Bac Giang (VNS/VNA) - Localauthorities in the northern province of Bac Giang have started initial steps torestore ancient relics on the West Yen Tu mountain range, where King-Monk TranNhan Tong (1258-1308) studied and practiced Buddhism.

According to Le Anh Duong, Vice Chairman of the BacGiang People’s Committee, through many years of research, the concernedagencies have proved there is a connection between Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Yen Dungdistrict, which was built in the 11th century, and a series of ruined pagodas,temples and towers in the west of Yen Tu range.

“That’s where Monk King Tran Nhan Tong startingstudying Buddhism in 1293 after handing his throne to his son, princeTran Thuyen, created the Yen Tu Zen Buddhism school at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda,” Duongsaid. “He travelled up the West Yen Tu range, practised Zen Buddhism,popularising it among followers before passing away at Ngoa Van pagoda on Bao DaiMountain in the East Yen Tu range.”

After more than 700 years of development, theTruc Lam Yen Tu Zen school has promoted the principle of embracing life and ofleading a religious life while fulfilling a citizen’s responsibility fornational construction and development.

“The province wants to restore the relics as away to rebuild the King’s Buddhism practise and add more tourism spots fortoday’s Buddhists and travellers,” Tran Manh Ha, Director of the provincial Departmentof Culture, Sports and Tourism told Vietnam News.

Venerable Monk Thich Truc Thai Minh, head of BaVang Pagoda in the northern province of Quang Ninh has proposed authorities lethis team conduct examinations at the site to implement the project.

Ten relics located in two districts of Luc Nganand Luc Nam of Bac Giang province will be the key spots for the restorationproject.

“The project aims to open in each ruined pagodaon the way up on West Yen Tu range a traditional Truc Lam Yen Tu School andrestore localities’ festivals,” said Venerable Monk Minh.

The pagodas to be renovated including Ma Yen, Hon Thap, Binh Longwill link with the West Yen Tu Culture Spiritual Tourism Site in the sameprovince, which was constructed in 2014 and is expected to be completed by2025; and the Yen Tu Landscape Complex in the east side of Yen Tu range into alarge-scale religious complex, restoring Truc Lam Buddhism School holy land,according to Ha.

The authorities of Bac Giang will support investors in legalprocedures, moving locals out of the allocated areas and building roads to therelics, Duong confirmed.

In a few months time, authorities in twodistricts of Luc Ngan and Luc Nam will ask for locals’ opinions on implementingthe projects, he said.

Ha said the authorities will mobilise private capital for the project. Hence hewas not sure when the project will be completed. “Maybe in ten to twenty yearstime,” he added.

According to the provincial Department of Culture,Sports and Tourism, Monk King Tran Nhan Tong started his study of Buddhism fromthe west of Yen Tu range (of today’s Bac Giang province). His followers PhapLoa and Huyen Quang followed his steps on the west of Yen Tu range to practicethe Truc Lam Zen Sect.

Early monks of the sect built pagodas, towersand spread Buddhism throughout Bac Giang province, where today remain 2,000historical and cultural sites with various holy pagodas and temples like Am Vai,Binh Long, Yen Ma, Son Thap and Dam Tri.

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda has been recognised as aSpecial National Relic Site, which hosts a stock of thousands of wood printingblocks teaching Buddhism that has been listed as a World Documentary Heritageby UNESCO.

“With such a large number of relics, the West ofYen Tu range has been considered as the birthplace of Buddhism between the 11thand 14th century, which hosted the first Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam,” saidVenerable Monk Minh.

In 2015, three provinces of Quang Ninh, BacGiang and Hai Duong locating under Yen Tu mountain range submitted to thegovernment a list of destinations of Tran dynasty’s relic sites and Truc Lam YenTu Buddhism Zen Sect to seek the government’s recognition.

The complex includes Yen Tu Historical Relicsand Landscape (in Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province); Tran Dynasty’s RelicsSites in Dong Trieu commune, Quang Ninh province; Thanh Mai - Con Son - Kiep BacHistorical and Cultural Site in Chi Linh city, Hai Dương province; West Yen TuRelic Sites in Bac Giang province.

Historical documents mentioned the Yen Tumountain range formed “Dong Trieu Bow”, which is divided into two parts: theeast side belongs to today’s Quang Ninh and Hai Duong provinces while the eastside is located in today’s Bac Giang province.-VNS/VNA