Pay attention to renovating, embellishing and promoting the value of the historical relic of Tu Ma Hai Dao Temple.

Sima Hai Dao Temple was renovated and embellished.

According to the poem "Truyen Tho Tu Ma Hai Dao" in Thai Co script, transcribed and translated by Mr. Pham Xuan Cu, General Tu Ma Hai Dao was from the Ha family, born in Muong Dao (now Dien Quang commune, Ba Thuoc district), and orphaned at an early age. From a young age, Tu Ma Hai Dao showed intelligence and a passion for practicing archery and swordsmanship. Growing up, Hai Dao had a strong physique, extraordinary appearance, and was good at martial arts. Hearing that the royal court was holding a martial arts competition to recruit talented people, to help the king defeat the enemy, and save the country, Hai Dao was allowed by the Lang official to follow him to the capital to participate in the martial arts competition. That year, the young man Hai Dao continuously won in front of the admiring eyes of many people. It was Hai Dao's appearance and martial arts proficiency that touched the heart of the king's daughter. Knowing that his daughter loved Hai Dao, the king arranged the marriage and asked the teacher to teach his son-in-law. Having learned to read and regularly practiced martial arts, Hai Dao became a man of both literature and martial arts.

At that time, the Northern invaders were lurking on the land border of the western region of Thanh. After being granted the title of General by the King, Hai Dao asked for soldiers, weapons, and food to guard the border area. To create a combined strength, Hai Dao recruited more soldiers, prepared food, forged more weapons, and then led the army to the border (Ten Tan commune, Muong Lat district today) to repel the foreign invaders and guard the border. The army fought bravely and won many victories, bringing a peaceful life to the people. After the border was peaceful, Hai Dao chose Muong Xia as the capital. From then on, Muong Xia became bustling, the population was dense, and trading activities became bustling. The people of Muong Xia called him Quan Chau Xia, governing the areas of Muong Chu San (ie Muong Xia, Muong Min), Muong Chu Gia, Muong Chu Sang (in Hoa Binh and Son La provinces today). When he was old, Tu Ma Hai Dao died in Muong Xia, he was buried in a cave of Pha Dua mountain. Later, Muong Xia people often called him God Tu Ma of Pha Dua. In gratitude for the person who had contributed to guarding the border, bringing prosperity to the village, every year on the 9th and 10th of the second lunar month, the people organize the Muong Xia Festival.

In 2009, with the attention of the State, local Party committees and authorities, the Tu Ma Hai Dao temple was invested in and built, meeting the expectations of ethnic minorities in Quan Son district. In 2022, the Muong Xia Festival was included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Today, this festival is not only limited to the Thai ethnic group in Son Thuy commune (Quan Son), but is also a place for cultural exchange and activities between the Thai, Kinh, Muong ethnic groups in Quan Son district and Muong Dao, Ba Thuoc district (hometown of Tu Ma Hai Dao), Muong Ben and Muong Xoi of Laos. In 2022, with provincial budget funds, the project to embellish the landscape of the Tu Ma Hai Dao temple campus was started in November 2022. The project includes items such as infrastructure construction of the campus; lotus pond, pond bridge, resting hut; main gate, fence; renovation of Tu Ma Hai Dao temple... with a total investment of nearly 7 billion VND. By November 2023, the project will be completed, contributing to preserving and promoting the value of historical relics.

Proud of their hometown with the Tu Ma Hai Dao Temple, in recent times, the Party Committee, government and people of Son Thuy commune have always made efforts to preserve and promote the value of the relics through practical actions, such as: Strengthening the management and prevention of relic encroachment; directing mass organizations to coordinate with schools in the commune to promote propaganda and education on the value of the relics for the young generation in the commune; cleaning the environment around the relics; respectfully offering incense on the first days of the month and the full moon day...

Mr. Ngan Van Hanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Thuy Commune, said: In 2024, Tu Ma Hai Dao Temple was recognized by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee as a provincial historical relic. This is an honor for the cadres and people of Son Thuy Commune. To preserve and promote the value of the relics, the commune continues to promote propaganda work to raise people's awareness in preserving heritages. Mobilize all resources to build a traditional stilt house and expand the area of ​​the commune's stadium to have a place to organize the Muong Xia Festival. Develop this place into a spiritual cultural tourist destination to meet the cultural and religious needs of the people, attracting tourists.

Article and photos: Xuan Nguyen

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/quan-tam-tu-bo-ton-tao-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-tich-lich-su-den-tu-ma-hai-dao-246153.htm