Introduction
During the Dinh and Le dynasties, Buddhism in Vietnam developed brilliantly. Under these two kings, many builders constructed pagodas in Ninh Binh. Among them, Nhat Tru Pagoda is the most special; indeed, it is the place that opened the Stone Sutra culture in Vietnam. Moreover, Nhat Tru Pagoda, an ancient pagoda belonging to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Relic Complex, has a vital role in the people’s religious life. Today, join Ninh Binh Private Car to learn about the ancient Nhat Tru pagoda in Ninh Binh.
Geographic Location of Nhat Tru Pagoda
Nhat Tru Pagoda is located in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, with unique architecture, located about 100m from the temple of King Le Dai Hanh. The pagoda has been recognized as a national monument with special historical and cultural values.
Nhat Tru Pagoda, along with Am Tien Pagoda, Kim Ngan Pagoda, Co Am Pagoda, and Duyen Ninh Pagoda, are ancient pagodas of the Dinh-Le Dynasty. This is also one of the few temples that still exist today. Nhat Tru Pagoda, located in the center of the Eastern Citadel, is the most important relic. This is the place of practice and meeting of 10th-century monks such as Phap Thuan, Khuong Viet, and Van Hanh.
National Treasures at Nhat Tru Pagoda
The Stone Sutra – Lang Nghiem Sutra Column
In front of the pagoda is a Stone Sutra (Surangama Sutra column), so people call it Nhat Tru Pagoda. And the Stone Sutra, which has been ranked as a National Treasure. Nhat Tru Pagoda’s Stone Sutra is over 4 m high and has eight sides and six details assembled by stone pivots. It includes a square base 30 cm thick, each dimension 140 cm, with a round hole in the middle. The round base has a diameter of 76 cm; at the bottom of the base, there is a pivot that fits tightly into the mortise in the square base.
Above the cutting board is a 26cm high stone lotus flower symbol with a curving mouth edge creating eight sharp peaks. The text describes how the designer reduces the flower to a circular shape and creates a round mortise on the top surface to attach the tip. The top is shaped like a gourd with a small belly and blunt mouth, 80 cm high and 30 cm in diameter.
The designers decorated a circle with a diameter of 107 cm above the square platform surrounding the base of the column, featuring a combination of 22 single lotus petals. Each petal measures 15–17 cm in length and 13 cm in width. Besides, the tapered lotus petals are similar to the decorative lotus petals on some rocks and other structures in the relic.
On the eight sides of the octagonal body are engraved about 2,500 Chinese characters. Many words were blurred, making the text unreadable, and about 1,200 words could still be recognized. Due to the influence of weather and environmental factors, the number of words that can be read is currently very limited.
Ancient Bronze Barn
Another interesting artifact is the bronze bell hanging in the gable to the right of the Front Hall. The bell is 1.5m high, 65cm in diameter, and weighs more than one quintal. The bell handle resembles a pair of Pu Lao, with a strong body featuring rolling clouds, double round scales, a pointed dorsal fin, a head adorned with short, fat horns, and curled whiskers.
The Chinese characters on the bell are still clear; the bell body is engraved with the date of Canh Thinh’s 7th year (1799), and the bottom is decorated with four sacred animals. This is one of the few bells of the Tay Son period that retains its full, clear, and unerased date.
The Oldest Stone Sutra in Vietnam
Nhat Tru Pagoda is the starting place of stone sutra culture in Vietnam. The Stone Sutra first appeared in China in 971 when King Song ordered the Tripitaka to be engraved on stone for worship. Only about 2 years later, Dinh Tien Hoang’s son, Dinh Lien, ordered the construction of 100 stone sutras. Engravers will inscribe the Dharani Sutra on the stone pillar, giving rise to the stone scripture culture.
When excavating the ground of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, about 2 km from King Dinh temple, archaeologists found nearly 20 pillars of the Dinh dynasty. These are stone pillars with eight sides, about 0.5 m to 0.7 m long. On all these pillars, the Dharani Sutra is engraved.
These stone pillars were erected in different years. On a sutra pillar found in 1964, in addition to the above mantra, there is a rather long verse in Chinese characters related to the Mahayana Buddha Hall. This is an important archaeological research document, a material document reflecting a prosperous period of Vietnamese Buddhism, a heroic period that opened a new era for the Vietnamese people. This prayer column was recognized as a National Treasure in 2015.
Nhat Tru Pagoda Festival
Many festivals occur at the pagoda every year, but the most special is the “Longing to Send the Dragon Boat” festival. The festival will take place on the 15th lunar day of January, close to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival.
On this day, they set up an altar in front of the temple yard, and candles illuminate the entire area. Below the altar is a large boat made of bamboo, surrounded by blue, yellow, red, purple, and white paper. The boat’s head is bent into the shape of a dragon’s head and covered with yellow paper, silver scales, and glitter.
Inside the boat, place joss paper and petition paper. The villagers carried the dragon boat to the wharf by King Dinh Temple to release it into the river after the monk’s ceremony. The monk lit the petition paper on fire, and the boat floated down the river. This ceremony is to worship Buddha and pray for peace and prosperity for the people in the region.
There are also some notable festivals, such as a poetry festival on the night of the Lunar New Year, to commemorate Zen master Do Phap Thuan. Or on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, there is a ceremony to pray for favorable weather and good crops.
Architecture of Nhat Tru Pagoda
The pagoda is located on nearly an acre of land in the North, near the Sao Khe River, looking west. Right in front of the pagoda is a communal house in Yen Thanh village that worships King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh. Pagoda’s three gates, built of brick, have two floors and eight roofs covered with fish scale tiles.
The middle door is the largest; the outside has a plaque engraved with the Chinese character “Nhất Trụ Tự” (Nhat Tru Pagoda), and the upper floor hangs a large bell. The main architectural items on the campus include the main pagoda, the Patriarch’s house, the Mother’s house, the guest house, the Confucius altar, the pillar-covered house, the tower garden, and other auxiliary works.
The team has completely renovated and embellished the relic in recent years. However, only the main pagoda retains the original Nguyen Dynasty architecture. The main pagoda is arranged as a “Đinh” (丁), including the Front Hall and Upper Hall.
The architect designed the front hall with one floor and two roofs. Furthermore, it was constructed in gable wall style without openings and included five rooms. In addition, the artisans carved the architecture in the Front Hall in the artistic style of the Nguyen Dynasty. Transitioning to the Upper Hall, it consists of three worship spaces arranged in a straight line, notably without carvings. This Upper Hall serves as a dedicated space for arranging Buddha statues, including the Three Period Buddha, Amitabha Triad, Cundi Bodhisattva, and many others.
Other Temples and Pagoda Near Nhat Tru Pagoda
Bai Dinh Pagoda
First on this list is Bai Dinh Pagoda, which has many records. This is the largest temple in Ninh Binh and is a place in the religious sites of Ninh Binh that you should not miss. You will see giant Buddha statues, massive constructions, and many other interesting things here.
Am Tien Pagoda
Am Tien Pagoda is also an ancient pagoda that has existed since the Dinh Dynasty and was a gathering place in the last days of Queen Duong Van Nga’s life. This is a pagoda and a cave located halfway up the mountain. This place tells ancient stories of the feudal dynasties of the Dinh and Le dynasties.
Bich Dong Pagoda
If you have visited Ninh Binh, you cannot miss Bich Dong Pagoda, “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong.” While exploring the Tam Coc Boat Tour, visitors can stop by Bich Dong Pagoda.
Visitors will visit three pagodas after a long walk on stone steps: Lower, Middle, and Upper. Each temple has a different appearance, forming a unique complex. In addition, visitors can pass by Dark Cave to see the stalactites inside the cave.
Dinh and Le Temples
Nhat Tru Pagoda is located very close to King Le Dai Hanh’s temple and only 2km from Dinh’s temple. So, after visiting the pagoda, visitors can combine sightseeing at Dinh and Le Temples.
King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh are typical Vietnamese heroes. So tourists can visit the temples of these two kings, light a stick of incense, pray, and express their respect.
Conclusion
Nhat Tru Pagoda is an ancient pagoda with over a thousand years of history. It is a prominent relic among the relics in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. At the same time, it is also a relic rich in historical and cultural traditions. Moreover, the pagoda is evidence of the prosperous Hoa Lu capital in history. In addition, it houses many memorabilia, such as the Stone Sutra and ancient bronze bells.
Furthermore, the pagoda holds historical value and represents spiritual and cultural significance. That’s what makes this an interesting destination that tourists should visit. Ninh Binh Private Car hopes that this article provides helpful information. And we hope you have an enjoyable trip to Ninh Binh.