The ancient land in Thanh Hoa has Cung and Ngoc villages as beautiful as a movie reflecting the water of the Ma River

From Thanh Hoa city, follow Highway 1A to the North, reach Ha Trung, turn onto Highway 217 through Vinh Loc, go to Cam Thuy – Cam Tu, just a few kilometers from Phong Son town (Cam Thuy district).

The majestic high mountains in the western region of Thanh are like that. When they reach Cam Thuy, they gradually lower, creating a range of wavy mountains and hills.

The Ma River flows, and when it reaches Cam Tu, it “suddenly” expands, creating lush, fertile alluvial grounds. The Cam Tu people relied on that to build and develop a dense village with a prosperous life.

Surrounding mountains and rivers have “created Cam Tu into a large valley. In particular, this valley is surrounded by limestone mountains, dirt mountains and wavy hills.

These are Vuc mountain, Co Dang mountain, Both mountain running along to Thung Ma, Co Buong, Dong hill extending from the North to the East of the commune. The surrounding mountains and hills are like a natural wall protecting the land of Cam Tu…

In the past, the forests in Cam Tu as well as in Cam Thuy were vast with many types of precious forest products such as slices, ironwood, chestnuts, apple trees…” (History book of Cam Tu Commune Party Committee).

Ma River flows through Cung village and Ngoc village (now Lien Son village), Cam Tu commune, Cam Thuy district, Thanh Hoa province.

Along with the mountains and forests, the Ma River flowing through Cam Tu area not only deposits alluvium but also plays an important role in the development of the ancient land.

In particular, when waterway traffic still played an important role, Cam Tu was like a “gateway” connecting the lowlands with the uplands, from where boats and ships spread out in all directions.

In Cam Tu, many years ago, archaeologists found traces and relics of ancient Vietnamese people tens of thousands of years ago (Archaeological relics of Trong cave)…

In the 15th century, after the successful Lam Son uprising, the Later Le dynasty was born. Villages on Cam Tu land were gradually established. The establishment of hamlets and villages in Cam Tu took place strongly during this period.

That is Trai village, later called Ngoc village (now Lien Son village), founded by the Truong family in 1442 during the reign of Le Thai Tong…

By the beginning of the Nguyen Dynasty, Cam Tu land was densely populated… mainly Muong people originally from Hoa Binh. During this period, Cam Tu belonged to Muong Voong (there are documents written about Muong Vong – pv), Mong Son book.

Cung Temple on the banks of the Ma River on Cam Tu land (Cam Thuy district, Thanh Hoa province) worships Princess Thuong Ngan Dao Nguyen.

Among the villages in Cam Tu, Ngoc village and Cung village (now Lien Son village) are known as the two villages with the earliest history of establishment in Cam Tu and these are also two ancient villages located on the banks of the Ma River. where the vast majority of Muong ethnic people live.

Over time, along with efforts to “explore mountains and destroy rocks” and build a life, Cam Tu people in general and Lien Son village people in particular have worked together to cultivate and create long-standing cultural values. Among them, the most unique is the cultural beauty and beliefs of the ancient Muong people, associated with relics and festivals.

Following the tour guide, I visited Cung Temple, leaning against Lien Son Mountain, “looking back” at the Ma River.

After lighting incense sticks to the Saint who has been revered by people in the area for many generations, Mr. Truong Van Trong, the custodian of the Cung temple’s cultural and historical relic site, proudly said: “The Cung Temple worships the Saint Mother who is often worshiped in the temple. People call her Princess Thuong Ngan Dao Nguyen.

Legend has it that long ago, one day on the highest mountain in the Lien Son mountain range (today’s Lien Son village), people in the village suddenly discovered a beautiful five-colored cloud that did not “disperse” for 3 days. .

Seeing this, everyone in the village thought it was strange. At night, two village elders in the village dreamed of two beautiful-looking fairies, called Thuong Ngan Dao Nguyen, Princess Le Mai, and King Ngo Lien, Son Tien, walking through the world and seeing the scenery here. beautiful, quiet mountains, green river flowing around so stop here…

After waking up, two elders had a strange dream and told the villagers. Thinking that it was a sign of a divine being coming to visit, people in the area contributed together to build a temple to worship… Among them, Cung temple at the foot of Lien Son mountain worships Thuong Ngan Dao Nguyen, princess Le Mai the great king. . The name of the village is given to the sacred temple.

Local people always believe that the Holy Mother worshiped at Cung Temple is credited with sponsoring the lives of the villagers in prosperity and prosperity – she is considered the god of the village.

Therefore, for Lien Son villagers in particular and Muong Voong people in general, Cung Temple plays an important role in religious and spiritual life.

Cung Temple in the past had a large and majestic scale. Unfortunately, the war caused the sacred temple on the Ma River to be destroyed. Many years ago, on the old foundation, villagers built a smaller temple to worship the Holy Mother.

Cam Tu was inhabited by Muong people very early. Many traditional cultural values ​​of the Muong ethnic people here are being preserved.

Every year, on January 20, people in the area come together to the temple to participate in the traditional festival and send good wishes.

During the Cung Temple festival, besides the respectful rituals of worshiping the gods, Muong Voong people immerse themselves in the space of gong sounds, with games and folk performances imbued with Muong culture.

Along with Cung temple, on Cam Tu land in the past there were also Ngoc village communal houses, Mong pagoda (Mong Son pagoda), Cung pagoda… creating a rich cultural and religious space rich in values ​​of land and people. Hydrangeas.

Sharing about the traditional cultural values ​​of the Muong people here, cultural researcher Cao Son Hai – a Muong person from Cam Tu’s hometown, proudly said: “Along with the Muong people of Thanh, the Cam Tu Muong people have Contributing to the ancient cultural treasure of the Muong people with the epic “Giving birth to land”; Xuong folk songs; Pon Poong ceremony; Color talisman…

Besides, the legends, stories, and cultural beliefs passed down in Cam Tu land have “thickened” the cultural beauty of the ancient land.

Mr. Hoang Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Cam Tu commune, (Cam Thuy district, Thanh Hoa province) said: “Cam Tu is an ancient land where people settled and established villages very early, thereby creating the rich in historical and cultural traditions of the ancient land.

Currently, in Cam Tu, Muong people account for 52%. The preservation, preservation, and restoration of traditional cultural values ​​such as relics, festivals, and rituals in Cam Tu commune in recent years have been paid attention and promoted effectively…”.

(The article references and uses content in the Cam Tu Commune Party Committee History book and some documents kept locally).