But Thap Pagoda - Architectural and spiritual masterpiece of Bac Ninh

But Thap Pagoda, whose Chinese name is Ninh Phuc Tu, is one of the oldest and most beautiful pagodas in Vietnam, located on the banks of the Duong River in Bac Ninh Province. The pagoda is not only a historical and cultural relic but also an architectural and sculptural masterpiece, reflecting the pinnacle of Buddhist art during the Later Le Dynasty (17th century).

But Thap Pagoda was built in the "Inner public, outer private" architectural style typical of ancient Vietnamese pagodas. The entire main architectural complex faces the South, the direction of wisdom and prajna in Buddhism. Notably, But Thap Pagoda is one of the few pagodas that still retains its almost intact architectural system after hundreds of years of history. The combination of Chinese architecture and traditional Vietnamese folk architecture has created a unique and distinctive feature for the pagoda.

But Thap Pagoda is famous for its four national treasures, which are testament to the excellent sculpting skills of ancient Vietnamese craftsmen:

1. Statue of the Thousand-eyed and Thousand-armed Bodhisattva Guanyin: This is the most unique masterpiece of wood carving in Vietnam. The statue is 3.7m high, carved from jackfruit wood in 1656. With 11 main faces, 2 side faces, 42 large arms and thousands of small arms, the statue represents boundless compassion, seeing through all the suffering of living beings and ready to help. The statue is placed on a lotus pedestal, with exquisite carvings.
2. Bao Nghiem Stone Tower: Located in the temple grounds, the tower was built in 1647, where the relics of Zen Master Chuyet Chuyet are buried. The tower is 13.05m high, shaped like a giant brush pen reaching straight up to the sky, hence the name of the temple "But Thap". On the tower are 13 reliefs carved with the image of animals and many sophisticated patterns, demonstrating the stone carving talent of Vietnamese craftsmen.
3. Statues of the Three Worlds and Incense Altar: Three majestic statues of the Three Worlds, symbolizing the past, present, and future, along with the elaborately carved incense altar, demonstrate the sculptural style of the Le Trung Hung period.

---

Not only an architectural work, But Thap Pagoda is also the center of Buddhism, where many elements of indigenous beliefs, Confucianism and Taoism converge, creating a unique cultural space. The pagoda is the place of practice of many eminent Zen masters and is an important spiritual destination, attracting tourists to seek a place of serenity.

With its great historical, architectural, sculptural and spiritual values, But Thap Pagoda has been ranked as a special national monument , worthy of being a symbol of Kinh Bac culture.