Thanh Mai pagoda in Truc Lam Buddhism heritage system

The traditional festival of Thanh Mai pagoda takes place on the 3rd day of every 3rd lunar month, the death anniversary of 2nd patriarch Phap Loa (file photo)

Thanh Mai pagoda, whose Sino-Vietnamese name is Thanh Mai Thien Tu (Thanh Mai Zen pagoda), in Hoang Hoa Tham commune, Chi Linh city, was built on Phat Tich mountain, also known as Tam Ban mountain, of Dong Trieu bow.

Historical materials plus archaeological excavations show that the pagoda was constructed on a large scale in the Tran dynasty. The pagoda still preserves a precious treasure in the Truc Lam Buddhism heritage system, namely Thanh Mai Vien Thong Thap Bi (stele). Carved in 1362, the stele is one of a few original materials showing the biography, career, and religious practicing process of 2nd patriarch Phap Loa.

Based on the stele, Phap Loa, whose real name was Dong Kien Cuong, was born in 1284 in Dong Hoa hamlet, Cuu La commune, Nam Sach district, now in Ai Quoc ward, Hai Duong city.

In the 13th Hung Long year (1304), on the occasion of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong's visit to Cuu La commune, Dong Kien Cuong paid a visit.

Realizing that Kien Cuong could reach the peak of the Way, King Tran let Phap Loa follow him to learn the religion and renamed him Hy Lai, meaning the one who brings joy.

Hy Lai was smart, studious, and enthusiastic about Buddhism; therefore, only one year later, he was awarded precious objects by King Tran at Ky Lan monastery in Chi Linh.

In 1307, he was given the right to inherit the cause of Truc Lam Zen, thereby becoming the second patriarch of the Zen.

In 1330, Pham Loa fell ill and returned to Quynh Lam monastery in Dong Trieu for recuperation. There, he handed over the precious objects to Huyen Quang, the 3rd patriarch of Truc Lam Zen.

Phap Loa passed away at Quynh Lam monastery on the night of March 3, 1330. According to his will, his relics were placed in Vien Thong Bao Thap (tower) behind Thanh Mai pagoda.

A system of stone stelae is kept at Thanh Mai pagoda, in which Vien Thong Thap Bi has been recognized as a national treasure

Despite a short life, Phap Loa had a great career. He trained a generation of excellent students, raised thousands of monks and nuns, cast thousands of large and small statues, and built hundreds of pagodas and towers, typically religious centers such as pagodas Yen Tu, Con Son, Thanh Mai, Quynh Lam, etc.

He also inherited and developed Truc Lam Zen to its peak by spending a lot of time preaching, having many statuary paintings drawn and scriptures engraved and printed, etc.

Apart from the contents about 2nd patriarch Phap Loa's life and career, the stele also provides information about politics, religion, land, and construction time of major religious works at that time. Therefore, researchers assess that Vien Thong Thap Bi is not only the soul of Thanh Mai pagoda but also a treasure containing and conveying messages about the nation's history, culture, and art in the Tran dynasty.

Regarding the geographical position which can still be recognized nowadays, Thanh Mai pagoda is located on the backbone axis of the Buddhism practice and development path of Truc Lam Zen in the route from Yen Tu to Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, and Bac Giang. From there, Truc Lam Zen has developed and spread throughout the country.

Commemorating the 2nd patriarch of Truc Lam Zen, people took the death anniversary of Zen Master Phap Loa as the annual traditional festival day (the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month).

With such typical and remarkable values, Thanh Mai pagoda deserves to be included in a dossier for recognition of Yen Tu relic and landscape complex as part of world heritage.

Hai Duong is coordinating with Quang Ninh and Bac Giang provinces to make a dossier to request the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to recognize Yen Tu relic and landscape complex (including Con Son – Kiep Bac relic site and Thanh Mai pagoda) as part of world heritage. It is expected that the detailed dossier will be completed and submitted to the UNESCO at the end of this year.

HUYEN ANH