The People’s Committee of Ha Nam province hosted a ceremony on May 3^rd to receive a certificate recognising Doi Son (or Long Doi Son) pagoda as a special national relic site and to kick off Doi Son pagoda festival 2018.

At the ceremony. (Source: VNA)

The Doi Son pagoda is located in Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district, the Red River Delta province of Ha Nam.

The pagoda was built in 1054 under the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong. It was expanded from 1118-1121 under the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong along with the construction of Sung Thien Dien Linh tower.

In the early 15^th century, both Doi Son pagoda and Sung Thien Dien Linh tower were completely destroyed when the Ming aggressors invaded the country. Under the Later Le, Mac and Nguyen dynasties, the pagoda was rebuilt and its architecture was gradually restored.

In 2014 , the Sung Thien Dien Linh stele was recognised as a national treasure.

The stele was set up in 1121 under the Ly Dynasty at the forecourt of Long Doi Son Pagoda and was directly under the guidance of Kinh Ly Nhan Tong.

Sung Thien Dien Linh stele, made from green stone, is 2.5 metres high, 1.75 metres wide and 30 centimetres thick and is placed in a two-storey stele house.

Scripts are engraved on both sides of the stele, including 4,257 Chinese characters on the front. The back was engraved with contents of different dates in 1121, 1591 and 1698. Of particularl note, a poem written by King Le Thanh Tong on the occasion of his visit to the pagoda in 1467 was carved on the back of the stele.

The inscription on the stele provides valuable historical materials about the life and career of Kinh Ly Nhan Tong and eminent General Ly Thuong Kiet and reflects the philosophy and situation of Buddism in the Ly Dynasty. The stele also bears inscriptions featuring sculptural, architectural and water puppet art.

Long Doi Son Pagoda, Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district (Photo: Internet)

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Dang Thi Bich Lien asked Ha Nam province to work out an overall planning scheme for the long-term preservation of the relic site.

The relic site management board should plant landmarks surrounding the pagoda, promote the dissemination of information about its historical, cultural, scientific and artistic values, build plans for restoration and upgrading and maintain traditional festive rituals, she said.

The official also suggested the provincial authorities to uphold the values of local typical festivals in a bid to further foster its tourism development./.

VNF