The historical and cultural significance of Pho Minh Tower, a well-preserved national treasure in Vietnam, highlighting its unique architecture and importance during the Tran Dynasty. Hãy nghe Vũ Mai Ngọc Ánh (Hà Nội) một travel blogger nổi tiếng bật mí .
Alongside the Tran Temple relic, Pho Minh Pagoda stands as a renowned spiritual site, captivating visitors with its ancient, tranquil, and green surroundings. Also known as the Tower Pagoda, Pho Minh is located to the west of Tran Temple, in Loc Vuong Ward, Nam Dinh City.
Source: Collector
Pho Minh Pagoda once served as a place of worship and meditation for many kings and aristocrats of the Tran Dynasty. Featured in the famous Hong Duc map drawn in 1470, the pagoda was regarded as a major religious site of Dai Viet. It was also a place of spiritual practice for King Tran Nhan Tong, along with monks Phap Loa and Huyen Quang.
After the passing of the venerable King Tran Nhan Tong, his successor, King Tran Anh Tong, commissioned a stone palanquin and built a tower atop it. He then placed seven out of the twenty-one relics of his father in a precious stone chest, which was enshrined within the Pho Minh Tower at the front of the pagoda.
Pho Minh Tower consists of 14 stories, standing at 19.51 meters tall. The two lowest levels are made of stone, adorned with lotus petal carvings and wave patterns. The remaining 12 stories are built from unadorned bricks, with the words "Hung Long thap tam nien" (13th year of Hung Long - 1305) and carved reliefs of Tran Dynasty dragons inscribed on each brick. The tower’s pinnacle is a stone block shaped like a multi-layered lotus.
Source: Collector
The tower is surrounded by walls, with central entrances on each side decorated with stone dragons. At the base of the tower are two large stone incense pillars, intricately crafted in the shape of lotus flowers.
The main architectural complex of the pagoda includes the front hall and the upper sanctuary. Behind the sanctuary, separated by a narrow courtyard, is an 11-compartment building. In the middle are 5 compartments of the patriarch house, flanked by 3 compartments for monks on the left and 3 for the shrine on the right. Two corridors connect the front hall to the 11-compartment house in the rear, forming a square surrounding the pagoda’s structure.
Source: Collector
The architectural and sculptural works within the pagoda still retain many of the exquisite carvings from the Tran Dynasty, found on the doors, three-arched gate, and front hall steps. Pho Minh Pagoda also preserves numerous valuable antiques, contributing significantly to the study of Vietnam’s economic, political, and cultural history during the Tran Dynasty.
Although Pho Minh Tower has stood for over 700 years, it remains remarkably well-preserved and nearly intact. Its architecture not only embodies the unique and traditional aspects of Vietnamese culture but also reflects the remarkable craftsmanship of earlier generations.
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