, whose name is Than Quang Tu, is one of the pagodas in Vietnam that still retains the original architectural features of nearly 400 years old architecture, one of the 10 typical ancient architectural works of Vietnam.
The pagoda built in 1632 (Le Trung Hung period, 17th century) is a unique and unique architectural work of art.
Keo Pagoda was built at that time, including 21 works, with 157 compartments on an area of ​​​​58,000 m2. Keo Pagoda, in addition to worshiping Buddha, also worships Saints (pre-Buddhist, post-Saint).
The saint to be worshiped is Saint Duong Khong Lo, a monk of the Ly Dynasty with a deep understanding of Buddhism.
Keo Pagoda consists of two architectural clusters of Buddhist temples and the Temple of Saint Duong Khong Lo.
According to history books, the village of Giao Thuy, Phu Ha Thanh (now in Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province), the family was originally a fisherman. He has been a monk since the age of 29.
In 1060, he went to Tay Truc to practice Buddhism. In 1061, under King Ly Thanh Tong, he returned to his country and built Nghiem Quang pagoda (present-day Keo pagoda). He went to many places in the Northern Delta to build pagodas and propagate Buddhism and was revered as the 9th patriarch of the Vietnamese Zen sect.
Zen master Duong Khong Lo once cured King Ly Thanh Tong’s illness, so he was appointed National Master of the Ly dynasty. In 1611, due to a landslide of the Red River, a great flood swept away this pagoda. It was not until 1632 that the pagoda was rebuilt.
[The Keo Pagoda Autumn Festival: Rich rituals imbued with folk nuances]
The pagoda has 17 works with 128 compartments, the main architectural works such as Tam Quan, Buddha Temple, Holy Palace, steeple, corridor, monk area….
The pagoda was built in balance according to the typical architectural style of “Foreign interior and exterior.”
The famous architectural work of Keo pagoda steeple is a unique wooden art work, typical for Vietnam’s ancient architecture in the post-Le era.
The steeple is built on a square brick foundation, the steeple is 11.04m high, has 3 floors, and is connected by overlapping paints.
The first floor hangs a stone altar 1.20m long, the second floor has a bronze bell 1.30m high, 1m diameter cast in Le Hy Tong’s reign in 1686, the third floor and the rooftop hang a small bell 0.62m high, diameter 0. 69m cast in 1796.
Tam Quan Noi is a set of intermediate doors carved with adoring dragons – a masterpiece of wood carving in the 17th century. From the inner sanctum, through a number of small courtyards, we come to the Buddhist temple area including Ong Ho pagoda, incense burning hall (marrow tube) and Buddha’s temple.
The Buddhist temple area is home to the largest concentration of Buddha statues of high artistic value in the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the statues of Tuyet Son, Arhat, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara…
Two rows of corridors East and West were built around the Buddha-Temple of the Holy Spirit, in front through the hedgerow and Tam Quan Noi, at the back connected with the steeple, forming the National crossword. Two rows of corridors are built on an L-shaped plan, wooden frame structure, tiled roof, each row has 33 compartments.
In addition to the main architecture, Keo Pagoda also has a number of auxiliary structures, such as the Sangha, the Guest House (East and West), the headquarters of the Relic Management Board.
In particular, the pagoda is also home to 197 relics and antiquities associated with the history of the pagoda’s formation and development (from the 17th century to the present), made from a variety of materials (wood, stone, etc.) , bronze), has unique historical, cultural and scientific value.
With special cultural and historical values, in 2012, Keo pagoda complex was recognized as a special national relic.
In 2017, Keo Pagoda Festival () was recognized as .
Keo Pagoda opens twice a year.
The Spring Festival taking place on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year has many rituals, games, and traditional folk games, imbued with culture and community character, such as the Opening Ceremony of the Holy Temple; Incense offering ceremony at the Holy Temple; blowing rice exam; duck catching contest and a series of activities of the New Year’s ritual program.
The Spring Festival has many games, in which the game of pulling fire and blowing rice is an ancient game handed down for many years, with 4 teams representing the factions participating in the game.
The meaning of the game comes from after the Holy Father went to the West Bamboo to ask for sutras, and in the middle of the fire, there was no fire to blow the rice, and the Holy Spirit thought of cutting the cork tree in half to get grass to light the fire.
When the bamboo branches are close together, the accumulated fire burns down on the grass, the puller must blow a lot of air to create a fire to cook rice. To create a lively atmosphere for the festival, along with the fire-breathing game, there are also duck hunting and cross-country running.
The festival held from the 13th to the 15th day of the 9th lunar month is full of historical events, recreating the life of National Master Duong Khong Lo.
The Autumn Festival has rituals and activities such as the Opening Ceremony; offerings to the Holy Buddha; procession of the Holy Spirit; the yacht sings the love song; martial art performance; betel nut with phoenix wings; corn bridge climbing, tug of war, duck catching, pot smashing, blindfolded drumming…/.
Source: Collected internet.