Binh Lam Pagoda, Binh Lam Pagoda Bell are National Treasures

Binh Lam Pagoda, Binh Lam Pagoda Bell are National Treasures

Binh Lam Pagoda is 15km from the center of Ha Giang city, located in Muong Nam village, Phu Linh commune, Vi Xuyen district, where the National Treasure of Binh Lam Pagoda Bell is kept. In the history of our country, during the Ly - Tran dynasties, Buddhism was popular, pagodas were built everywhere, far away from the capital Thang Long, in Ha Giang land there were also a number of pagodas, including Binh Lam pagoda. . The bell was minted by leader Nguyen Anh - the local leader along with his wife and old men, women, good men and women, at the hour of the Horse, the full moon day of the third month of the year At Mui (1295) and kept. from then until now. On the body of the bell there are 3 large Chinese characters "Phung Tam Bao" meaning worshiping the Tam Bao (worshiping the Buddha temple). The bell of Binh Lam pagoda was cast in the year of the Goat (1295) during the Tran dynasty, during the reign of King Tran Anh Tong. Size: Mouth diameter: 59cm; Height: 101cm, weight 193kg. This is one of the earliest known bells in Vietnam. The handle of the bell is embossed with a pair of dragons fighting back to back, each dragon has 2 legs, each leg has 4 sharp claws clasped tightly to the top of the bell. The dragon's body is fat, strong, curved to form a bell knob, and the top of the bell handle is decorated with a lotus bud with carp scales covering the entire dragon's body. The bell body is decorated with 6 knobs arranged in 2 floors, the first floor below the base of the bell has 2 symmetrical knobs 78cm apart. The second floor has 4 knobs forming 2 symmetrical pairs through the central axis of the bell body, these knobs are 39cm apart. The round bell knobs are equally embossed, 6cm in diameter. The border around each knob has 13 regular lotus petals. The bell body is divided into 2 parts: 4 rectangular cells at the top and 4 rectangular cells at the bottom. Between the vertical rectangular boxes are 5 raised ridges running parallel to each other from top to bottom. Perpendicular to the 5 embossed ridges running along the body of this bell, on the top, between the body and the base of the bell are embossed ridges that also run parallel to each other in combination with the vertical ridges to form rectangular cells on the bell body. These rectangular boxes are surrounded by embossed moldings that are very elegant and strong. Inside the 4 rectangular boxes above are engraved cards containing 309 Chinese characters; The 4 rectangles at the bottom are plain, without any patterns or characters. The rim of the bell mouth is flared, decorated with 45 large lotus petals mixed with 45 small lotus petals all of equal size, creating a bell base that is both solid and soft but still carries a heavy Buddhist meaning through imagery. lotus. It can be said that the bell of Binh Lam pagoda is a unique original artifact that is still relatively intact. This is a Tran Dynasty bell, one of the earliest known bells in Vietnam and a rare antique in our country in general and in Ha Giang in particular. This is a large-sized Dai Hong, cast in one piece of good bronze material, creating a lively, resonant sound. The elegant shape with harmonious and balanced arrangement of compartments, especially the decorative patterns with unique and sophisticated carvings, are typical characteristics of the decorative art of the Tran Dynasty. saw that our ancestors' bell casting skills had reached their peak. The poem on the bell is an original document of the Tran Dynasty, through which we learn about the respectful attitude of the mountainous local people towards the 5th Tran King (Tran Anh Tong). Through leader Nguyen Anh - who on behalf of the royal court governed a locality "very devoted to Buddhism, spent money to build pagodas and cast bells", we see that the Tran Dynasty used Buddhism as a tool to Consolidate the great national unity bloc in response to the demands of protecting the country and fighting foreign invaders. The inscription's content further confirms the wide application of the bell in the Three Teachings, demonstrating a cultural fusion of the three religions: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism of the Tran Dynasty. In 2013, the bell of Binh Lam Pagoda was recognized as a National Treasure. Source: Ha Giang Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department

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Rating : National monument

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