Bai Dinh Pagoda – Complex of Temples Setting Numerous Records in Vietnam and Asia

The Bai Dinh Pagoda complex is situated in the western part of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, in Gia Sinh commune, Ninh Binh province. The complex comprises an ancient temple area and a newly built temple area that has become a popular destination attracting many Buddhists and tourists from all over.

Bai Dinh Pagoda – Complex of Temples Setting Numerous Records in Vietnam and Asia

Bai Dinh translates to facing Dinh Mountain, a peak renowned for significant events throughout Vietnamese history. The mountain at Bai Dinh Pagoda is where King Dinh Tien Hoang held ceremonies to pray for favorable weather and winds, and where the ritual of raising the national flag took place as King Quang Trung prepared to lead his army to Thang Long to defeat the Qing invaders.

Bai Dinh Pagoda, the ancient one, was discovered by the Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong, who transformed the caves into temples when he came here in search of the herb that could cure illnesses for King Ly Than Tong. Legend has it that there are many precious herbs here, known as fairy medicine, which people sought after for healing purposes.

During the two resistance wars, the area of Bai Dinh Pagoda belonged to the Quynh Luu revolutionary base, where leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam disseminated the Party's ideals and the revolutionary cause to the people.

The ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda sits atop a 187m high mountain, approximately 800m away from the Tam The Palace of the new temple area. Nestled amidst tranquil mountain forests, the temple complex features a central forecourt house, leading to the brightly lit Buddha worship cave, then to the Cao Son deity shrine; branching left leads to the Nguyen saints' shrine, then to the dark cave for mother and fairy worship.

In 1997, the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda was recognized as a national historical-cultural-revolutionary relic. The temple is constructed in the cave temple architectural style, with all Buddha and Mother worship altars placed amidst the mountain caves. The cave ceilings have become sturdy temple roofs, sheltering sacred places for centuries. Passing through here, King Le Thanh Tong was moved by the beauty and personally inscribed four characters 'Minh Dinh danh lam', meaning 'Famous for its beautiful scenery.

The new Bai Dinh Pagoda (New Bai Dinh Temple) is a massive complex covering an area of 80 hectares, located to the west of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Some of the main sections of the temple include the Tam The Palace, Quan Am Palace, Dharma Master Palace, pagoda, bell tower, and auxiliary buildings, Buddhist academy area, guest reception area...

If the old temple modestly nestled amidst the mountains and forests, the new temple shines brightly and stands out. The new Bai Dinh Pagoda features finely carved statues nestled against the mountainside. The temple complex is like a sparkling gem, multicolored, gathering the spiritual essence of millennia. The outstanding architecture of the new temple area features large blocks with the distinctive Vietnamese architectural imprint.

The main local materials used in constructing the new temple include Ninh Binh blue stone, four-sided wood, dark brown Bat Trang glazed tiles... The dark brown curved roof, resembling a phoenix tail, is the most distinctive feature of the new Bai Dinh Pagoda architecture.

The temple was built with contributions from 500 artisans and many skilled craftsmen from famous craft villages such as Phuc Loc carpentry, Y Yen bronze casting, Ninh Van stone carving, Cat Dang lacquer, Van Lam embroidery, Dong Xam silver inlay... Therefore, the temple architecture is very pure Vietnamese, creating a sense of familiarity.

Today, Bai Dinh Pagoda is a captivating spiritual tourism destination with several recorded records: the largest temple complex in Vietnam (including both the old and new temples); the longest Arhat corridor in Asia (almost 3 km); the temple with the most Arhat statues in Vietnam (500 statues made of high green stone, about 2m tall).

Furthermore, this is also the temple complex with the largest jade well in Vietnam, the temple with the most Bodhi trees in Vietnam (100 Indian Bodhi trees); the largest bronze-gilded Buddha statue in Asia (a 100-ton bronze statue); the largest bronze Maitreya Buddha statue in Southeast Asia (weighing 100 tons); the largest bronze bell in Vietnam (the Dai Hong Chung bell weighing 36 tons).

According to Mytour

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide