In days of spring, 1010 Thai To Ly king and some courtiers went to his hometown on a ship. They went from Hoa Lu capital (Ninh Binh province) to Co Phap (now, Bac ninh province) on a ship. The king had delight as he saw the country seemed to change better. Fields were green and were going to give great harvests. Whenever, the ship arrived to a port, the king stopped to go on ground and had sightseeing and asked people about their lives. When the ship came to “Đông Bộ Đầu” port which was outside of Dai La citadel, the ship stopped, the king went on and realized Dai La was crowded place with convenient transportation. Dai La had been headquater of government when the country had been dominated by another country. Its name had been Tong Binh, had been rebuilt and repaired many times. Especially, it was repaired carefully when Cao Bien was the manager (See more about CaoBien here). The visit gave the king a deep thinking. Though the king had left Dai La and came to his hometown, he still couldn’t relax his mind.
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When the travel finished, the king came back Hoa Lu. That time, he and some courtiers spent few days climbing up to the tops of highest mountains and observed around. Meanwhile, the king observed the country with another position; he now was not a general but he was a leader who would lead the country on right way.
Hoa Lu was place which was surrounded by high mountains. It was the best place if he wanted a defensive fortress but now it was unnecessary for a country which was developing. On other side, Dai La was a city which had developed for many years while the country was being dominated. Dai La had become the center of politic, economy and culture. He spent nights thinking then had a decision that moving the capital.
Thai To Ly ordered his courtiers to invited Van Hanh (his teacher) coming to discuss. They discussed until midnight. Van Hanh left the room to take a rest while the king was still in the room to write a decree. When the decree had been written that also was the next morning. In the decree the king confirmed that:
“Dai La is old castle of Cao Bien. It stands in the center of of heaven and earth. One side abuts with mountain and one side abuts with river it is too convenient for trade. Besides, it is a broad and high area that people living in which have never known what is flooding. After considering over Dai viet, I think no where can become the new capital but Da La.
I want to move the capital to the place. What do you think?”
All mandarins agreed and said that: “My king, you because of people make this plan. It will help our country develop, help many people be rich and have great lives. That is good thing. We will follow you, my king”.
The king was satisfied, he ordered people to start.
The king asked people to come to Dai La and measured. They drew an architecture map of Dai La which expressed each house, each road, each port… Then the king ordered soldiers to go and started to prepare all thing. They built a baked brick factory and wood factory, then the works, leveling, cleaning rivers, canals, and building were done inturn.
The new capital was built three layers. The outermost layer was called “Kinh thành” (or “La thành”), the next layer was “Hoàng thành” (or “Thăng Long thành”), and the last layer was “Cấm thành” (or “Long thành”) where the king would lived.
“Kinh thành” (Kinh thanh) was very large and was surrounded by three rivers that were Tô, Nhị (now it is called Hong) and Kim Nguu. They became natural trenchs protecting Kinh thanh. Kinh thanh had four main gates. Those were Trieu Dong (Triều Đông) in the north, Tay Duong (Tây Dương) in the west, Truong Quang (Trường Quảng) in the south,Van Xuan (Vạn Xuân) in the east. That outmost area was where focused normal people, traders and craftsmans. They came there to live and trade and made the area become the the most prosperous area in the country.
Hoang thanh the next layer was built by baked bricks and was cladded by marbles. Kinh thành was surrounded by deep moat and people could get in by the way go on bridges. The east of Hoang thanh was place Nhi river went past and flowed into Dam Dam lake (now West lake) and To Lich river and that had Tuong Phu (Tường Phủ) gate. The other gates were Quang Phuc (Quảng Phúc) in the west, Dai Hung (Đại Hưng) in the south, Duc Dieu (Đức Diệu) in the north. That area was place royals and powerful mandarin’s families lived. Besides, it placed headquarters of the army.
Long thanh, the last layer which the king and his family lived in. There built a complex castle with many halls and rooms as Can Nguyen (Càn Nguyên) where was the place the king and mandarins, generals discussed country’s problems; Tap Hien (Tập Hiền), the place mandarins had meetings and Giang Vo (Giảng Võ), the place general focussed. Of course, the castle had many rooms which were place the king, the queen and maids lived. The castle had circular roof architecture which was stood on big wooden pillars and were decorated by carved with patterns as dragon, fox, turtle and phoenix…
The building of capital was conducted in urgency and meticulousness. The baked brick factory had never stopped along the time the capital was built. Marbles, wood and lime stones were carried to by ships. Builders, carpenters, carvers in whole contry were grouped into there to work. Whatever construction which was complete it almost was used immediately. Therefore, in July, 1010 the king and courtiers went to a ship and started going to new capital. The ship followed rivers named Hoang Long (Hoàng Long), Day (Đáy), Chau Giang (Châu Giang) then went in Nhi (now Hong) to arrive to the capital. The travel took them three days. As the ship landed at the port that time was early morning.
The king went out apartment. He observed and enjoyed scenery. Then the king saw a cloud which looked like as a flying dragon. The king thought that was good sign so he decided named the new capital Thang Long (flying dragon).
The old capital was changed Truong Yen ( Trường Yên) and his hometown also changed Thien Duc (Thiên Đức).
Next kings of Ly dynasty continued building and repairing Thang Long and made it be more magnificent. They made Thang Long became the pride of country that time and a cultural heritage now.
THE END
"Translated by Hung Nguyen"
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