Spring, 1028 Phat Ma Ly (his name in the time before he was kingdom) inherited the throne with bad mood. He lost his father and his brother at the same time, besides, three remaining brothers planned to fight against him. He solved the conflict by the way persuading and forgiving them. Then he held a swearing – ceremony at Dong Co temple; the ceremony that people participated in would swore that they would be loyal with the king and filial with parents. That time, he could devote to the country.
Thai Tong Ly had hard childhood. He was chosen to become the next king when he was 12 years old. That moment, he had to live in a private palace. He was allowed to meet his father and his mother but he had to study hardly under powerful mandarins’ leading. Thai To Ly, his father asked the mandarins to teach him strictly. Whenever rebels appeared, he had to followed soldiers to fight them. When he was 20 years old, he was authorized to lead all soldiers to Thua Thien – Hue and fought against Chiem Thanh. Passing the things, he grew up into a knowledge and brave man that made all people respect.
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Thai To Ly ascended the throne when he was 28 years old. He was benevolent king but also an assertive king that whatever he decided he had to do, he would do it.
Thai Tong Ly interested in agriculture. Developing agriculture was the main way to develop the country that was his policy, “dĩ nông vi bản”. Field was valuable in the time he reigned. People who had great merit would be given field. Taxes were low. And whenever the country had to concentrate to build and fight against rebels, people would have tax exemption or reduction after that.
The king used to come to village, observed them doing. Something, he plowed a little to support them. Every year, the king always held a solemn ceremony called “Tịch điền” to pray for great harvest. One year, the king went to “Bo Hai khau” (now Vu Tien, Thai Binh province) to hold the ceremony. After the ceremony finished he took the plow to plow. A mandarin prevented him. He talked:
“This work belongs to farmers. My king, you don’t need to do the thing”.
“If I don’t do the thing by myself, why I can give the god rice from field”, said the king then he plowed till he felt tired.
Thai Tong Ly also interested in what people wore. He encouraged people to grow cotton plants or grow mulberry plants and feed silkworms. He started from his family and mandarins’s family. He found great craftsmen to come and teach concubines weaving. He built a warehouse to store the cloth and called it “quyến khố ti”. To lead people to use cloth weaved in country, he asked soldiers to bring cloth from Tong to divide others. He and mandarins used domestic cloth after that time. Due to that weaving was developed. Many textile villages were formed and became famous as Ngia Do, Nghi Tam, Van Phuc.
Metallurgy was also interested, especially iron and copper. Making pottery had great development, becoming delicate. Commerce developed not only inside each area but also beyonded the border of areas. Therefore, many roads were built and repaired. In Thang Long, the king built a bridge named Thai Hoa over To Lich river, two markets Truong Lam and Tay, and more a market in the east of Thang Long. Many stores were opened it made prosperous scene that had never been seen. The king ordered people to mold 9 kinds of coins helping people easily in use.
But the best thing he had done was ruling the country by law. The country was ruled by other countries 1000 years and the law which was enforced was set up by the other country. The country had gained independence for 100 years but other dynasty replaced the before dynasty in a short time till Ly dynasty. Therefore, all before kings had not enough time to set up new law. Thai Tong Ly, who was the first person, set up written laws in history. The law was named “Hình thư” and promulgated in 1042.
That was a important event when Hinh Thu was given birth. It regulated that each crime would have each punishment. It was very clear and imbued with Buddhist thought which used education as the main way to help people better. The law had many extenuating circumstances, especially the old and minors.
The law replaced the old way used to rule before, followed experience, custom and emotion. The law helped normal understand and respect rules. The law prevented mandarins not to corrupt and not to use their powers arbitrarily. Including royals and the king also was ruled by the law.
To remember the day when the law was born, the king changed his named to Minh Dao and also molded new kind of coin names Minh Dao. He asked people to molded two bells and hung on two side of the front of Can Nguyen palace. He judged all cases as people went and ringed the bells.
Another notable thing that was he had built the capital more beatiful than before. After one year he was the king, he saw a golden dragon flying above Can Nguyen hall. Can Nguyen hall was where his father, Thau To Ly discussed country’s problems with mandarins and generals but it had been abandoned for ten years because it was struck by lightning. He thought that was good signal and ordered people to repaired and extended. Can Nguyen had a new name Thien An. In the left of Thien An, he built a new hall named Tuyen Duc and in the right was Dien Phuc.
Front of Thien An hall set a large stone pedestal with two stone dragon standing on. They was very beautiful and delicate and was set on a brick yard. In the east of the yard was Van Minh hall and in the west was Giang Vo hall. Front of the hall, the king built more hall named Phung Thien which had a tower named Chinh Duong which was used to observe sun, moon and stars to divine. After Phung Thien was Truong Xuan hall with a tower named Long Cac where was place the king use to rest and read books.
The country developed each day. In 1048, the king built three gardens Quynh Lam, Thang Canh and Xuan Quan. Many rare flowers were grown in the gardens. They bloomed for four seasons and helped him relax whenever he stressed. All things made the capital more magnificent.
Thai Tong Ly was person who was great in both knowledge and martial arts. He was a great king to the people and was great diplomat to other countries. Thai Tong Ly died in 1054 when he was 54 years old
THE END
"Translated by Hung Nguyen"
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