The Mac Dynasty Memorial Area is a complex of historical and archaeological relics alongside newly built architectural works, located in Ngu Doan commune, Kien Thuy district, Hai Phong city. This place is considered the first capital of the coastal people built by the Mac Dynasty.
According to historical records, Mac Dang Dung (1483 - 1541), from Co Trai village, Nghi Duong district, Hai Duong town (now Co Trai village, Ngu Doan commune, Kien Thuy district, Hai Phong) was a man of great intelligence and courage. More than others, he was an athlete with a background - Vo Trang Nguyen, and was drafted into the Tuc Guard army. During the period when the Le Dynasty was weak, the generals divided into factions, outside farmers rose up in rebellion, Mac Dang Dung was assigned defending Hai Duong. King Le Chieu Thong in Thang Long capital was rebelled by Nguyen Kinh's rebel army. Mac Dang Dung brought troops back to the capital to save the people, single-handedly quelled the rebellion, and was promoted to the position of Binh Chuong Quan Quoc Duc Nhan Quoc Cong. In June 1527, he was ceded the throne by Le Cung Hoang, founding the Mac Dynasty with the reign name Minh Duc. In 1529, he ceded the throne to his eldest son, Mac Dang Doanh - also known as Mac Thai Tong, retired as Thai Emperor, built the Mac dynasty in Hai Phong today, and ended when King Mac Mau Hop (d. 5th king) was defeated by the Le - Trinh army at the end of 1592. However, the descendants of the Mac dynasty still had a stronghold in the Cao Bang area to fight against the Later Le dynasty until 1677 before completely losing it. The Mac dynasty existed for 65 years and experienced 5 kings: Mac Dang Dung (1527 - 1529), Mac Dang Doanh (1530 - 1540), Mac Phuc Hai (1541 - 1546), Mac Phuc Nguyen (1547 - 1561) and Mac Mau Hop (1562 - 1592). Under the Mac dynasty, Vietnam's economy, culture, and society had many achievements recorded in history. That was the prosperous time of markets, bustling ports, and flourishing folk culture. Security and order, strict discipline. Regarding the economy, the Mac dynasty did not follow the policy of "respecting agriculture and inhibiting trade" like the early Le period, but had a very open policy with domestic and foreign trade, developing commodity production, and trading the domestic market with other countries. foreign. Blue and white ceramic products of the Mac Dynasty in Bat Trang and Nam Sach are unique and sophisticated, exported to many countries in the region. Regarding culture, the Mac dynasty always focused on examination policy, training talented people for the country (including for women), opening an Association exam every 3 years.
To remember the gratitude of the Mac family as well as preserve the cultural and historical values of the Mac dynasty, in 2009, the Mac Dynasty Memorial Area was started to be built in Co Trai village. Accordingly, correctly assessing the position of the Mac and Duong Kinh dynasties, the Ministry of Culture and Sports decided to rank the monument, recognizing "The Mac family street in Co Trai, Kien Thuy district, Hai Phong as a historical relic". History, National Culture” in 2004.
The Mac Dynasty Memorial Area has a quite typical and unique artistic style for a Vietnamese feudal dynasty. The common point that is easy to see in the architecture of the relic site is the wooden architecture, including the main Dien house, the Ta Vu and Huu Vu houses, the large gate, the images of Nghe, Lan, and Dragon decorated quite sophisticatedly, using stone materials. Monolithic. Although most of the statues no longer have as much wooden architecture as before, the core inside has not changed. The altar statue is made of jackfruit wood, painted in gold, simple with soft but very strong features creating solemnity. The art of stone stele is also extremely unique like the stele at Tra Phuong Pagoda. The large dragon statue of the Main Palace is made of monolithic green stone, with an evenly curved body. The dragon statue has the soft appearance of a Ly Dynasty dragon.
The main hall of Tu Duong includes the front hall (7 compartments), incense burner (bloom tube), and the harem (5 compartments). Next is the bridge across the semicircular lake to Ngu Tien Mon, considered the "door" of the Mac dynasty. The five front gates include the outer gate and the inner gate with a structure of 4 pillars, 3 compartments, 2 floors, and 4 roofs, creating a sacred and solemn space. The two memorial buildings are located parallel to each other, this is where tourists from all over stop to rest and prepare to pay their respects before going to offer incense in the main hall. According to Eastern concept, the dance house is also a place to shelter people from rain and sun, referring to the protection of the Mac family for generations of descendants and tourists.
Decorated on the statue's robes, on the statue's pedestals are countless variations of Dragon, Snake, Crocodile, Turtle and other themes such as images of the sun, wine gourd, moon face... Those images are decorated on bricks and stones, into steps, but most often on stele and worship statues.
In the main hall there are many worship objects and antiques. From the vase with the image of a one-pillar pagoda and the familiar crane in folk songs to the giant bell weighing 1,527kg, the bronze gong with the image of two dragons engraved in relief. All are solemnly placed in the main hall. Especially the Dinh Nam Dao, the sword that once accompanied King Mac Dang Dung into battle and "won hundreds of battles". Up to now, the age of this treasure is 500 years old. On January 15, 2020, Dinh Nam Dao bar was recognized by the Prime Minister as a national treasure and brought to the Mac Dynasty relic site.
Besides the historical values and unique architecture here, the Mac Dynasty Memorial Area has great humanistic value to educate the younger generation about national pride. Every year, at the beginning of the new year, the Spring Opening Festival is solemnly held here. Attending the Festival were the Vietnam Mac Clan Council, the Hai Phong Mac Clan Council, the Mac Family Liaison Committee of Hanoi City, the Co Trai Family Council and descendants of the Mac family branches, of Mac origin in the city and thousands of people. Thousands of domestic and international tourists and thousands of excellent students from the city's schools, to commemorate and pay tribute to the Emperors of the Mac Dynasty, and at the same time educate the young generation about love of learning. Thereby fostering historical knowledge, awareness of preserving and promoting thousands of years of historical culture and educating patriotic traditions for today's children and grandchildren.
Source: Multilingual Foreign Affairs Information Portal of Hai Phong City
Hai Phong
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