(BNP) - On October 12, at Ham Long Pagoda, Nam Son Ward People's Committee kicked off the project of restoring and embellishing national historical relic Ham Long Pagoda.
Provincial leaders present flowers for congratulations.
Attending the event were Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan; Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council Tran Thi Hang; Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Xuan Loi; Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Nguyen Dinh Loi; Most Venerable Thich Thanh Dung, Deputy Supreme Patriarch, Chief Secretary of the Central Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee and Head of the Legal Committee of the Bac Ninh Provincial Buddhist Sangha, Abbot of Ham Long Pagoda.
Delegates perform the project launch ceremony.
Ham Long Pagoda is one of the famous ancient temples of the Kinh Bac region. It was originally built in the 12th century during the Ly Dynasty and is located at the base of the Dam Mountain, in Thai Bao village, Nam Son ward. It was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1988. It is closely associated with the cultural, spiritual, and religious life of the people of Bắc Ninh. Today, the site still preserves many valuable relics and antiquities, such as ancient Buddha statues and 14 ancient tomb towers dating back to the Tran, Later Le, and Nguyen dynasties, along with ancient horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, and decorative carved doors.
Chairman Vuong Quoc Tuan and representatives from the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bac Ninh province perform the wood punishment ceremony.
In recent years, Ham Long Pagoda has received attention and support from authorities at all levels, local residents, and Buddhist followers near and far, leading to the restoration and renovation of several important structures. However, over time, many of the pagoda’s main components have seriously deteriorated, such as the Tam Bao Hall, the Ancestral Worship Hall, and the two corridor wings. Some wooden structures, roof tiles, and foundations have been damaged by termites or have cracked and subsided. The overall landscape lacks cohesive planning, and the pagoda’s courtyard is narrow, failing to meet the spiritual and religious needs of monks, devotees, and visitors.
Overall perspective of the project to restore and embellish the national relic Ham Long Pagoda.
The restoration and embellishment of Ham Long Pagoda not only preserves the historical, architectural and artistic values of the relic but also creates a highlight in the chain of historical and cultural spaces of Dam Mountain. After the project is completed, it will become a destination for pilgrimage, sightseeing, and spiritual reflection for both domestic and international visitors. At the same time, it will serve as a place for promoting traditional values and guiding people toward the ideals of truth, goodness, and beauty.
