Ngoa Van Pagoda is one of the important relics located in the spiritual territory of Truc Lam Yen Tu. This place holds a unique place in the spiritual and cultural life of the Vietnamese people. It was the last stop in the monkhood of Emperor Tran Nhan Tong. With enduring sacred historical significance and natural beauty, it has helped create the unique and impressive Ngoa Van Pagoda as it is today.
Overview of Ngoa Van Pagoda
Ngoa Van Pagoda is located in An Sinh Ward, Quang Ninh province. In the Vietnamese language, Ngoa Van Pagoda means “temple on the clouds”. At an altitude of more than 500m above sea level, the pagoda has a beautiful location, leaning against the cloud-covered Ngoa Van peak.
With two mountain ranges embracing both sides, in front is a small mountain as a screen, and in the distance is a valley with the winding Cam River. The pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty and restored during the Later Le Dynasty.
Ngoa Van is a sacred place of Truc Lam Buddhism
According to historical records, Emperor Tran Nhan Tong was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1295. In May 1307, he went to practice at a hermitage on top of Ngoa Van – a high peak covered in clouds all year round located on Bao Dai Mountain in the sacred Yen Tu range. On November 1, 1308, he entered nirvana at Ngoc Van hermitage (now in An Sinh Ward, Quang Ninh province).
After Tran Nhan Tong passed away, later generations rebuilt the Ngoa Van hermitage to honor him and built pagodas and other religious structures for worshiping Buddha and practicing Buddhism.
Today, Ngoa Van relic is a large pagoda and tower complex arranged in 3 layers on Bao Dai Mountain. The lowest layer is 15 relics at the foot of the mountain, such as Tan Long old forest, Phu Am Tra, Do Kieu, Thong Dan, Da Chong, Ba Bac… These relics are connected by a winding road that gradually runs up to the top of the mountain.
The second layer of the relic site is Ngoa Van Trung pagoda, located on the southern slope of Bao Dai mountain. After being restored and built on the old pagoda’s foundation in 2014, Ngoa Van Trung is today a spacious pagoda, modeled on the architecture of the old pagoda built during the Le Trung Hung period, and comprises two main buildings: the front hall and the back hall.
Ngoa Van Trung pagoda is also considered the central area of the Ngoa Van spring festival (taking place from the 9th of January to the end of the 3rd lunar month every year). Important rituals of the festival, such as the spring opening festival, the ceremony to pray for national peace and people’s safety, are all held at Ngoa Van Trung pagoda.
The third layer, also the highest layer of the Ngoa Van relic, this mystical mountain peak, covered in clouds year-round, is where many sacred vestiges related to the last days of Tran Nhan Tong’s monastic life are preserved, such as Ngoa Van Thuong Pagoda and Ngoa Van Hermitage.
According to legend, Emperor Tran Nhan Tong entered nirvana on a large rock in the posture of a lying lion. Tran Nhan Tong’s Buddha Tower, where part of the Buddha’s relics are kept, and Ban Co Tien, located on the highest peak, overlooking a beautiful mountain area.
Ngoa Van – A masterpiece of pristine nature
To conquer Ngoa Van, in addition to walking pilgrimage, visitors can take the cable car for about 220,000 VND round trip, and it only takes about 15 minutes to reach the Ngoa Van Trung Pagoda.
Not only does the Ngoa Van relic site preserve the sacred vestiges of King Tran Nhan Tong, but it is also a place with pristine, beautiful natural scenery. Located in the Dong Trieu arc area, Ngoa Van is surrounded and embraced by lush green mountains. The vegetation here is largely intact, with many rare plant and animal species.
In Ngoa Van, people can admire the hundred-year-old pine trees and the vast bamboo forests.
Source: collected by An
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