The people of Sinh Dược village continue to preserve ancient remedies, combining them with modern science to develop a wide range of herbal products such as Sinh Dược soap, herbal foot soak salts, essential oils, shampoos, and more. From a mystical legend to the formation of a traditional medicine craft village, Sinh Dược is not only a repository of precious herbal knowledge but also a symbol of the enduring legacy of traditional Vietnamese medicine.
Zen Master Nguyễn Minh Không, born Nguyễn Chí Thành, hailed from Điềm Giang village in Gia Viễn district. After becoming a monk, he practiced Buddhism in the Bái Đính mountain area, which includes Sinh Dược village. There, he devoted himself to researching and developing traditional Vietnamese herbal medicine using natural plants and herbs.
Under his guidance, the local people learned to gather, prepare, and use medicinal herbs to treat various ailments. This marked the beginning of a strong tradition of herbal medicine in Sinh Dược, which has been passed down through generations.
One of the most well-known legends about Zen Master Nguyễn Minh Không is his miraculous cure of Emperor Lý Thần Tông. The emperor was afflicted with a strange illness that caused excessive hair growth, pain, and wild behavior akin to a beast. Despite efforts from many physicians, none could heal him. Nguyễn Minh Không prepared a large cauldron of herbal medicine, using plants sourced from Sinh Dược. He used the decoction to bathe the emperor, and gradually the illness subsided. The emperor fully recovered, and in gratitude, he bestowed upon Nguyễn Minh Không the title of National Master and granted land to build a meditation hall next to Báo Thiên Pagoda.
He devoted much of his time to teaching local villagers medical knowledge, helping them learn how to cultivate, harvest, and prepare traditional Vietnamese herbal remedies. Under his guidance, the people of Sinh Dược not only learned how to use medicinal herbs for healing, but also mastered techniques for making herbal extracts, medicinal wines, steam therapies, and wellness treatments. From this foundation, the practice of traditional herbal medicine was officially established and became the region’s enduring traditional craft.