Bo Da Pagoda: An Iconic Ancient Temple in the Historic Kinh Bac Region

Bodà Pagoda, Bac Giang – A Unique Ancient Temple in the Historic Kinh Bac Region, Home to Vietnam's Largest Stupa Garden and Buddhist Woodblock Scriptures.
Distinctive Architecture
Bo Da Pagoda in Bac Giang is one of the most unique ancient pagodas in the Kinh Bac region and a major Buddhist center of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect. It was recognized as a Special National Relic in 2016.
Bo Da Pagoda, also known as Bo Pagoda or Tam Giao Pagoda, and by its Sino-Vietnamese name Tu An Tu, is nestled on Phoenix Mountain (Bo Da Son) in Thuong Lat Hamlet, Tien Son Commune, Viet Yen District, Bac Giang Province. The Buddhist scriptures carved on persimmon wood preserved within the pagoda are considered the oldest of the Lam Te Zen sect,...
This pagoda still retains its original ancient Vietnamese traditional architecture. Bo Da Pagoda boasts a unique architectural style that sets it apart from other traditional pagodas in northern Vietnam.
It features Vietnam's most beautiful and largest stupa garden, numerous valuable artifacts, and a rich collection of Han-Nom heritage. This is also a place where mountains and rivers converge, offering views of rivers against a mountainous backdrop. The scenery and atmosphere are steeped in time, surrounded by hills, mountains, and tranquil villages.

Bo Da Pagoda, also known as Bo Pagoda or Tam Giao Pagoda, and by its Sino-Vietnamese name Tu An Tu, is nestled on Phoenix Mountain (Bo Da Son) in Thuong Lat Hamlet, Tien Son Commune, Viet Yen District, Bac Giang Province.
Bo Da Pagoda worships the Three Religions (Tam Giao), including Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Quan The Am Bo Tat), the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam Zen (Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa, and Huyen Quang), and Confucius. Ancient bamboo and stone books preserved here continue to be used for training new members of the Lam Te sect (Son Mon Bo Da) according to traditional customs.
The Bo Da Pagoda complex is a collection of relics including: the ancient Bo Da Son Pagoda (also known as Bo Da Pagoda, Bo Pagoda; or Quan Am Pagoda), the main Tu An Pagoda, and Tam Duc Hermitage (built later during the Later Le Dynasty). Additionally, on Bo Da Mountain, there is a temple dedicated to Thach Tuong Dai Vuong, a hero who helped the 16th Hung King fight foreign invaders.
The origin of Bo Da Pagoda is also associated with many legends. It is said that around the 11th century, at the foot of the mountain lived a poor, kind, and hardworking woodcutter's family. Despite being over 40, they had no children. One day, as the husband carried his axe up the mountain to gather firewood, he stumbled upon an old pine tree. With each chop, he chanted: "Avalokiteshvara Buddha." Afterwards, he found 32 coins at the base of the tree. Surprised, he consulted a high-ranking monk who told him: "Avalokiteshvara Buddha has 32 manifestations." The woodcutter then prayed: "If Avalokiteshvara Buddha blesses me with a son, I vow to build a pagoda in worship."
Subsequently, the woodcutter had a son. He saved money to build a pagoda and commissioned a statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Quan Am Tong Tu) for worship. Over time, many people visited to pray, and their wishes were often granted, leading to the pagoda being called "Ong Bo Pagoda" (Mr. Bo's Pagoda). Since it worships the Buddha (But Da, derived from the word Buddha), it became known as Bo Da Pagoda.

Bo Da Pagoda is one of the major Buddhist centers of the Truc Lam Zen sect, and it still preserves its original ancient Vietnamese traditional architecture.
Some also believe that Bo Da is a phonetic variation of Pho Da, which originates from the word Buddha, and is where Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Quan Am Bo Tat) manifested to save lives, hence it is also known as Quan Am Pagoda. Later, the pagoda incorporated Tu An Pagoda, giving it the additional name Tu An Tu.
Bo Da Pagoda is one of the major Buddhist centers of the Truc Lam Zen sect, and it still preserves its original ancient Vietnamese traditional architecture. Currently, Bo Da Pagoda houses many valuable documents, artifacts, and antiques of great cultural, historical, architectural, and artistic significance. Notably, it possesses the oldest Buddhist woodblocks in Vietnam, carved on persimmon wood.
Architecturally, Bo Da Pagoda features a unique design that distinguishes it from other traditional pagodas in northern Vietnam. Its "internal openness, external closure" (nội thông ngoại bế) architectural style creates an atmosphere of tranquility, seclusion, and sacredness.
Its harmonious architectural layout is constructed using distinctive materials such as fired bricks, tiles, ceramic funerary urns (tieu sanh), and unique earthen walls. Many walls, gates, and other structures are built entirely from rammed earth in the "chinh tuong" style. The pagoda's entrance gate features a salt-stone paved foundation with varying sizes of stones and is built in the Nguyen Dynasty architectural style, resembling a bell tower.
Notably, many walls are constructed from ceramic funerary urns (tieu sanh), similar to those found in Tho Ha village, a few kilometers away, which specializes in producing jars, pots, and these urns. This gives the pagoda a solemn, ancient appearance that also feels very connected to the rural villages of the Northern Delta.
Ms. Le Nhu Van, a Buddhist devotee from Tuyen Quang, shared: "Bo Da Pagoda is an ancient temple that evokes a sense of antiquity, solemnity, and profound tranquility, yet also feels incredibly familiar. Some architectural features here resemble the traditional rural homes of the ancient Northern Delta countryside. Our group came here to offer incense and practice, and we found our hearts peaceful and deeply cleansed."

This is a sloping plot of land, covering nearly 8,000 m², situated on Bo Da Mountain, where the sarira and ashes of the Lam Te Zen sect's venerable monks are preserved.
The entire main pagoda complex spans approximately 51,784 m² and is divided into three distinct areas: a garden covering 31,000 m², the inner pagoda grounds of 13,000 m², and a stupa garden measuring 7,784 m².
When visiting Bo Pagoda, travelers must not miss the monk stupa garden. With approximately 100 stupas, Bo Da Pagoda's stupa garden is considered the most beautiful and largest among ancient pagodas in Vietnam. Over time, it has become the resting place for more than 1,000 venerable monks who once practiced at the pagoda.
This is a sloping plot of land, covering nearly 8,000 m², situated on Bo Da Mountain, where the sarira and ashes of the Lam Te Zen sect's venerable monks are preserved. The pagoda used mountain stones, fired bricks, and clay to build a surrounding wall for the stupa garden, creating a serene and profound atmosphere.
The pagoda garden is cultivated with traditional fruit trees and seasonal crops. It is surrounded by drainage ditches for protection. For a long time, this garden has served as a center for the community's religious activities.
The inner pagoda grounds (Tu An Pagoda) were built during the Later Le Dynasty, featuring an "internal cong, external quoc" architectural style. The entire pagoda complex currently comprises 16 large and small buildings with a total of 92 compartments. Among them, the Tam Bao hall is designed in the "Dinh" character shape. The front hall has 7 compartments, with brick walls, tiled roofs, and square-tiled floors. The steps are paved with blue stone slabs of various sizes.
Currently, this site preserves many valuable documents, artifacts, and antiques of great cultural, historical, architectural, and artistic significance, such as the system of Le Dynasty Buddha statues and nearly 300-year-old Buddhist woodblocks of the Lam Te Zen sect,...
The annual Bo Da Pagoda Festival, held from the 16th to the 18th day of the second lunar month, is a grand and lively event. Additionally, the Bo Da festival also takes place on the 12th day of the ninth lunar month, commemorating the deification day of Thach Linh Than Tuong...

With its unique architecture, rich history, culture, and distinct character, Bo Da Pagoda truly deserves to be a destination for travelers seeking to connect with their roots.
Ms. Pham Thi Hai, a visitor from Bac Ninh, shared: "The people of Bac Giang have a saying: 'First is Duc La Pagoda / Second is Bo Pagoda, third is Trang Pagoda.' This alone demonstrates the status, importance, and special nature of Bo Pagoda. As far as I know, the Bo Da Festival is one of 11 heritage sites recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. We must preserve, restore, and promote these values."
With its unique architecture, rich history, culture, and distinct character, Bo Da Pagoda truly deserves to be a destination for travelers seeking to connect with their roots.
Bac Ninh 6677 view
Update day : 23/12/2023
Source : Công luận .VN Affiliate links
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