The Pearl of the Far East – THE FOSSILIZED FOOTSTEPS (Part 1)

TRUC NGUYEN PHAN SON
TUYET PHAN MY

       By noticing the Fossilized footsteps in the Southward journey, which have left their stamp on the land of Saigon Gia Dinh – we should talk about the Viet inhabitants who used to live in the rural areas of Vietnam (P.1) stretching from North to Central. They had brought with them the settling motif like a painting of an existing street left us by the French (P.2) – These people carried their babies setting their footsteps on the Southward trip on stony paths.

        These footsteps of all the members who carried their young ones  shouldering and doing trifling business, having haircuts or taking ear-wax (P.3) by the roadside from people’s ears (P.4 and P.5) or stopping for a while standing, sitting interminably leading “a precarious living”. (P.6)

      Lines of immigrants who were ordinary people moving on their bare feet, or they were noble people carried by hammocks with parasols. (P.7)

     Amid these caravans of people there were An Nam children (P.8) at that time who accompanied their parents and grandparents to follow the Southward footsteps.

  Amid the group of Southward people who not only crossed over hills or the Truong Son Mountains, there were people who sailed in their boats to cross rivers, streams (P.9) in order to move to Thanh Hoa¹ (in 934) after escaping from the Chinese yokes; they continued moving South-ward starting from Thuan Hoa (in 1425), Quy Nhon (in 1471), Phu Yen (in 1611), Nha Trang (in 1653), Chan Lap Region (in 1658), Đong Nai (in 1680), Phan Thiet (in 1693).

        Right afterward, these footsteps stretched downward to the land of Bien Hoa and Gia Dinh, that means, Saigon, the springboard, to continue downward to the regions called the Southern Six Provinces. History has recorded as follows:

        In the year 1698, Nguyen Huu Canh went to the South for an inspection tour. He saw that this land had been developed for thousands of miles and the population rose to 40.000 households. He founded Gia Dinh Province to govern 2 districts:

        Phuoc Long (now it is Bien Hoa) and Tan Binh (now it is Saigon). This Saigon area stretched from the Saigon River to the Vam Co Dong River.

       Also according to history, Mac Cuu, a military general of the Ming dynasty escaped to Vietnam in 1708. He offered Ha Tien territory to the Nguyen Lord. Following were the events of the year 1732 when the Nguyen Lord established Dinh Vien Province and then built Long Ho Province (later on it was Vinh Long). In 1756, Truong Don province was established and later on Long Ho was settled (later on it was Dinh Tuong). In 1757, Dong Khau, Tan Chau, and Chau Doc provinces were established. Since then, the whole southern region had been completed by the Southward move.

       Regarding the Gia Dinh land called Province, which included districts as we know:  1. Phien Tran District (Saigon); 2. Tran Bien District (Bien Hoa); 3. Dinh Tuong Post (Dinh Tuong); 4. Long Ho Province (Vinh Long, An Gi­ang); 5. Ha Tien Province.

       According to history, there was an internal conflict between the Nguyen Lord and the Tay Son military force. Eventually, the Nguyen family had taken over all the southern land including Gia Dinh. Taking advantage of the event when the Tay Son concentrated on fighting against the Qing invaders in the North establishing orders in the north, Nguyen Anh took over Saigon and built fortresses to defend the Tay Son later on.

     Howerver, history also told us that there had been previously a southward move which lasted for 700 hundred years from the 11th to the 18th century. Since then, Vietnam’s territory was expanded and has existed until today. What idea had arisen so that circumstances were turned to expand the border as mentioned above? Was it true that thanks to the statement: “The unique transversal cordirella may serve as a perpetual breeding-ground” (ie. The Hoanh mountain Range can serve as an eternal safe place). This statement was the answer by Nguyen Binh Khiem when Lord Nguyen Hoang in his despair came to ask for his advice (being oppressed and deprived of all power by Trinh Kiem). Since then, Lord Nguyen Hoang started his footsteps southward in order that his great grand children inherited a vast and peaceful region.

The “Hitch Hike Passenger” – The Three Bag Ogre

       In the organization of the historical process, lots of fossilized foot-prints have been left behind with the time. Among these, according to documentary sources, the Three-Bag Ogre‘s huge foot prints could be seen clearly. He had travelled all half the country’s journey from the Central to the South.

       The Three-Bag Ogre had stopped for a while on the land of Saigon seemingly to gather the good seeds compared to pearls that were then put into three bags- symbolizing “three big bamboo grain baskets” – the Three-Bag Ogre had used these seed paddy to sow on immense fields in the Six Provinces of the Southern area.

      Recently, an article on the burning of the Thien Mu Pagoda² mentioning the history of Hue Buddhism had noted, “He was carrying out Ascetic Practices, wandering through villages begging for food; he used to carry over his shoulders three bags: one containing non-vegetarian food dedicated by people, which accepted then later gave it to the poor; the second one containing vegetarian food serving as his meals; the biggest third one, hung on the edge of the pagoda roof was used as a shelter to sit in at night.”

       Once again, the following article entitled: The Three-Bag Ogre as bonze superior Trung Dinh³, the author of which, on his field trip around Hue Citadel, had noted: “….The kind and benign Three-Bag Ogre was loved by people, especially the children, because he used to give them cake, play with them and care for them… He was a devout and good conduct monk. His bushy beard together with his carrying several bags made him look savage and people used his picture to threaten the children.

        Especially, at An Cuu Village, a collector gave more information: “…Dai Cang Shrine – a supernatural place… where there was a man carrying three bags; he used to beg for food; when night came, he returned to the shrine to sleep. Upon his arrival, children often clung on him and played with him… He also put them into his bags and carried them around. Everyone loved him.

        Such historical source of information has been so interesting! However, Mr. Three-Bagged Ogre has had another more amazing personality, that means, he had a “folklore” life in accordance with an extraordinary motif – worldly and rudimentary! Nevertheless so familiar to an adventurous lifestyle of the people in the Six Provinces Southern Land. Mr. Henry Oger, an Oriental researcher had depicted this personage in his lively sketch together with the second layout. The Three-Bags Ogre appeared like a legendary person that flowed along the close relations with Viet Nam history from South to North.

        The Three-Bags Ogre had become a “half-god, half-man”; yet the “man” part is more or less of “devil” character. That means: Between “real man” and “real devil” and “holy spirit” there was defined border.

… Be continued …

SEE  MORE:

◊  The Pearl of the Far East – THE FOSSILIZED FOOTSTEPS (Part 2)

NOTE:

1.  After Vuong Hong Sen – Ancient Saigon – Dong Nai Publishing House 2004 – page 60 – 61.

2. After Thai Loc- The burning of Thien Mu Pagoda (Eposode 1) Tuoi Tre Sunday 7/8/2016 (Page 13). 

3. According to Mr. Thai Loc, “Mr Bugbear is Trung Dinh Monk”, (United last), Youth, dated 10-8-2016.

ADDITIONAL NOTE:

4.  Gaston Bonnet (1867-1908), French, Journalist – Contributed to the “Petit Dauphinois“, “Soir” and was war correspondent for “Le temps” – Knight of the Legion of Honour (Source: Bibliothèque National de France – bnf.fr).

◊ Bold, italic, and colored letters are set by Ban Tu Thu.

◊  Figure 1, 2 – Source: Saigon – The Pearl of the Far East – HUNG NGUYEN MANH, Associated Professor Doctor of History – TRUC NGUYEN PHAN SON.

◊  Featured image – Source: A. F. Decoly – Alexandre Francis Decoly –

Mr. Decoly collects cartes of postales and publishes images – in black and white and color – in Saigon from 1905 to 1924 but he is not a photographer but only a businessman. Photo of Mr. Decoly’s cartes postales with the symbol of a small pagoda in the corner is Mr. Decoly’s company, then the symbol of the temple tower becomes the trademark of “Edition La Pagode Saigon”. According to the 1910 Indochina Yearbook, Decoly resided at 36 Legrand de la Liraye, “Decoly, employé de commerce” (now Dien Bien Phu street) – Source: hiepblog.wordpress.com – Nguyen Duc Hiep, Atmospheric Scientist, Office of Environment & Heritage, NSW, Australia.

BAN TU THU
10 /2019