Tales from Muong Xia
On the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of At Ty 2025, we had the opportunity to visit Son Thuy commune, Quan Son district, Thanh Hoa province, a locality in the border area, where the Luong river flows windingly next to towering mountains covered in clouds, perhaps because of the terrain here has a "beautiful landscape" that is why it is called Son Thuy commune. The locality is home to Thai and Mong people, with a rich cultural life, imbued with national identity and preserved to this day.
According to the elders, in the past, Son Thuy was the capital of Muong Chu San. At that time, the people's lives were very prosperous, suddenly one day, Tao Muong Chu San passed away, leaving behind a young wife and two young sons. After a while, Tao Muong Chu San passed away, his wife married a teacher (who taught his children to read and write) and gave birth to a son. When the family was peaceful, they suddenly passed away and left behind 3 children with the same mother but different fathers. Until one day, when the Muong Chu San people were plowing, suddenly the "prophecy" of the Muong Mu (a person with the same prestige as the village elder) rang out: "Chu San people, listen, the 3 sons of Tao Muong Chu San, listen. Whoever shoots down a hawk will be made Tao Muong Chu San".
Then the youngest brother shot down the hawk and became the Chief of Muong Chu San. From then on, the conflict between the three brothers began to break out. The two older brothers persuaded the villagers to leave Muong Chu San for other Muongs. From then on, the name Muong Chu San no longer existed, but was changed to a new name, Muong Xia (in Thai, it means lost Muong).
According to some research documents, Mr. Tu Ma Hai Dao was from Muong Dao - ancient Muong Kho (in present-day Ba Thuoc district). He lost his parents at a young age. As a child, Hai Dao was very good at playing tops, swinging and practicing swordplay. Growing up, he had a tall, strong body, extraordinary appearance, and was proficient in martial arts... Hearing that the court was holding a martial arts competition to recruit talented people to help the king defeat foreign invaders, Hai Dao immediately went to the capital to submit a petition, asking to participate in the martial arts competition.
In the martial arts competition, Hai Dao won all the other opponents and caught the princess's eye, and was supported by the king. In the 18th century, the country's border was constantly lurking and attacked by foreign invaders. The king assigned Hai Dao to lead the army to defeat the invaders. Hai Dao immediately returned to gather more Muong soldiers, train weapons, and march to the border. Wherever Hai Dao's army went, they defeated the invaders and protected the border.
With his glorious achievements, Hai Dao was appointed by the King as Sima of the Border. Realizing that the border highlands had beautiful landscapes, Sima Hai Dao chose Muong Xia to build his capital. From here, Muong Xia developed prosperously, and people who had previously left Muong gradually returned. Later, when the general passed away, the Muong Xia people sent their "soul" to a stone, praying that Sima Hai Dao would always protect the villagers. To this day, the soul stone is considered a treasure, keeping the soul of the village, and can ward off evil spirits and diseases.
The whole village protects the "spirit stone"
According to Mr. Ha Xuan Tan (a prestigious person in Chung Son village, Son Thuy commune, Quan Son district) and also a knowledgeable person about the story of the "vi stone". Mr. Tan said that the "vi stone" has been located in the center of Chung Son village since an unknown time, but it must have been hundreds of years ago. Because according to the elders, since he was a child, the stone has been located in its current location and not far from the temple of Tu Ma Hai Dao. "The vi stone is also called Lac Man island by the Thai ethnic people.
The Thai people believe that human soul is controlled by heaven. If the soul is lost, people and all things will be sick. Therefore, the Muong Xia people consider the soul stone as a treasure" - Mr. Tan shared.
Whenever Muong Xia has a child joining the army, working far away, or going to school, families bring a shirt of the person about to leave to the temple of Tu Ma Hai Dao to burn incense and ask him to bless their child with good health, to keep their spirit safe, and to arrive safely at their destination. Then they go to the "spirit stone" of Muong to ask for their spirit to be sent. And it seems that everyone who asks to be sent and kept in the temple as well as in the "spirit stone" of Muong is safe and their work goes smoothly.
Previously, the “vi stone” was protected by planting prickly cactus around it, however, over the years, people have used a system of iron bars to build a solid frame to protect this sacred area. Every year, on the first days of the new year, people of Son Thuy commune organize the Muong Xia festival to pray for a year of favorable weather, good crops, and the growth of people and all things.
In the previous festival, after being dug up, the “vi stone” would be washed and cleaned carefully, wrapped in red cloth, placed on the Long Dinh palanquin (carried by 9 unmarried men and 9 unmarried women), dressed in traditional costumes, and carried to the temple of General Tu Ma Hai Dao for worship. Here, the offering tray was supplemented with wine and placed next to the vi stone.
Next, the celebrant begins the main ceremony... when the festival ends, the young men and women carry the "vi" stone back to bury in the same place, waiting for the next festival season. In recent years, the digging of the "vi" stone is no longer done, but for more convenience, people send people to find another similar stone, bring it back and wash it, and on the day of the ceremony, bring it out and place it near the "vi" stone, then carry out the necessary procedures and bring it to the temple of General Tu Ma Hai Dao.
“The first days of the new year are very happy, after celebrating Tet, the people of Son Thuy commune are happy and busy for the Muong Xia festival season. Before the festival, no matter where they are, they all try to return, to immerse themselves in the sound of gongs and cymbals, participate in folk games and community cultural activities. Especially to pray for good luck, hope for a year of favorable weather, peace and prosperity for every family” - Mr. Tan said.
According to Mr. Tan, with its unique historical and cultural values, in 2022, the Muong Xia festival was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
(Posted in the Special Publication of Labor North Central Spring At Ty)
