Performed by: Bao Trung | April 21, 2024
(Fatherland) - The cycad tree right in front of the Ha Temple gate in the Hung Temple National Historical Relic Complex is nearly a thousand years old. This is a "unique" ancient tree that is most visited by visitors during each Hung Temple festival season.
At the historical relic site of Hung Temple (Phu Tho), in addition to the worship structures, stone oath pillars, jade wells, sacred rice grains... there are also many long-standing heritages, including the tall cycad tree in front of Thien Quang Pagoda next to Ha Temple, which is now over 800 years old.
The tall cycad tree in front of Thien Quang Pagoda next to Ha Temple, part of Hung Temple relic site, is now over 800 years old.
The ancient cycad tree has 3 branches symbolizing the 3 regions of North, Central and South but with the same origin.
The tree is over 5 meters tall and has three branches. The diameter of the base is about 35 cm, the diameter of the main top is about 25 cm, and the two branches have a trunk diameter of about 20 cm. The tree trunk leans about 30 degrees. Therefore, in 2009, the relic site installed a steel support column to keep the tree from falling.
The cycad tree has three tips pointing in three directions. Based on the leaf rings (every two years, a layer of old leaves falls off), the tree is nearly 800 years old.
According to the stele at Thien Quang Pagoda, the pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty with the Chinese name "Vien Son Co Tu", and in the 15th century changed its name to "Thien Quang Thien Tu". This is one of the oldest trees in the relic site, witnessing many ups and downs of history.
Interestingly, every spring, the tree sprouts many new shoots.
After many renovations, the pagoda has the name Thien Quang as it is today. According to historical records, on September 19, 1954, after the victory of Dien Bien Phu, President Ho Chi Minh visited Hung Temple. He sat under the shade of a cycad tree in front of Thien Quang Pagoda and talked with the officers and soldiers of the Vanguard Army Corps preparing to take over the capital. The saying: "The Hung Kings had the merit of building the country, we, uncle and nephew, must work together to protect the country" was also said by Uncle Ho during his visit to Hung Temple in 1954.
In addition to the 800-year-old cycad tree, the Hung Temple relic site also has many ancient trees hundreds of years old such as banyan trees, pine trees... These are extremely valuable assets, considered green treasures of the Hung Temple.
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