Ancient mark
Keo Pagoda is associated with a nearlycentury-long historical story about the extraordinary life of Zen master Duong Khong Lo. Born into a fishing family in the early 11th century, he was a gentle, intelligent person who soon regained his spiritual knowledge of Zen. Along with two other famous Zen masters, Giac Hai and Tu Dao Hanh, Duong Khong Lo crossed the Summon River, went to Tay Truc to study the Buddha and recite the recitation of the recitation of the Book.
After returning, he built Nghiem Quang pagoda in 1061 under King Ly Thanh Tong. With his merits in treating the king, he was honored as a Grand tutor of the Ly Dynasty. After being elevated in 1094, the pagoda was renamed by King Ly Anh Tong as Than Quang Tu in 1167, forever remembering the merits of the 9th Holy Father of the Vietnamese Zen Monastery.
The ancient pagoda, which has existed for nearly 500 years, was swept away by a terrible flood of the Red River in 1611. However, sacredness and piety did not allow the heritage to be forgotten.
By 1630, with the support of Tuan Tho District Cong Khuong Nhan Dung, the contribution of the people and the valuable source of lim wood provided by King Trinh Giang, the pagoda was restarted and completed within just 28 months (1632).
Architectural masterpiece
After nearly 400 years with historical ups and downs, this architectural complex still retains its unique identity from the 17th century, rare in the Vietnamese temple system.
The scale and architectural art of Keo Pagoda are considered by experts to be the pinnacle and most unique in Vietnam. The large pagoda complex, consisting of 17 buildings with 128 compartments, is built in the typical architectural style of "Foreign Imperial Palace" and the worshiping layout of "Buddha, Saint".
The entire project is built from rare ironwood, completely connected by sophisticated wood mortise technology without the need for nails. The ingenuity and talent of ancient craftsmen have created an extremely tight, sturdy whole, despite the harshness of time and nature.
Along the South - North Sea axis, visitors will take turns admiring the three main attractions, the lake, and then the three main attractions. Here, the central gate is a 17th-century wood carving masterpiece recognized as a National Treasure. Although the original door set is currently solemnly preserved and displayed at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum for research, the restored version at Keo Pagoda is still strong enough to make admirers admire the pinnacle of Vietnamese ancient wood carving art.
The second national treasure honored at Keo Pagoda is the Huong Dan (also known as the Nhang Dan). The gate was created during the Le Trung Hung period, in the 17th century, made of precious wood and solemnly placed in the Ong Muong Building (adjacent to the Hau Cung of the Holy Land). On the faces, body and feet of the incense table, the ancient artisans have worked hard to carve with perfect quality, demonstrating careful compliance with the design theme.
According to experts, the structure and pattern details on the Project are extremely rich and complex, and are unlikely to be repeated in any other wood carving product. This is not only an worship object but also a great testament to the talent and elaborateness of 17th-century Vietnamese artisans.
The pinnacle of Keo Pagoda architecture is also shown in the developments of the domestic bell tower - a project established by Guinness World Record as the tallest wooden bell tower in Vietnam (11.04m high). The bell tower is built on a square brick floor, with 3 roofs in the style of ancient incense-precious incense-precious incense- incense-precious incense- incense-ai. The entire structure is made of ironwood, connected by mortar, supporting 12 gently curved tiled roofs, creating the image of a giant lotus flower rising high.
Here, 3 ancient bronze bells and a stone pillar are hung opposite, creating absolute harmony. This work is a vivid testament to the skillful ancient architectural techniques, creating a deep, profound appearance, the resounding bell that resounds the majesty and eternity of the sacred place.
Keo Pagoda, after nearly 400 years of ups and downs, still embraces the historical, cultural and architectural imprints of the post-Le dynasty. This is an ideal destination for visitors from all over to worship, unleash all burdens, find peace of mind and admire one of the most ancient wooden architectural masterpieces in Vietnam.
