Tung Van Ancient Temple - Where time and spirituality blend

Located peacefully in the heart of Tho Tang commune, Phu Tho province, Tung Van pagoda is not only a national cultural relic but also a solid spiritual support for the people here. With a history of more than 300 years, this ancient pagoda has witnessed many ups and downs of history, but still steadfastly preserves its unique cultural and architectural values, becoming an unmissable destination for those who love the traditional beauty of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Tung Van Pagoda has 7 compartments, 2 wings with a system of hundreds of ironwood and stone pillars.

Right in front of the main hall is a row of stone pillars intricately carved with the four sacred animals (Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix) and the four noble plants (Pine, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo, Apricot).

Journey to the land of Buddha

The road leading to Tung Van Pagoda seems to open up another world , completely separate from the hustle and bustle of the streets outside. After passing through rows of houses and crowded traffic, we stopped in front of the pagoda gate. The three-door gate, although not too massive, still exudes a majestic, ancient look with mossy stone steps and intricately carved patterns. The mossy red tile roof and the layered feng shui stones create a pure, peaceful space, soothing all the worries of life.

Tung Van Pagoda was recognized as a National Cultural Relic since 1992.

In that quiet space, we had the opportunity to talk with Venerable Thich Nguyen Cao, abbot of Tung Van Pagoda since 2003. He shared about the proud history of the pagoda: "Tung Van Pagoda was built 340 years ago during the reign of King Le Huy Tong, and was recognized as a National Cultural Relic in 1992. Through many events, the pagoda has been restored many times, especially the major restoration from 2008 to 2010. Thanks to the cooperation of Buddhists and people, we have preserved the ancient appearance of the pagoda to this day."

Treasure trove and unique architecture

What makes Tung Van Pagoda so attractive is its treasure trove of priceless treasures that are almost completely preserved. Among them, we must mention the ancient statues made of terracotta and wood that are nearly 300 years old, especially the statue of Sakyamuni and the statue of the Mother Goddess. These sculptures demonstrate exquisite artistry, worthy of modern artisans to admire and learn from. In addition, the pagoda also preserves many other precious artifacts such as bronze bells, bronze gongs and a system of ancient steles with profound historical and cultural research value.

Ancient terracotta and wooden statues dating back nearly 300 years, especially the statue of Sakyamuni and the statue of the mother

In terms of architecture, Tung Van Pagoda has the typical characteristics of Buddhism in the Northern Delta with a "Quoc"-shaped layout, including the following items: Tam quan, tien duong, incense burning area, upper hall, ancestral house, corridor and mother house. The pagoda has 7 compartments, 2 wings, with a system of hundreds of ironwood and stone pillars. What is special is that all the wood in the pagoda is ironwood, a rare and durable wood.

Right in front of the main hall is a row of stone pillars intricately carved with the four sacred animals (Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix) and the four noble animals (Pine, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo, Apricot), symbolizing the fertility and prosperity of the four seasons. The ironwood door is also elaborately carved with stylized reliefs of the four noble animals. The temple roof is covered with tiles, curved at the four corners, on the roof is the image of a hand reaching out from a lotus flower supporting the Buddhist Dharma wheel, symbolizing enlightenment and liberation.

The temple roof is covered with curved tiles at four corners.

Another highlight of Tung Van Pagoda’s architecture is the ancestral shrine. This place not only worships the ancestors but also has a shrine to Confucius, showing the long-standing tradition of learning of the local people. The combination of Buddhism and Confucianism in the same spiritual space is a unique and rare feature, demonstrating the cultural harmony of the Vietnamese people.

The largest monolithic jade Buddha statue in Vietnam

One of the most special highlights of Tung Van Pagoda is the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni, solemnly placed in the front hall. This statue is carved from a single block of green jade weighing more than 10 tons, 3.3m high, 2.1m wide, and 1.2m thick. This jade block was found in Yen Bai province, and is one of the rarest and largest jade blocks in Vietnam. On September 16, 2011, the statue was recognized by the Vietnam Book of Records as "The largest green jade semi-precious stone Buddha statue in Vietnam".

The statue of Buddha Sakyamuni placed in the front hall is carved from a single block of green jade.

Venerable Thich Nguyen Cao shared about the meaning of the statue: "The statue has a shiny, cool beauty of green, very close to the wishes of every Vietnamese person, always aiming for peace. After carving the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, the remaining jade block was carved by artisans into a statue of Bodhisattva Guanyin weighing about 5 tons, equally sophisticated." These two precious statues are not only artistic masterpieces but also symbols of purity and peace, attracting many tourists and Buddhists to worship.

The statue of Bodhisattva Guanyin weighs about 5 tons and is made from a single block of green jade.

The beauty of stillness in modern life

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, Tung Van Pagoda has become an ideal resting place for the soul. The peaceful and ancient space of the pagoda helps each person to slow down, find peace and balance. Mr. Nguyen Van Than, 90 years old, a son of Tho Tang commune, emotionally shared: "For us Tho Tang people, Tung Van Pagoda is something very sacred. This is a spiritual support, a place for generations of descendants to always look back to their roots".

The pagoda still preserves many valuable artifacts such as bronze bells, bronze gongs and a system of ancient steles with historical and cultural research value.

Venerable Thich Nguyen Cao shared: Tung Van Pagoda is not only a place of worship but also a spiritual support, a place where people come to "slow down", to "have peace of mind and regain balance in life".

Tourist Nguyen Van Sinh from Ho Chi Minh City also expressed his feelings: "I have known about Tung Van Pagoda through the press for a long time, but today I have the opportunity to visit it in person. Witnessing with my own eyes the precious historical values such as the terracotta Buddha statue, bronze bell, bronze gong and especially the largest jade Buddha statue in Vietnam, I feel very proud of the cultural heritage of the nation".

Tung Van Pagoda, with its harmonious combination of ancient architecture, precious treasures and statues of record value, is not only a place of worship but also a cultural, historical and artistic center. This place has been gradually built into a famous spiritual and cultural tourist area, attracting domestic and foreign tourists to visit and worship, contributing to preserving and spreading the good traditional values of the Vietnamese people.

Ngoc Thang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/tung-van-co-tu-noi-thoi-gian-va-tam-linh-hoa-quyen-237960.htm