Leaning against Co Tien Mountain, reflecting itself on the confluence of Luc Nam and Thuong rivers, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (now in Bac Ninh province) is not only an ancient temple but also a place where wisdom, morality and national culture converge and spread. It is no coincidence that the art of carving Buddhist scriptures of Truc Lam Buddhism was recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage of the Memory of the World Program for the Asia- Pacific region in 2012. Currently, more than 3,000 ancient Buddhist scripture woodblocks preserved at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda are the "source code" of Truc Lam Zen, the most unique and purely Vietnamese ideology in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, also known as Duc La Pagoda, is located in Quoc Khanh village, Tri Yen commune, Yen Dung district, old Bac Giang province, now Tan An ward, Bac Ninh province. |
Walking through the ancient Tam Quan, standing in front of buildings over seven hundred years old, looking at each line carved on the wooden boards stained with time, we are not only admiring a heritage but also re-reading the wisdom of our ancestors. These woodblocks are hand-carved on starfruit or jackfruit wood, not only conveying Buddhist scriptures, but also a treasure trove of medicine, ethics, rituals, and the way the ancients thought about happiness and healing. The delicately carved Han-Nom characters show the vividness, preserving Vietnamese values on the woodblocks before the world knew about digital data.
Mr. Do Xuan Luyen's family has lived next to the pagoda for more than 60 years. He said that before 1975, many people did not see the value of the wooden boards. Only since Venerable Thich Thien Van became abbot and reorganized the pagoda, have the remaining wooden boards been carefully preserved. Through the ups and downs of history, the pagoda still retains its solemnity and is a place for Vietnamese people to return to.
This is an ancient pagoda from the Ly Dynasty, in the 13th century, it was restored by King Tran Nhan Tong and built into the Buddhist Center of the Truc Lam Zen sect. This place preserves the only original set of woodblocks of the Truc Lam Buddhist sect. |
Mr. Luyen said: “In the past, on the evening of the main festival day of the 14th lunar month, almost everyone in the village had no place to sleep because the Tam Bao was packed with elders. Because in the past, the elders did not have any means of transportation, so they walked here 2-3 days in advance with rice balls, sesame salt, and went to the surrounding houses to sleep. Until now, it still retains that identity. The characteristic of Vinh Nghiem pagoda is that it is not noisy, no matter how crowded it is, it is extremely gentle, spiritual, without traffic, noisy, and still retains its solemnity until now”.
With a prime geographical location and surrounded by charming rivers and majestic mountains, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda has a poetic and peaceful beauty. |
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda still retains the layout and architecture of Buddhism during the Tran Dynasty, still maintains the state of practice of Buddhism during the Tran Dynasty, especially the architecture and worshiping areas still remain intact. |
At Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, the woodblocks do not remain in glass cases. They continue to live by being read, translated and disseminated. From 2015 to now, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda has successfully translated and republished 3 sets, including the set “Cư trần lạc đạo” – a gem in the Truc Lam Zen treasure trove. The bilingual Nom-Vietnamese and Vietnamese-English prints are paving the way for the world to understand more about the purely Vietnamese cultural and religious life.
Venerable Thich Thanh Vinh, Deputy Abbot of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, said: “Vinh Nghiem Pagoda plays two main roles: in the past, it was the Dharma teaching center of Truc Lam Buddhism and a place for carving, printing and distributing Buddhist scriptures. Fortunately for Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, today it still preserves over 3,000 woodblocks that were recognized by UNESCO in 2012. We also aim to preserve the woodblocks by translating them. The Board of Directors divides each set into sets, and any set that has practical value for today's modern society will be included for translation. Therefore, since 2015, the pagoda has translated 3 sets that have high usage value.”
To this day, this place still preserves more than 3,000 woodblocks (in 2012, these woodblocks were recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage of the Asia-Pacific region). |
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The woodblock collection includes more than 3,000 wooden blocks engraved with Chinese and Nom characters, created between the 17th and early 20th centuries. The contents of the woodblock collection include Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist precepts, and books on treating diseases with folk remedies. |
The space of the pagoda is not only a silent story but also an ancient architectural masterpiece, preserving the Buddhist spirit of the Ly - Tran dynasties intact: from the majestic Tam Quan Gate, to the Worship Hall, the Incense Burner, the Upper Palace, the 8-roofed bell tower... The pagoda dates back to the Ly Thai To period (1009 - 1208), and was expanded and renovated during the Tran Nhan Tong period (1279 - 1293). This is where the three Truc Lam Patriarchs once presided, and is the headquarters of the Truc Lam Buddhist Sangha, the first training school for monks and nuns in Vietnam.
The sound of bells ringing in the forest, the mossy tiled roof, the deep chanting and the hands of the people cleaning and sweeping each ancient brick every week. From the 13th century until now, the pagoda has never been forgotten. Because the people here do not only consider it a pagoda, but also an "ancestral house", a place to accumulate virtue for their descendants, a place to return to find themselves.
The woodblocks are engraved with very sharp and sophisticated letters, demonstrating the high level of ancient Vietnamese calligraphy art. |
Ms. Chu Thi Thuyen, a tourist from Bac Ninh province, said: “This pagoda is very ancient and sacred. I have been to many pagodas, but I find Vinh Nghiem pagoda extremely peaceful. When I enter the pagoda, I feel like I am entering a peaceful and serene place.”
Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong from Hanoi said: “As if by chance, as well as destiny, after knowing about the temple, every time I return to the temple, I feel like I am returning to a peaceful, carefree place, my mind feels truly comfortable and calm. Every time like that, I feel like I am returning to the place I want to return to. This is a sacred and majestic ancient temple.”
It can be said that Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is a living proof of classical Vietnamese architecture. The structures in the pagoda are all built with curved tile roofs and elaborate carvings. |
Come to Vinh Nghiem to feel the "Pure ancient pagoda spirit" that is still preserved today. People like Mr. Do Xuan Luyen, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hien, or nun Thich Tam Thien, each has their own job, their own wish, but all join hands to preserve the space, spirit, and identity of Vinh Nghiem pagoda.
Nun Thich Tam Thien said: “Here, from the past until now, the people and the pagoda have always been of one mind, no matter how big or small, they support each other, so from the inner village to the outer village, everyone loves each other. The local people, the people and the pagoda always preserve the heritage in the pagoda from many generations ago. Every Saturday, they still send each other to clean the pagoda grounds. The elders are very united, clean carefully, seriously, and together preserve the heritage.”
Venerable Thich Thanh Vinh, Deputy Abbot of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda next to the more than 200-year-old Moc Ban village |
Not only is it the birthplace of the Truc Lam Zen sect, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is also considered the headquarters of Truc Lam Buddhism, the first place to train monks and nuns in Vietnam. This place not only preserves the soul of Buddhist scriptures, but also preserves the roots of Vietnamese culture and spirit for over 700 years. Standing among more than 3,000 woodblocks, our generation understands that there are things that not only need to be preserved, but they need to be continued.
According to Duy Thai/VOV-Northeast
Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/202507/hanh-trinh-moi-cua-di-san-yen-tu-vinh-nghiem-con-son-kiep-bac-moc-ban-giu-hon-dan-toc-noi-bat-dau-cua-tinh-tai-va-tri-tue-ab91abc/
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