Location: Ba Vang Mountain, Quang Trung Ward, Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province.
Characteristics: Ba Vang Pagoda (also known as Bao Quang Pagoda) preserves unique Buddhist cultural values, especially Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen.
The pagoda was built in 1706 by Buddhist Monk Tue Bich – a descendant of Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen and then restored several times. The current architecture is the result of the renovation in 2011.
◊ Architecture
Covering an area of about 22ha, with the situation of backing to the mountain, facing the Bang Dang River and being surrounded by pine forest, the pagoda consists of front shrine, sanctum, back shrine and many auxiliary items. Highlights of which are the internal three-door gate and sanctum named Dai Hung Bao Dien.
The internal three-door gate has the Northern pagoda style architecture with the largest middle door. Above the three doors are three steeples attached to the statues of dragon, unicorn, turtle, and phoenix. The front of the internal three-door gate is engraved the parallel sentences in Han character and faces the semicircular lake, where has a pagoda designed after the architecture of One Pillar Pagoda in Ha Noi.
Passing the internal three-door gate, visitors arrive in Dai Hung Bao Dien with the area of 4,000m2 recognized as “the largest sanctum on mountain in Indochina” by the Indochina Records Organization in 2014. The wall of Dai Hung Bao Dien is carved many exquisite patterns, especially the large mural painting describing Shakyamuni Buddha’s life from his birth to Nirvara.
The other works uninterruptedly arranged surrounding Dai Hung Bao Dien to create a harmonious architectural ensemble include ancestors’ house, preaching hall, library, bell tower, drum tower, Arhat statue corridor, etc.
LED lighting system on the pagoda’s roof turned on at night brings the splendid and brilliant beauty to the pagoda.
◊ Outstanding Antiques
In addition to the unique architecture, Ba Vang Pagoda also has a great system of wooden statues and valuable antiques, especially the red wooden drum recognized as the biggest one of Viet Nam by Viet Nam Records Organization in 2014.
◊ Festival
Ba Vang Pagoda is the only place in Quang Ninh Province to organize Chrysanthemum Festival on the 9th day of the ninth lunar month to honor the chrysanthemum – the symbol of Buddhist culture associated with Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen. The festival includes many activities such as water procession from the old well to the sanctum, offerings ceremony, chrysanthemum arranging contest, enjoying chrysanthemum tea, reciting zen poems, calligraphy demonstration, tuong (Vietnamese classic opera) and cheo (Vietnamese popular theatre) performances, etc.
