Quang Ninh grows indigenous plants to preserve cultural features

Quang Ninh (VNA) – 999 Ochna integerrima trees were planted at Hoa Hien Pagoda and its vicinity in the Yen Tu relic site, northern Quang Ninh province, on March 12.

The planting was part of a campaign to plant the species at the site, which forms parts of the Tran Dynasty relic complex.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Doc said the cultivation of Ochna integerrima is to commemorate the Tran kings while preserving local unique cultural features.

In addition to the 999 trees planted at Hoa Hien Pagoda, Uong Bi city, the province plans to grow an additional 15 hectares of Ochna integerrima across the city.

The plant is indigenous to the neighbourhood of Yen Tu Mountain. Legend has it that the species was grown in the area by King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258 – 1308) when he came here to practise Buddhism.

Yen Tu Mountain is currently providing a habitat for about 310 Ochna integerrima trees aged over a century.

To protect the flora species, Quang Ninh authorities have implemented a project on developing Ochna integerrima.

Tran Nhan Tong, the third king of the Tran dynasty, abdicated the throne when he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu Mountain, practising and propagating Buddhism.

He founded the first Vietnamese School of Buddhism called “Thien Tong” or “Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen” on the 1,068m-high Yen Tu Mountain. The 20,000ha site is considered the capital of Vietnamese Buddhism.-VNA