Hanoi is overwhelmed with lotus leaves. The lotus leaves are round like the full moon, flying on the smoke of thousands of blue eyes of this land. There are many lotus ponds in Vietnam from the North to the South, but where are there lotus species that exude a precious fragrance, both pure and sweet as in Hanoi lotus ponds.
That lotus variety is only available here, since Lac Long Quan killed a ripe fox with its tail as a crystal and brought the water of Cai River (Hong Ha) into the abyss to create the immense West Lake - the first scenic spot in Thang Long land. Then, that rich lotus variety (petal wings) was given the noble title: Sen Ho Tay.
Returning to that time of desolation, when the West Lake was immense, the view was the waves, sometimes the gas of the lake transformed into Dam Dam, sometimes the "water of the most colorful community", the highlight of that immense illusion was the waves of green lotus leaves and the pink and white lotus flowers floating in power.
These are the small color points in the middle of the immense, filled with the endless beauty of the world of bad luck, both setting on the smoke and waves, and steadfastly holding the heart of the diamonds firmly unchanged. Is the image of lotus flowers on the water wave a group (Totem) for this land?
It must be true that the lotus flower is the only architectural work that has existed for more than 1,000 years, hidden in a pagoda with the Chinese name Dien Huu, and the folk name is One Column pagoda. The lotus in the king's dream and the lotus floating on the water is a wonderful, lovely, and elegant cross-section.
The magical beauty of lotus flowers makes all emotions and senses open, clear and transform. The West Lake lotus flower when it was still a bud is the shape of two folded hands to worship the Buddha or enter meditation. When the lotus mouth blooms, much more contented as a whistle, the lotus petals become like hands facing high to receive the truth of the law, to receive it more and more deeply, the more they are revealed, the more they are so happy to let it go, fall out and finally fall into Chan Nhu city.
From the time it was a lotus bud until it completely fell off, the West Lake lotus did not stray for more than 3 days. Just keep quiet and worship, then suddenly bloom at night, giving off a fragrant intellectual scent full of depravity. At that time, lotus flowers were also past, present and prepared for the past.
The general who destroyed this fallen was included in the patterns to create a lotus platform for the Buddha to sit on, for the Buddha to stand depending on his wishes. Therefore, the beauty of the lotus ponds of West Lake has escaped the chaos, an extraordinary beauty of reason and reason, of fame and fame. That beauty has the ability to clean up the entire space with simplicity.
One lotus blooming early, one remaining lotus blooming together makes the lake scene so majestic that the scene is unique. A flap of lotus venom that was all overwhelmingly thick also caused a cloud of pink majesty to suddenly appear to cheer for the advancement of our species.
The Tay Ho Lotus, because of its qualities in that spiritual aspect, has brought a noble beauty: To exude a pure fragrance to purify itself and the surrounding space. The aroma of lotus is secreted from the stems, leaves and especially from the flowers.
They make the lake water, the air, and the winds blowing through have a wonderful fragrance, which can create peace and relaxation for those who are immersed in that space. The aroma of lotus is a salvation for people in the heat-up situation that causes yellow rocks to melt in the summer.
Therefore, people prefer to release lotus in ponds, peach trees in pagodas, and in their gardens to grow lotus in the hope of getting a therapy to fight the heat of June and July every year. Lotus and lotus ponds also belong to a quality human lifestyle in a very natural and pure way: bath in lotus ponds, drink chrysanthemum wine.
It is easy to understand why Hanoians are so impressed with the fresh lotus flowers in the summer sun. The tropical sun can make other flowers afraid, but with lotus flowers, the sunny the more colorful and the stronger the scent. Under the bright sunlight, the depleted lotus flowers bloom with layers of light pink color, giving off a fragrant aroma.
Because of its fulfilling shape, bright colors, and ancient scent, Tay Ho lotus was chosen as the flower to worship the Buddha. The first lotus flowers of the summer will be offered to the Buddha, venerated as if offering the cross-fulgments, lotus spheres to the superstitious land.
We love lotus not only because of its shape, aroma and spiritual meaning, but also because of the great dedication of lotus, like the immense gift of the Buddha. No part of lotus is useless, from lotus root or lotus branch lying under black mud to lotus flowers, lotus mirror, lotus rice, lotus seeds, lotus leaves. Even the lotus trunk with a lot of spices also provides lotus silk to weave into precious fabric to make scarves and clothes.
And when lotus has fading away, in the lake there is only an old green color of lotus leaves and lotus mirrors filled with lotus seeds for countless lives, the aroma of lotus is still permeable. Lotus leaves have a variety of scents, depending on the condition of the leaves from young to old. The older the lotus leaves, the more durable and stronger the scent.
Thanks to this property, lotus leaves have long been used to wrap food, in order to absorb the aroma of the perilla leaves into dishes. Hanoi's Vong village green rice is delicious but it is even more delicious when wrapped in lotus leaves because the aroma of the green rice becomes multi-layered, with both the sweet smell of milk sticky rice grains and the refreshing aroma of lotus leaves.
That is what makes the poet Nguyen Sa worried in the past. The green green green rice grains like jelly wrapped in an old lotus leaf are no different from precious jelly wrapped in silk. Then, when those green rice grains were splashed into the girl's palms, then quickly gritted each pearl and enjoyed it profusely.
Those green rice grains imbued with the smell of lotus will remain in the memories forever. Then when the feelings of the district are in the hearts of those who are far away, the strange scent of the past and the present appears:
Still wonder if I am the scent of green rice
Who makes lotus leaves?
