On Yen Tu mountain (Photo: Vietnamnet) Yen Tu has become a Buddhist centre of Vietnam since King Tran Nhan Tong gaveup the throne, put on a monk's robes and established a typical Buddhist sect ofVietnam, namely Truc Lam Zen Buddhism.
He built hundreds of large and small works on Yen Tu Mountain as places for practicingand preaching Buddhism.
Existing cultural and historical vestiges in Yen Tu are hundreds of stupas;dozens of pagoda foundations under the Tran and Le dynasties beneath restoredpagodas; thousands of ancient objects such as statues, bells, steles, tiles,bricks, porcelain and crockery... with unique and creative motifs, patterns andarchitecture.
The Truc Lam Zen Buddhist sect gathers full of the spirit of Buddhism, butstill contains the unique features of Vietnam.
Therefore, Yen Tu is also considered the Buddhist capital of Vietnam. From YenTu, Truc Lam teachings have spread throughout the northeastern region, withhundreds of large and small pagodas built, including famous ones such as QuynhLam, Con Son, Thanh Mai, etc.
Until the Le and Nguyen dynasties, Yen Tu was still the center of VietnameseBuddhism. Restored and repaired by the kings of the dynasties, the Yen Tu relicsite is the crystallization and convergence of the national culture witharchitecture, decorative patterns and carved items bearing the hallmarks of thedynasties.
There are hundreds of temples and tombs of Zen masters, natural statues, Buddhasteles and especially the Bao Sai cave where Tran Nhan Tong, the founder of theZen Buddhist sect, sat and meditated on January 1, 1308. The system of pagodasand stupas in Yen Tu is located on the east side of the mountain.
In the two great wars of national defence in the 20th century,Yen Tu was a revolutionary base where soldiers trained and guarded the skies ofVietnam.
Excluding Bi Thuong pagoda at the foot of the Do (Red) slope, Cam Thuc pagodain Uong Bi and Lan pagoda in Nam Mau village, the road to Yen Tu starts fromGia Oan, Hoa Yen and Cong Troi pagodas, and then Pho Da and Bao Sai pagodas andfinishes at Dong pagoda located at the highest point of YenTu mountain range.
Some of the main Buddhist sites and architectures in Yen Tu are Bi Thuongpagoda, Cam Thuc pagoda, Lan pagoda, Giai Oan pagoda, Hoa Yen pagoda, Bao Saipagoda and Dong pagoda.
The special historical-cultural values have made Yen Tu a sacred place in thespiritual life of Vietnamese people.
In order to affirm the special value of the relic site, the Prime Ministerdecided to rank the Yen Tu historic relic and landscape site as a specialnational relic site (Decision No. 1419/QD-TTg dated September 27, 2012).
For many years, the spiritual tourism complex in Yen Tu mountainarea has been continuously preserved, embellished and built to meet theincreasing demands of Buddhists, domestic and foreign tourists on pilgrimage tothe land of the Buddha in every early spring.
Yen Tu Mountain is located about 50 kilometres from Ha Long city. The area hasawe-inspiring scenery, surrounded by ancient pagodas and hermitages.
Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the third King of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400),ascended to the throne when he was just 21. He was famed for defeating Mongolinvaders twice during his 15-year reign.
The king abdicated when he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen TuMountain practicing and propagating Buddhism. He founded the first VietnameseSchool of Buddhism called “Thien Tong” or Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen on the1,068m-high Yen Tu Mountain. The 20,000ha site is considered the capital ofVietnamese Buddhism.
Yen Tu became a major BuddhistCentre and King Tran Nhan Tong became its first leaderunder the religious name Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang Tran Nhan Tong. He ordered the constructionof hundreds of religious buildings on Yen Tu mountains for teaching andfollowing a religious life.
Yen Tu Mountain is located about 50 kilometres from Ha Long city. The area hasawe-inspiring scenery, surrounded by ancient pagodas and hermitages.
Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the third King of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400),ascended to the throne when he was just 21. He was famed for defeating Mongolinvaders twice during his 15-year reign.
The king abdicated when he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen TuMountain practicing and propagating Buddhism. He founded the first VietnameseSchool of Buddhism called “Thien Tong” or Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen on the1,068m-high Yen Tu Mountain. The 20,000ha site is considered the capital ofVietnamese Buddhism.
Yen Tu became a major BuddhistCentre and King Tran Nhan Tong became its first leaderunder the religious name Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang Tran Nhan Tong. He ordered the constructionof hundreds of religious buildings on Yen Tu mountains for teaching andfollowing a religious life.
The YenTu Spring Festival takes place in Uong Bi city, QuangNinh province on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year./.
VNA
