The older people in the village said when they were born, they saw the majestic green ironwood tree as giant as current time. Together with the ancient relics of Xuan Lung communal house, pagoda and well, the ancient tree is considered as the screen to protect the villagers.

The ancient green ironwood tree in Xuan Lung village.

According to fengshui principle, the communal house area is the land of dragon, two wells are two eyes of the dragon and the green ironwood tree is the nose. Thus, the millennial tree is a sacred symbol in the spiritual life of the local residents.

The legend told that acknowledging its significant value, many people tried to cut it down in vain. Somes climbed up the tree to cut the big branch and were suddenly stung by the bees. Others succeeded to cut and bring a section of its limb and root home then their families faced to bad luck, disadvantaged economy and consecutive misfortune. Later on, they must conduct an offering ritual to Xuan Lung communal house to gain an untroubled life.

The olders also said that the green ironwood tree was the contact base for the famous Yen The uprising and the border area for revolutionary activities between Yen The district and Thai Nguyen province of Ha Thi Que, Chu Duy Kinh...

Under the intensified attack and bombing period of the French colonists at Xuan Lung commune breaking the bell in the communal house, the ironwood tree stayed peacefully as if it was protected by an invisible hand against the enemy’s bomb and bullet.

In 2016, the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment recognized the Millennial ironwood tree in Xuan Lung village as Vietnam Heritage Tree. The Vietnam Heritage Tree Council assessed it was one of the most ancient ironwood trees remaining in the Northern of the country.

Nowadays, the ancient tree becomes the pride of the locals for its beauty in term of natural landscape and cultural value which is close, simple, sacred among the Vietnamese cultural space.

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Duong Dai Tien