Quỳnh Lâm Pagoda Festival to be held on March 5-8
Posted by admin on March 3, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the North, Vietnam festival, Vietnam travel News | 
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Located at Đông Triều district, Quang Ninh province, Quỳnh Lâm pagoda used to be the largest Buddhist centre for the entire country during the 17th and 18th century.
The pagoda was built at the Pre-Lý Dynasty (about the end of the 5th century, begin of the 6th century) and has been restored many times under the Đinh, Early Lê, Lý, Trần, Lê Dynasties.
Before the pagoda is a great lake, while the three remaining sides are surrounded by hills and mountains. It was embellished and completed in Lý, Trần Dynasties. During the 11th and 14th centuries, the end of Lê Dynasty, and in the 17th and 18th centuries, it developed into the main centre of Buddhism for the entire country.
In the 14th century, the Quỳnh Lâm Pagoda became an even more important Buddhist centre with the activities of the monk Pháp Loa Đồng Kiên Cương, a member of the second generation of the Trúc Lâm Buddhist sect. It was the centre for sacred books and for preaching Buddhism, as well as a training-site for future pagoda wardens. Many associations, famous in Vietnamese literature and history, were organized here.
In 1319, Pháp Loa calls for blood donation from Buddhist followers to print over 5,000 copies of Đại Tạng sutras, which are kept at Quỳnh Lâm Buddhist Institute. In 1328, he had a statue of Maitreya cast. A year later, he brought a part of the bone ash of Trần Nhân Tông (the 1st patriarch of the Trúc Lâm Zen sect) to put into the stone stupa in Quỳnh Lâm Pagoda.
In early 15th century, the pagoda was reduced to ruins and had to undergo many restorations. In 1727, the 7-storey Tịch Quang Stupa (grave of monk Chân Nguyên, who made great contribution to the pagoda) was set up, which measures up to 10 meters. The stupa’s top takes the shape of a banyan bud. To the stupa is attached a plate which notes down the biography of monk Chân Nguyên.
In mid-18th century, the pagoda underwent a major restoration. It now also has bronze bells and stone gongs.
This year’s ritual festivities of the Quỳnh Lâm Pagoda are held on March 5-8 (from the first to the fourth day of the second lunar month). However, the festive atmosphere often lasts through spring.
Source: quangninh.gov
Collected by Vietnam hotel
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