Formerly, Buoi village had many small hamlets
such as Ho Khau, Dong Xa, Yen Thai, Trich Sai, An Tho, Vong Thi and
some neighbouring villages located in Nghia Do land such as Tan Nghe,
Bai An... Nowadays, belonging to Buoi commune, Tay Ho district, just
including six first villages. Three rest villages belong to Nghia Do,
Cau Giay district, Ha Noi city.
The village name is originated from positions of hamlets. All are situated around Buoi market
and take the market to be place for gathering, exchanging and living.
For Buoi market, due to in former time, it held on a green and fresh
and luxuriant grapefruit flat expanse right at the confluence of two
rivers. Thien Phu and To Lich, so people called the market "Buoi
market". It was said that, formerly, at this market, there was Hong Tan
quay - place for merchant boats from the highland with full of fruits
and forest products through Red river to make a land fall to serve
people of Thang Long capital. From these merchant boats, Doan Hung
grapefruit (Phu Tho) had opportunity to overrun accumulatedly and
scatteredly into the capital and grow into fresh fields. The name "Ke
Buoi" (Buoi townsfolk) of the whole land was determined since then.
Buoi village is also the place whose hamlets have common famous
traditional handicrafs such as weaving, producing poonah -paper...
creating the necessary closing relationaship among hamlets. Not to stop
in trading or career relations, but in routine, customs, religion due
to worshipping common gods, so they also relate to each others. They
together organize festivals, celebrations and carry alternately the
sedan chair.
The development history of this land seems to be ralated to exploratory history of West lake and formative history of the North delta.
This
terrain is of several hills stretching from the eastside of To Lich
river connecting with Nghia Do hillock area, into a block with many
well known hills such as Long Tang (Dragon's forehead).
There
are several place names representing deeply imprints of passed
historical stages such as Bat thap hill - place reminding of two
princesses' merit - the King Ly Nam De's daughters in killing the
monster in order to break West Lake land. De -Cung fields in Trich Sai
village - where Ly dynasty's Kings and mandarins usually looked over
and practiced to short bows and arrows. Phuong Dao hill was guerilla
base against Tong invaders in the first time of the general Tran Cong
Tich under the rule of Le Hoan. To Lich river where Ly Nam De King used
to build a stronghold for protecting Van Xuan country independence...
In the south of this area is West Lake. In the North and East is Red
river surrounding bendily. Moreover, Buoi village is a celebrated
"sacred land". In the view of geomancers, each hamlet here is liken the
shape to a special animal. Trich Sai is of horse shape Hillocks' names
also carry animals' shapes such as Du Ngu hill (travelling fish) in
Vong Thi, Long Tang hill (dragon forehead), Long Khe hill (dragon
stream) in Ho Khau, Qui Doi hill (two tortoises).
Ly Kings in
the early time of founding country in Thang Long chose this land with
charming scenery to construct many temples, communal houses pagodas,
shrines, palaces...
Among over 60 relics around West Lake, 24
ones belong to hamlets by lakeside of Buoi village. This is place
concentrating many cultural vestiges of Ly dynasty more than any other
places. Temples, shrines here were almost founded from the period of Ly
Thai Tong King to Ly Nhan Tong King in order to worship patron deities
or gods of merit to Ly Kings in building - protecting country and
strengthening royal dynasty in former Thang Long. It is Dong Co temple
(in Dong Xa) worshipping the god of mountain Dong Co who helped the
crown prince Ly Phat Ma to defeat Chiem enemy and assisted the King to
i epress Tarn Vuong. Mau Thang Long temple (Ho Khau) worships Thuy Tinh
princess who was of labour with her husband in defeating enemy for
protecting the country... This area also has many beautiful and sacred
pagodas. The oldest one is Thien Nien pagoda (in Trich Sai village). It
was constructed under the epoch of Ly Nam De (451 - 455). Other ones
all are nice and sacred such as Thanh Lau (in Ho Khau hamlet), Thanh
Tho (in Yen Thai village), Vinh Khanh (in Vong Thi hamlet), Mat Dung
(in Dong Xa), Chuc Thanh (in Ho Khau hamlet). The whole of this
vestiges are located in large and airy old tree gardens with lotus
ponds, tens of hecta wide fields creating an extreme ideal cultural
setting environment.
In terms of communal house, all hamlets of Buoi village have their own communal houses for worshipping their tutelary spirit.
Buoi
villages are still interested in festivals and celebrations. Formerly,
all villages organized great festival in April, in which, the greatest
is two villages Dong Xa and Ho Khau festivals. The doctrine "when
drinking water remember its source" is also respected. Each family has
its own ancestral altar. Each village has its own communal house where
worships tutelary god, where festivals take place, where for villages
show their gratitude and admiration to gods who assist and bring
security to everyone. Upon present, Buoi villages have lived following
that cultural habits.
