(CLO) The 2025 Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival will be held in conjunction with the announcement of the decision to recognize the statues of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam as a national treasure.
On February 20, news from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Giang province said that Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival will be held from March 10 to March 13, 2025 (ie from February 11 to February 14, At Ty year).
The Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival is held annually to commemorate the three founders of the Truc Lam Zen sect, a Zen sect imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity; to show gratitude to the first founder (King - Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong) for driving out the Yuan - Mongol invaders and keeping the borders of Dai Viet peaceful.
Statues of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. Photo: Tien Chung
In particular, this year's Festival is associated with the event of announcing the decision to recognize the statues of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam as a national treasure.
According to the planned program, at the opening ceremony on the evening of March 10, there will be a drum performance, lion dance; special art program; and the awarding of the Prime Minister's Certificate of National Treasure recognition for the statue set of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam.
Other activities within the framework of the festival include: Procession according to temple rituals; display, explanation, introduction of relics, heritage and preaching of Buddhism; display of rural market cultural space; sports activities and folk games...
According to heritage records, the set of statues of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam includes 3 statues: First Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, Second Phap Loa, Third Huyen Quang.
Among them, the statue of Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong is 0.85 m high, weighs about 60 kg, and is placed in a rectangular shrine. The statue is carved in one piece, depicting the Buddha Emperor meditating on a square wooden pedestal in a relaxed posture, wearing a nine-piece robe. The statue has a balanced and harmonious body and face, a straight nose, slightly closed eyes, a smiling mouth, large long ears, and a shaved head.
The statue of Phap Loa II and Huyen Quang III is 0.83-0.85 m tall; weighs about 65 kg, carved in one piece including the statue and pedestal. The Phap Loa statue has the appearance of a monk, with a tall and slim figure, shaved head, balanced face, high nose, long ears, compassionate and kind demeanor.
The statue sits in a meditation position, legs crossed, hands in a mudra on the thighs. The statue's body is covered with a Buddhist robe with soft lines, covering the entire body.
Procession at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival. Photo: Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Documents
The statue of Huyen Quang is carved in a sitting position on a pedestal, with an angular face, high nose, big ears; legs crossed, left hand on left thigh, right hand holding a book.
According to experts, the statues of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda are carved from jackfruit wood, are unique original artifacts and are still intact; they do not overlap with any other statues in terms of posture, robes, decorative motifs and appearance.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (also known as Duc La Pagoda) is located in Tri Yen Commune, Bac Giang City, Bac Giang Province. The pagoda is considered the ancestral place of the Truc Lam Zen sect, holding a special position in the history of Buddhism during the Tran Dynasty in particular and Vietnamese Buddhism in general.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda has been ranked as a special national monument, the woodblocks kept at the pagoda have been recognized as a documentary heritage of the Asia-Pacific region. In 2013, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
The Vu
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bo-tuong-tam-to-truc-lam-chua-vinh-nghiem-la-bao-vat-quoc-gia-post335393.html
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