Phat Tich Pagoda – original birthplace of Vietnam’s Buddhism

Phat Tich Pagoda, also called Van Phuc pagoda, is situated on Phat Tich mountain, Phat Tich commune, Tien Du district. The ancient pagoda is a special unique carving architecture. During Ly and Tran dynasties, Phat Tich pagoda was considered the national pagoda, a famous landscape, a major Buddhism center of the whole country, and the academy of Dai Viet’s intellects.

According to historical documents: “the third king of the Ly in the 4^th year of Long Thuy Thai Binh period (1057), had a more than 300m-high tower and a 6m-hogh golden statue erected on Phat Tich mountain, granted more than 2400m2 paddy field to local people, built a 100-room pagoda there” and “on the top of the mountain, there is a big, large, “bright as gem” stone house. There are also 10 huge stone animals in the landing step, dragon-well in the backyard; and all the buildings were carved with images. Such as: birds, flowers and stars”. This was a great site and national pagoda of the Ly that welcome many kings of ancient dynasties for sightseeing and praying. It was also a talent training place where a Doctoral laureate examination was held in the 8^th year of Xuong Phu (1384) of Tran dynasty. Among 30 people who passed that examination, Mr. Doan Xuan Loi, from Kinh Bac land, became the First Doctoral candidate.

Visiting Phat Tich pagoda, tourists have an opportunity to observe a lot of valuable ancient relics, statues, sculptural masterpieces such as; a statue of Amitabha Buddha (the stone sculptural work of Ly dynasty that was recognized as National Treasure), dragon well, 36 holy towers, “human head-bird body” statue drumming, playing the flute and musical instruments, 5 pairs of holy stone animals (horse, elephant, buffalo, lion, rhinoceros) … On the way climbing up Phat Tich mountain, tourists can fully enjoy a scared atmosphere when passing the pine wood and gazing with veneration at the biggest stone Buddha Statue of Southeast Asia building on the top of the mountain. Having vegetarian food in the pagoda’s kitchen is also an exciting experience for domestic and foreign tourists.

Annually on the 4^th of Tet, the “peony-observing” festival is held in the pagoda. This is a big and first-organized festival all over the country. On the festival days, visitors could have opportunity to take part in local formalities to pray for prosperity and peace, or join in traditional cultural activities that carry typical characters of Kinh Bac – Bac Ninh land, namely: singing Quan Ho folk songs on the boat, listening to beautiful love story of student Tu Thuc meeting a lady fairy in Phat Tich fairyland.

Phat Tich Pagoda ranked as the special relic at National level in 2014.