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Mai Xuan Duoc, a Mai Xuan Thuong's descendant, at the old tomb. Photo Mac Trac |
Mai Xuan Duoc, a Mai Xuan Thuong's descendant, led me to the patriot Mai Xuan Thuong's tomb located at Vuon So mound in Phu Lac hamlet, Binh Thanh commune, Tay Son district. The area is also called Vuon Dao (peach garden) because many peach trees are grown here.
The tomb is directed toward the south and beside it lie three tombs of the Nguyen family name. Mai Xuan Thuong's tomb is, however, distinguished from the others thanks to its stone screen. In the middle of the screen is a stele written in Chinese characters.
At both side of the tomb are two pillars with two parallel sentences (cau doi) taken from parallel sentences of Mai Xuan Thuong's close friend, Dong Si Binh. He wrote them to present his condolences on the death of Mai Xuan Thuong. Reading two parallel sentences, I thought that they should be restored because they showed not only the fighting will of a patriot but memories of the friendship.
In 1961, Mai Xuan Thuong's remains were returned to the peak of Hoanh Son mountain range, called Ngang mountain, in Hoa Son hamlet of Binh Tuong commune. To commemorate his first final resting place, Mai Xuan Thuong's descendants still come here to burn incense on his death anniversary.
As narrated, before being beheaded, his face didn't become pale. When going to the scaffold, he turned to the north, praying to show his gratitude towards the King. He then turned to the west, praying to express his gratitude towards his parents. He finally unhurriedly recited a poem of Tang prosody.
Before being beheaded, Mai Xuan Thuong hair was tied to the top of a bamboo pulled down, so his head was hung in mid air when he was killed. Also, the straw and cloth were covered on the ground to prevent the blood from absorbing in the earth's womb. The enemy did this to stop the fighting spirit of Vietnamese people.
Mai Xuan Thuong's new tomb situated in Binh Tuong commune. Around it there are many landscapes, such as Hon Dung mountain and Ham Ho tourism site where many bases were set up in the Can Vuong movement. Enjoying the beautiful sites and recalling the will of a patriot, everyone can be in adoration of Mai Xuan Thuong.
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