The stele Vinh Lang is an important part of the mausoleum of Le Thai To; it is situated in the south-west, at 300m from the mausoleum, near the West Lake , the “brain” of the complex of temples of Lam Kinh. The stele is placed on a hill with a slope toward the south; it is 2,79m high,
The stele Vinh Lang is an important part of the mausoleum of Le Thai To; it is situated in the south-west, at 300m from the mausoleum, near the West Lake, the “brain” of the complex of temples of Lam Kinh. The stele is placed on a hill with a slope toward the south; it is 2,79m high, 1,94m wide, 0,27m thick; its text is composed by Vinh Loc dai phu nhap noi hanh khien tam tri quan su Nguyen Trai. Its contents is concise and concentrated, and describes summarily and completely the life and the work of the king Thai To Cao Hoang De, underlining his generosity toward the defeated enemy.
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The stele is rectangular, with a crescent-form frontispiece, with in the middle a symbol of the sky and the land (a circle inside a square); an undulating dragon around the sun is carved in the middle, meaning that the king (son of the sky) is the result of the union of the sky and the land. It is a lively historical document, an artistical work having a great historical/cultural value in the treasure of vietnamese cultural patrimonies. At the two sides are dragons mounting guard with long bodies undulating among clouds and water. The margin of the stele is decorated (from up down) with 9 refined carved dragons, disposed in half a leaf of snowbell combined with chrysanthemum according to the artistical style of the Ly – Tran. The stele Vinh Lang is a lively historical document, an artistical work having a great historical/cultural value in the treasure of vietnamese cultural patrimonies.
Text of the stele Vinh Lang
(in the book Complete works of Nguyen Trai, Ed. Social Sciences 1969,
pp. 83-84)
In the 6th year Thuan Thien, Quy Suu, 8th month repeated, 22th day, the king Thai To Cao Hoang died. He was buried on the 23rd day of the 10th month of the same year at Vinh Lang, Lam Son.
The king has for family name Le, for first name Loi; his grand-grandfather has for first name Hoi and originally comes from the phu of Thanh Hoa. One day, passing by Lam Son, he saw a flock of birds hovering around mount Lam, as if there was a crowd gathering below. Thinking that it was a propicious land, he transferred his house here. Three years later, his house prospered, his family was becoming more and more numerous, his servants were increasing in number, it was the starting point of a great family, master of a whole region.
The grandfather of the king has for first nam Dinh. He continued the career of his ancestors and had thousands of servants. The grandmother of the king had for family name Nguyen. She was very vertuous and had two sons, of which the elder was Tung, the younger was Khoang, father of the king. He had good nature, liked to practice charity, was hospitable with his neighbours as if they were of his family. Thus, he won the sympathy of everyone.
The king’s mother had for family name Trinh, for first name Thuong. She fulfilled well her tasks of a wife, led her family to prosperity and had three sons; the elder was Hoc, the second Tru and the younger was the king.
The elder was the heir of the family but unfortunately died early. Then the king became the heir very respectfully. The troubled time made him more persevering in following his ideal, he hid himself at Lam Son under an appearance of farmer. His anger against the wickedness of the agressors plunged him in the study of military books. He spent his riches to entertain visitors.
In the year Binh Tuat, he rose, encamped his troops on the bank of the river Lac Thuy, engaged more than 20 battles, most of them in ambush, applied the tactics of guerilla, using the minority against the majority, weakness against force.
In the year Binh Ngo, he won a great victory at Ninh Dong and besieged the capital Dong Do.
In the year Dinh Mui, the enemy sent in reinforcement An Vien Hau Lieu Thang with 100.000 men from Kuangsi and Kiem Quoc Cong Moc Thanh with 50.000 men from
Yunnan. At the battle of Chi Lang, Lieu Thang lost his head, tens of thousands of his men were killed. Hoang Phuc, Thoi Tu with more than 300 men and more than ten thousand soldiers were captured. The military symbols taken from Lieu Thang were sent to Moc Thanh who, scared, ran away during the night. The enemies killed and captured were innumerable.
At this time, the chief of the city Dong Quan Thanh Son Hau Vuong Thong tried to solicit peace with us, agreed to pronouce the oath on the bank of the Red River. All the towns of the country opened their doors to surrender. The enemies, captured and to be sent back to their country, coming up to 100.000 men, are authorized to go back home, with 500 boats for those who travelled by sea, and with provicions and horses for those who travelled by land. It is forbidden for our soldiers to attack the defeated enemies. Since then, it is peace between the two peoples. Muong Le and Ai Lao now make part of our map. The Champa and the Chan Lap come and present their tributes.
After six years on the throne of hard labour (he gets up early, goes to bed late), the country prospers. Now he dies.
The 6th year Thuan Thien, Qui Suu, 10th month, propicious day.
Written by Vinh Loc dai phu, Nhap Noi hanh khien tam tri quan su Nguyen Trai.
Nguyen Van Doan