Kinh Thien Temple in Ninh Binh recently attracted a large number of people and tourists from all directions to visit and worship the most sacred place in the heart of Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Here, more than 1,000 years ago, King Dinh Tien Hoang De established a heavenly altar. In the middle of the Kinh Thien Altar, a giant bronze jar was placed, attracting everyone's attention.
According to a representative of the Kinh Thien Temple Management Board, the giant bronze caldera was cast to honor Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong, the National Master of the Ly Dynasty, the founder of the bronze casting profession and the founder of the Vietnamese medicine profession.
The main face of the bronze caldera is carved with images and information about the life and career of Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong (in Vietnamese, English and Chinese).
The Zen master was born on this very land, not only a high monk who was enlightened, he healed King Ly Than Tong, was conferred the title of National Master, and in the folk, he is revered as the Founder of the bronze casting profession, the Founder of the medicine profession. Legend has it that the Zen master contributed to creating massive bronze works of the Ly Dynasty - a symbol of intelligence and prosperity of the ancient Dai Viet country" - said the representative of the Management Board of Kinh Thien Temple.
Around the remaining sides of the caldera are images of the Buddha of all beings and all species, images of beautiful landscapes of Vietnam... Images of Vietnam's sea and islands are also clearly depicted on the caldera body.
Representatives of the Management Board of Kinh Thien Temple area revealed more about the shape of this giant bronze caldera. Accordingly, the mouth of the caldera is cast wide like the sky to receive the sacred energy of the universe, catching the light of the sun and moon, symbolizing the compassion of the Heavenly Way.
The trunk is as sturdy as a mountain, standing in the middle of Trang An persistently in front of the storm, symbolizing Vietnamese character and will. The trunk clings deep to the earth, like a root source embracing a kind mother, like ancestors clinging to the land to protect the village, reminding posterity not to forget the roots.
These three parts form a vertical axis: Above is heaven, below is earth, in between is man.
Kinh Thien Temple is located on the highest land of Moc Hoan valley, about 270ha wide, belonging to Tay Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province. The project has just been restored with a structure consisting of three large gates from outside to inside: Human gate - Earth gate - Heaven gate (according to the ancient "Three Wealths" concept: Heaven - Earth - People), forming the universe.
