Tens of Thousands of People Flocked to the Cao Temple Festival (Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province) to Witness the Ceremony to Recognize Heritage Trees Organized by VACNE.
On February 25, 2011, tens of thousands of the local people, soldiers, and intellectuals attended Cao Temple Festival at An Lac Commune, Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province to contemplate the ancient forest around the temple and to witness the ceremony to recognize Vietnam Heritage Tree for 54 “lim” trees (Erythrophleum fordii) here organized by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE).
This is the first ceremony to recognize Vietnam Heritage Tree in this year and the third similar event to be held in our country (after the ceremonies to recognize Heritage Tree held successfully in Thuy Khe Ward (Hanoi) and Thuy Xuan Ward (Hue City) in October and November, 2010).
All 54 “lim” trees here meet the criteria for Vietnam Heritage Tree and are numbered. The largest tree has a 20- meter trunk circumference and is 20 meters high, but it is decayed with some dry branches and it needs special care and protection.
At the incense offering ceremony to commemorate gods and the ceremony to recognize Vietnam Heritage Trees at the Cao Temple, there are presented the Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Scientific and Technological Associations (VUSTA), numerous members of VACNE leadership, representatives of Department of Biodiversity (under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), of the Vietnam Youth Union; the People’s Committee at An Lac Commune, Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province, social activists, representatives of news agencies and tens thousands of domestic and foreign pilgrims.
After offering incense and bringing the spiritual bodies of Gods to Thien Bong Mountain, the ceremony to recognize Vietnam Heritage Tree was held solemnly at the ancient “lim’ tree area at Cao Temple.
In his opening speech, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Sinh, President of VACNE, affirmed that this activity aims to arouse Vietnamese people’s love of nature, tree protection and respect for thousands of generations. The recognition of these ancient “lim” trees as heritage trees not only protects scarce and precious holy trees at Cao Temple, protects bio-diversity but also honors the witnesses associated with the national historic fights against invaders.
In his speech at the 1,030 year anniversary ceremony of Vuong family 5 gods and the ceremony to recognize these heritage trees, Mr. Vu Dinh Duc, Vice Chairman of Chi Linh commune’s People’s Committee, said that according to a legend, in the fifth century in Nga Son district (Thanh Hoa), there is a Vuong family couple with five sons. They are very good at working out plans against enemies, help King Le Dai Hanh defeat Tong invader, and keep our border peaceful. All 5 sons of the Vuong family were honored by the people as “the best genius”. The people also built a temple in “Lim” forest area to worship them..
According to an initial assessment by scientists, the fifty four “lim” trees are not those planted in the period of building Cao Temple (10th century- 981 BC). However, they are still hundreds-year ancient trees that are worth being honored, cared and protected carefully.
Prof.Dr. Pham Binh Quyen, VACNE’s Secretary General, read and gave Decision on Recognizing Heritage Trees to Mr. Duong Dinh Anh, Chairman of the An Lac Commune. On behalf of local people, An Lac commune’s leaders expressed gratitude to VACNE for this event and determination to care and protect the 54 “lim” trees as well as young “lim” trees planted in this area in order to contribute to environmental protection and improving lives of the local people.
Source in Vietnamese: http://vacne.org.vn/default.aspx?newsid=5295