Story 3. Cong Uan Ly moved the capital

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"

Read more:

Historical stories

Story 1. Cong Uan Ly, the first king of Ly dynasty

Story 2. Vạn Hạnh, a monk and an adviser of kings

Story 3. Cong Uan Ly moved the capital

Story 4: Thai Tong Ly, the kindness king

Story 5: Ceremony Dong Co

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Truyện cổ tích Việt Nam

Vietnamese fairy tales

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List of Vietnamese fairy tales

Vietnamese fairy tales includes many stories as Tam and Cam; So Dua; Hundred – knot- bamboo tree... which were spread in folk. Each stories has its own meaning. I think I can not translate exactly each word into english but I will try my best to convey its meaning to you. Hope you like them!

GIỠ HAO JRANG chapter 4

Their fighting was very noisy. When their knives hit against the others or hit again shields it rumbled as thunders. The place between sky and ground where they fought was covered by dusts. They wrestled, punched and kicked other by their feet. They burked others by their huge hands. Daytime as like nighttime they fought without resting. Sometime, GiỡTuKrong and his fellows got advantage but sometime, they lost. Long time had passed but they still didn’t find out the winner. BokKiekLaDiaKlaKong clawed on GiỡTuKrong’s face by his pointed hard fingernails but all his fingernails were broken while GiỡTuKrong’s face had no scratch. GiỡTuKrong raised his hexagonal rod which was made of brass and lashed on BokKiekLaDiaKlaKong’s face. BokKiekLaDiaKlaKong dizzied and fell on ground he fainted.

Thanh Giong

Once upon a time, a woman was old but she had not given birth a child. One day, when she went to her field, she saw a stranger footsore on the ground. The big footsore made her surprise and said: “omg, this footsore is so big” the she put her foot into the footsore. More 9 months later, she gave birth to a little boy named Giong. The boy was extraordinary that he was over three years old but had not spoken. He only knew lying and smiling. vietnamesefairytales.blogspot.com That year, the enemies they were known An planed to attack the country of the boy. They were merciless. Wherever they had gone, houses were ruined, fields were fired, people were killed. The sight behind them is mess of corpse and blood and ashes.The King was worry he forced his servants to look for person who could fight against the enemies. One day, a servent went to Giong’s village while the woman was holding the boy in her arms, she said sadly that: “Giong, I wonder that when you hav...

The Tale of the Hundred - knot Bamboo tree

Once upon a time, there had a boy who was poor, had no field. Therefore, he found the way to work for a landlord. He was healthy, worked hard and great in working so the landlord wanted him to work for him long time without any pay. One day, he called the boy to come. "You are honest and healthy. If you agree to work for me in three years without pay, I will let you marry with my only daughter after that." The boy agreed. He believed completely. He worked very hard, help the landlord turn richer that he could build more houses, buy more fields and cattles. Then, time passed. Three years nearly crossed, the boy always remembered his master's promise while his master, the landlord didn't want to do his promise. He in secret had found another boy for his daughter, a son of another landlord in that area. Therefore, what he need was a reason to refuse the boy. One day, he called the boy to come. "You have worked very hard for three years, waken early, slept late....

Thach Sanh and Ly Thong Chapter 1

Chap 1: fight with huge snake Once upon a time, a woodcutter and his wife were over sixty years old but they had had not any children. Although they were sad, they still did good thing and hoped God would give them one child. At last, their kindness had come to King of heaven who requested his son to fly down and reincarnate to be the old couple’son. They had just enjoyed the happiness for a short time. Then, the old man died, before his son was born. Vietnamesefairytales.blogspot.com After that, the woman gave birth to a beautiful, strength boy. She named him Thach Sach. The poor boy grew up with no father then his mother also left after few years living with him. They only left him an ax and a pair of shorts. Day by day, he went to forest, cut tree, split them then took to market to get money. When he was thirteen, king of heaven forced his servants down to teach him magic and martial arts. Then they was back heaven, Thach Sanh continued living alone in...

GIỠ HAO JRANG chapter 8

“All right!” said Giông and GiỡHreng, “We will go in. If we stain your community house by blood, you don’t hate us or if we made your community house shake or ruin it, you don’t say that we want to do it. Or if you also want to fight with us, let us know immediately”. “I am gentle person”, said AtauYangBul, “Who have never gotten argument with anyone. I have asked BokKiekLaDiaKlaKong but he don’t listen he still lie on floor under blanket shaking. Come on and fight with him on floor. I will go and sleep at garret”. While BiaBơngBơh, BiaSơngLong, BiaSơdrăngMatAnar found shade under trees resting, Giông, GiỡTuKrong, DamPhan, GiỡHreng, MaKlen, MaJong started stepping up community house. “MaKlen, MaJong shut the doors up.” said GiỡTuKrong “Today we will fight with BokKiekLaDiaKlaKong in this community house”.

Golden hole or silver hole

Their parent died, left them valuable assets. They were two boys. They still lived together in their parent’s house till the old brother got married. After the old brother married, he wanted to divide their parent’s assets. Therefore, he wrote an agreement paper. “This is the time we need to divide our parent’s assets.” He said, “We both need private lives”. “How will we divide?” said the young brother. “All things our parent left were in three types: male, female and neutral. Because you are younger then me, I will give you all things which were male I will get things which were female and neutral. If you agreed, sign you name on this paper”, said the old brother. The young innocently thought that his brother was very kind, giving him good things so he signed his name on the paper. They started separating. “This house is mine. This female buffalo is mine. This plow is mine, This jar is mine….” said the old brother. From morning to afternoon, almo...

Three boys

Once upon a time, Le family had daughter who was not only beautiful but also great in knowledge and skillful that none could be better than her. When he was old enough to marry, many people had come, mandarins, landlords, students… but her father refused all of them. He said to them: “My daughter doesn’t need to be mandarin’s wife, landlord’s wife. She only wants a husband who had a skill but he has to be great in the skill. If people who don’t have the thing don’t come to my home”. The news the girl need a husband spread largely so many people came and tried but nobody could made the father satisfied. vietnamesefairytales.blogspot.com One day, three boys came to meet him. All of them were young, handsome and healthy. After the father heard them introduce themselves, he knew that they came from three places and just met the others as they arrived to there. One of them was an archer who could shoot any thing though it was far away or close, big or small. The second ...

Crow and Peacock

Once upon a time, both Crow and Peacock were best friends and had same feather colors, gray. They knew themselves were ugly so they didn’t appear front of other birds. Peacock in Crow’s eyes was uglier than him because Peacock had a small head and a long neck that they didn’t connect to his body. vietnamesefairytales.blogspot.com One day, Crow talked Peacock: “A painter was painting nearly so we should come and steal some colors to paint on our feathers and make it beautiful” said Crow Peacock bowed his head. That day, the painter hadn’t finished his picture so he left his jar of colors on ground and took a nap. The first time, they stole a paintbrush and some jars then hid them on mound middle lake nearly. The second, they planned to go and steal again but the panter had woken up and came his home so they only took a jar of ink and a pocket of purl he had left. “Right, we start painting, yet” said Crow Crow made Peacock lie down and began painting. Crow painted v...

Vietnamese fairy tales

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