Bac Ninh is a land associated with many traditions and long cultural history of the nation. With a thousand years of establishment and development, this province has become a place to keep art works of sharp value. But Thap pagoda and unique and long-standing architectural art are also one of such works. This is a temple bearing the imprint of old feudalism.
Learn about the history of But Thap pagoda
But Thap Pagoda is located on a stretch of land up to 10,000m2, next to the Duong River in Bac Ninh province . This peaceful land has a strange stillness, a contemplation of the lyrical and poetic beauty mixed in the natural space, heaven and earth. The temple has been in existence for hundreds of years and is therefore also considered as one of the witnesses to the ups and downs going through generations. There are no documents that say the exact time the pagoda was formed. Only know that in the book Vietnam Art by the French researcher written in 1944 there is a story about the journey back to his hometown to stay in the temple of the status quo Ly Dao Re. This status quo existed in the 13th and 14th centuries, so historians often take it as a milestone for the birth of this temple.
Peaceful view of But Thap pagoda
In fact, compared to many other temples in Bac Ninh province, But Thap pagoda is considered to have been changed the most from the original. This is mentioned in the narrative of history through dynasties and temples changed by direct human influence. During the reign of King Tran Thanh Tong under the abbot of the monk Huyen Quang, the pagoda was built with a tower with a 9-story high lotus. However, at present, the temple is no longer there.
The architecture of the temple changes year by year
But Thap pagoda became a great source of Buddhist teaching, especially in the seventeenth century. The reason was that Venerable Chuyet Chuyet – a very famous and revered monk in China came here and abided until the end of his life. His contributions to this place are indescribable, this period is also the flourishing period of Buddhism in the country.
But Thap pagoda is a witness to the flourishing period of Buddhism in our country
However, time also made the temple disgrace, culminating in the Trinh lords period, the pagoda was just like a rotting and empty house. After that, thanks to the help of the empress at that time of the Trinh Tang dynasty, Mrs. Le Thi Ngoc, in 1647 the pagoda was also renovated. Even so, centuries later, the pagoda also flooded over time and had to be changed and repaired countless times. There were times when But Thap pagoda disappeared completely on the Vietnamese ancestral map and was not recorded by any Zen literature.
The stone bridge is delicately and sharply carved
The last time the pagoda was restored was in 1996. Until now, before the wind and rain fluctuations in time, the pagoda is still standing, helping But Thap pagoda become the pride of many Bac Ninh Buddhists. The pagoda has also been renamed many times but in the end the name But Thap is still chosen by King Tu Duc to this day. With its great artistic values and witnesses of different flourishing dynasties, the Ministry of Culture and Information of Vietnam has ranked But Thap pagoda as a national heritage that should be respected, protected and developed. in 1962.
Check – print on the stone bridge
Unique ancient architectural art of But Thap Pagoda
But Thap pagoda stands out in the midst of a large natural space, a field stretching along the adjacent river. The pagoda is located to the south, according to Buddhism, it is the direction of divine eyes, wisdom, according to feng shui, it is the direction of peace and settlement. The construction of the most beautiful temple direction also creates many good things for both Buddhists and passers-by.
The beauty is tinged with the ups and downs of time
Like other temples located in Bac Ninh, But Thap pagoda also consists of three rows of houses, respectively Tien Duong, the meeting hall, Thien Huong where the common activities of the Buddha and Finally, the Upper Palace is dedicated only to gods and beliefs. The overall layout of the pagoda is streamlined and easy to operate according to each category, it must be further affirmed that But Thap pagoda has a proportion of proportions and high and low rhythms that are extremely meticulous and meticulous.
The temple uses the main precious wood material with the stone for the firmly surrounding pedestals. All lines and patterns are in dripping details, especially in the Upper Palace area with a railing made of green marble and many elaborate and eye-catching feudal paintings and carvings. There are also 12 paintings on Thich Thien Am tower and 13 more paintings along the foot of Bao Nghiem tower. In essence, the topic of the drawings is different, but the highlight throughout has created a connection and that makes the special look.
Nghiem Newspaper Tower – the symbol of But Thap pagoda
The back part of the Buddha Hall is the seat of many noble statues, of which two statues are portraits of the Le queen Trinh Thi Ngoc Truc and Princess Ngoc Duyen. They are the people who have preserved and protected the pagoda in the contemporary period. In the palaces there are many meditating lotus stations, all of the Buddha’s prayers for peace.
Currently, But Thap pagoda preserves quite a lot of antiquities from feudal times such as project delivery, stele, clerical, biblical … In addition, the temple has more than 70 precious statues carved in many different shapes The most vivid ones can be mentioned as Quan Yin with thousand eyes, Kim Dong Ngoc Nu, …. The Buddha statues here are also extremely skillfully sculpted, with a peaceful and yet elegant appearance.
Bao Nghiem Tower has a unique architecture of Vietnamese Buddhism
Another special place can be mentioned is the Bao Nghiem tower, this is considered one of the towers bearing the unique architecture of Vietnamese Buddhism. The tower is 13 meters tall with five floors and a top floor. Art rock grafted to create this tower is considered the pinnacle of Buddhist culture giao.Toa this tower is where church Chuyet Chuyet monk, who had great success in doing house leading Thap pagoda became the god of the road Dharma as today.
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