Discover the oldest pagoda in Vietnam, where the Two-Country Champion Mac Dinh Chi is worshiped

Watch video about Dau Pagoda

According to ancient documents, the pagoda was built in the Dau region (Luy Lau) in the 2nd century AD, during the period when Si Nhiep (Han Dynasty) was the Governor of Giao Chau district. This is considered the first Buddhist center of our country, an important vestige associated with the formation and development of Vietnamese Buddhism. This place is also the cradle of the worship of Tu Phap, which are 4 gods corresponding to the phenomena of clouds, wind, thunder, and lightning, formed from the combination of Indian Buddhism and Vietnamese folk beliefs. In the photo: Dau Pagoda seen from above

Dau Pagoda has been renovated and restored many times but still retains its architectural works, statues, stone steles, and precious ancient treasures. It is a place of historical, religious, and architectural value unique to our country. In the photo: Hoa Phong Tower is a unique ancient architectural work that has been preserved to this day. The tower is the highlight of Dau Pagoda, about 17 m high, located in the middle of the yard.

The tower is built of hand-baked bricks, with four arched doors on all four sides. The front and back doors are larger than the two side doors, measuring 2.96 and 1.84 m, respectively. The walls at the base of the tower are 1.6 m thick.

At the corners of the tower's base are statues of the "Four Heavenly Kings" believed to be the gods who rule the four directions. The statues are made of painted wood, 1.6 m high and date from the 18th century.

Inside the tower is a set of bronze bells and gongs cast in 1793 and 1817.

On the left of the tower is a stone stele erected in 1738, on the right is a stone sheep statue 1.33 m long, 0.8 m high, dating back 1,800 years. This is a mark of Northern culture, reflecting the presence of Governor Shi Xie when he established his headquarters in Luy Lau citadel.

The main shrine of the pagoda still retains ancient carvings.

The pagoda still preserves nearly 100 statues, 22 stone steles, bronze bells, and bronze gongs from the Le, Tay Son, and Nguyen dynasties. The Eight Diamond Statues are arranged at the two ends of the front hall, each side has 4 statues, all wearing martial arts uniforms, and 2 guardian statues. The 2 guardian statues named "Encouraging Goodness, Punishing Evil" were carved in the 18th century, 2.80 m high, with a 0.4 m high pedestal, made of painted clay. In the photo: 4 Eight Diamond Statues and the guardian statue (right)

The statue of Ba Dau, also known as the goddess Phap Van, has a majestic, calm face, bronze color, and is nearly 2m high. The statue is one of the Four Dharmas, including the goddesses Phap Van, Phap Vu, Phap Loi, and Phap Dien. The statue is ranked as a national treasure.

The Phap Vu statue is one of the Four Dharmas and is ranked as a national treasure.

The statue of Guanyin is ranked as a national treasure.

The two-country champion Mac Dinh Chi, from Lung Dong village, Chi Linh, now Long Dong village, Nam Tan commune, Nam Sach ( Hai Duong ) is worshiped here. During the Tran Dynasty, the champion Mac Dinh Chi restored Dau pagoda, built a 9-storey tower, but the architecture of the tower is still that of the Le Trung Hung period.

18 Arhat statues are located on both sides, creating a sacred and majestic atmosphere.

The rare woodblock set “Co Chau Phap Van Phat Ban Hanh” consists of 107 carved boards, the words on the woodblocks are all ancient Chinese characters and Nom characters engraved in negative, the lines are soft, highly aesthetic, so when printed on Do paper, they are very sharp. In January 2024, the woodblock set was recognized as a national treasure by the Prime Minister.

The Tower Garden still has 8 brick towers of monks who used to practice at the pagoda, dating from the Le to Nguyen dynasties.

Dau Pagoda was recognized as a special national monument in 2013.

The pagoda attracts many domestic and foreign tourists to come for pilgrimage and worship. The Dau Pagoda Festival takes place on the 8th and 9th of the 4th lunar month on a large scale, with activities such as water robbery, palanquin racing, mother chasing child and unique religious rituals...

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Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/kham-pha-ngoi-chua-co-nhat-viet-nam-co-tho-luong-quoc-trang-nguyen-mac-dinh-chi-387519.html