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But Thap Pagoda is one of the most beautiful ancient architectural wonders in the Red River Delta region of Northern Vietnam. The pagoda not only preserves its original architectural structure but also contains numerous exquisite stone and wood sculptures.
But Thap Pagoda Bac Ninh - Enduring Timeless Heritage
But Thap Pagoda, also known as 'Ninh Phuc Pagoda', is located approximately 30km from Hanoi and 3km from Dau Pagoda. Situated along the Duong River, it belongs to Dinh To commune, Thuan Thanh district.
The pagoda was built during the reign of King Tran Thanh Tong. Situated within a spacious compound, But Thap Pagoda consists of multiple interconnected towers separated by open spaces.
The pagoda has undergone several renovations and restorations. The largest renovation took place in the early 17th century, during the reign of the Le-Trinh dynasty. During this renovation, the pagoda expanded significantly, adopting the architectural style of 'domestic cultivation, external influence', with significant contributions from Queen Trinh Thi Ngoc Truc.
The most recent renovation period was in the years 1992 - 1996, but fundamentally, the original architecture of the pagoda remains largely intact and is considered the most complete ancient pagoda in Vietnam.
The main architecture of But Thap Pagoda faces south, according to Buddhist doctrine, symbolizing wisdom. The central area consists of 8 parallel houses running along a central axis.
The front hall and two rows of corridors, and the rear ancestral house, form the shape of the word 'Nation'. From the front hall to the main sanctuary forms the word 'Work', and from the main sanctuary through the stone bridge and the nine-story lotus tower also forms the word 'Work'.
Within But Thap Pagoda lies the Bao Nghiem Tower, a unique and prominent stone tower. Bao Nghiem Tower resembles a giant pen, with 5 stories topped with a green stone pinnacle, adorned with lively decorative motifs. The bottom tier of the tower features 13 artistic stone carvings. The tower is a combination of stone masonry and exquisite sculpting by ancient craftsmen.
But Thap Pagoda houses a special treasure, the statue of Thousand-Handed Avalokitesvara, a masterpiece of Vietnamese sculptural art. The statue is 3.7m tall, 2.1m wide, with 11 heads, 42 large arms, and 904 small arms, each hand containing an eye in its palm.
The upper sanctuary of the pagoda is adorned with statues such as Shakyamuni Buddha, Van Tho Bodhisattva, Pho Hien, and the 18 Arhats. These sculptures, along with the altars, incense burners, and relief panels, exhibit exquisite carving and gilding craftsmanship.
The nine-story lotus tower at the pagoda is also a masterpiece. It is an octagonal wooden tower, with 9 tiers representing the 9 stages of Buddha's enlightenment. The tower can rotate silently. Currently, apart from But Thap Pagoda, Vietnam only has 2 other nine-story lotus towers at Pham Pagoda and Giam Pagoda (Hai Duong).
Over many centuries, But Thap Pagoda has remained a highly valuable heritage left by our ancestors. It has always been one of the major Buddhist centers with significant influence and a captivating spiritual tourism destination, attracting the attention of many scholars.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourDecember 8, 2022
