Minh’s and to Kinh Mon under Le Quang Thuan’s…”. The region has long been considered to be the centre of culture and civilization. Do Son lies among Cat Ba island, Voi mountains and Thuy Nguyen, where Cai Beo culture, the relics Bai Ben, Trang Kenh, Viet Khe, Dong Son,…were existing and developed.
Do Son, Bach Dang, Van Don harbours for a long time was the main gateway to which merchants from regional countries traded with Van Lang, Au Lac right before and after Asoka dynasty (century III BC) and at the same time was the most important waterway traffic area of East China Sea and ancient Southeast Asia.
Doctor Stephen Oppenheimer in his book “Eden in the East: The Drowned Continent of Southeast Asia East” has come to the conclusion that human civilizations laid its origin in areas surrounding East China Sea basing on up-to-date achievements in the domains of genetics, anthropology, mythology, folk literature, linguistics, oceanography, archaeology.
Vu Huu San contends: ...”In century I BC, celebrated scholar Ptolemy made the map of the world, indicating the places of “Golden peninsular” Malaysia/ Indochina, East China Sea with Bac Viet bay extending to the East of India. He made nautical charts and annotated in details the trading position of a port in Giao Chi, obviously named Cattigara (or Kattigara or Katigara) at 177 East meridian, 8.30’ South parallel of latitude with prime meridian passing Canary island)….”
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