According to ancient documents, Dau Pagoda (also known as Phap Van Pagoda) was built in the late 2nd century. At that time, our country was ruled by the Han Dynasty. This area was called Luy Lau, which was the political , economic, cultural and religious center of our country at that time. This was the intersection of Indian Buddhism, Taoism, Chinese Confucianism and indigenous beliefs.
Dau Pagoda Festival is one of the oldest Buddhist festivals - Sketch by architect Bui Hoang Bao
Entrance to Dau Pagoda - Sketch by architect Tran Xuan Hong
Dau Pagoda was built in the style of "inner public, outer private". The worshiping hall, incense burner and upper hall form the shape of the Chinese character Cong 工. The front hall, the corridors on both sides and the rear hall behind form the shape of the Chinese character Quoc 国.
Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
The oldest pagoda in Vietnam - Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
Sweeping leaves in the temple yard - Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
The pagoda has been rebuilt and renovated many times. In the middle of the pagoda yard is the Hoa Phong square tower, nearly 7 m on a side and about 17 m high. The tower used to be 9 stories high, now only 3 remain, but it is still enough for the four corner statues of the Heavenly Kings to stand and protect Buddhism, above which hangs a bronze bell cast in the late 18th century. The tower is built of large bricks, fired by hand.
Dau Pagoda on a winter day - Sketch by Architect Phung The Huy
Panorama of Dau Pagoda - Sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh
Dau Pagoda witnessed the formation of the first Zen sect in Vietnam - the Tỳ Ni Đa Lưu Chi Zen sect (the name of the Indian Zen master who brought this Zen sect to our country in the 6th century and lived at Dau Pagoda). His statue is still there, in the Upper Palace.
In front of the tower is a stone sheep statue (0.8 m high, 1.33 m long), the oldest remaining vestige (believed to be nearly 2,000 years old). Legend has it that when he came to Vietnam, the Indian Zen master brought two sheep with him. One strayed to Dau Pagoda, the other to Si Nhiep's tomb (the governor of Giao Chi at that time, about 3 km from Dau Pagoda), so people carved a statue of each sheep to worship.
Dau Pagoda - Painting by Architect Hoang Dung
Panorama of Dau Pagoda - Sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh
Dau Pagoda Festival (8.4 lunar month) is one of the oldest Buddhist festivals. In 2013, the project was recognized as a special national monument. The set of 107 woodblocks (*) of Dau Pagoda (content about Buddhist teachings, rain-praying rituals, praying for rain, praying for rain...) also became a national treasure.
(*) ancient printing method: carving letters and drawings on wood for printing.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chua-dau-co-nhat-vn-va-cuu-da-gan-2000-nam-tuoi-18525062119595333.htm
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