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Situated on the slopes of Tam Ban Mountain in Chí Linh City, Hải Dương Province, Chùa Thanh Mai belongs to the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen Buddhist sect, offering a serene and solemn space, especially during the changing seasons.
Chùa Thanh Mai – Mysterious Sanctuary Hidden in the Dense Forests of Chí Linh, Hải Dương
Chùa Thanh Mai is located approximately 12km from National Highway 18A, serving as a stopping point for pilgrims returning from Yên Tử pilgrimage. It's also a historically significant area associated with Northern campaigns against invaders throughout Vietnamese history.
The temple also served as a renowned Buddhist center during the Trần dynasty, closely linked to the life and teachings of Zen Master Pháp Loa, the second patriarch of the Trúc Lâm Tam Tổ Zen sect. The temple stands as one of the province's grand scenic spots, known since ancient times as a sacred sanctuary. Perched on a high mountain, it is surrounded by vast maple forests.
Chùa Thanh Mai formerly spanned an area of 16 hectares with various construction projects. According to historical plaques, the temple complex included: Buddha hall, ancestral hall, maternal hall, monks' quarters, guesthouse, scripture repository, bell tower, etc. Today, efforts have been made to restore the temple to its original form while incorporating contemporary architectural elements.
The current temple comprises main sections such as the triple gate, memorial hall, Buddha hall, ancestral hall, monks' quarters, guesthouse, monks' path... all following the architectural style of the Trần dynasty. The triple gate is constructed in a stacked candle style, consisting of 2 floors, 3 sections, 8 roofs. The lower floor has 3 doors, framed with ironwood. The floor is paved with red bricks, surrounded by walls with a total area of 60 square meters. From the triple gate, through a spacious garden, leads to the temple courtyard.
The memorial hall has a wooden frame structure, with 4 columns 30cm in diameter. The roof has 2 slopes, 4 curved edges, covered with saddle-shaped tiles. The high floor is paved with red bricks, adorned with green stones. In the center stands a memorial stone turtle. The main temple features a 'Đinh' shaped architecture, with 7 front sections, 3 rear sections, featuring horizontal beams, crossbeams, and inclined pillars in a 'stacked eight' style.
From the main temple, across a wide courtyard, is the ancestral hall. Behind the ancestral hall is the central tower containing the remains of Zen Master Pháp Loa, the second patriarch of the Trúc Lâm Zen sect. Additionally, there are other facilities such as the monks' path, warehouse... All the statues in the temple are newly made. The arrangement and worship statues in the temple follow the Lâm Tế Tông lineage with 6 worship platforms.
Currently, Thanh Mai temple houses numerous valuable artifacts such as the Central Tower built in 1334; the Enlightenment Tower built in the 23rd Chính Hoà year (1702); the Spiritual Light Tower built in the 24th Chính Hoà year (1703), along with 5 other towers.
The temple also preserves 6 stone steles from the Trần and Lê dynasties, among which the Thanh Mai Central Tower stele is recognized as a national treasure. The stele erected in the 5th Đại Trị year (1362) tells about the life and career of the second patriarch of the Trúc Lâm Zen sect. The content of the stele discusses the political, religious situations, and activities of the Trúc Lâm Zen sect: Trần Nhân Tông, Pháp Loa, and Huyền Quang.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourFebruary 3, 2023
