Bắc Ninh
Spring pilgrimage to Tay Yen Tu
Bac Giang – Every spring, when the unique yellow apricot blossoms of the Yen Tu mountain bloom, and when the pine, fir, and bamboo forests sway joyfully in the gentle spring breeze, the cultural heritage region of Tay Yen Tu awakens and spreads its beauty, inviting visitors on a journey to attend the spring festivals.
Yen Tu mountain, located on the Dong Trieu mountain range, seems to embrace the northeastern region of Vietnam. Its eastern slope mainly belongs to Quang Ninh province, while its western slope is part of Bac Giang province.
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The procession of the tablets of the three patriarchs of the Truc Lam Buddhist Zen sect from Vinh Nghiem Pagoda to the Lower Pagoda of the Tay Yen Tu Spiritual-Ecological Tourism Area in Son Dong district. |
This is a place where nature bestows stunning and fascinating landscapes, and where many distinctive cultural heritages gather.
Along the western slope of Yen Tu, many historical and cultural relics remain, linked to the formation and flourishing of the Truc Lam Buddhist Zen sect, founded by King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong.
This heritage region stretches from Son Dong district, along the Luc Nam River, to Yen Dung district (now Bac Giang city), with a system of pagodas, towers, historical sites, and the majestic mountain range.
According to historical and scientific evidence, the system of pagodas and towers along the Huyen Dinh - Yen Tu mountain range has been clarified.
In Bac Giang province, there are about 11 relics and traces of pagodas and towers associated with the Truc Lam Zen sect, distributed along the peaks and slopes of the Huyen Dinh - Yen Tu mountain range, with notable pagodas such as Vinh Nghiem, Hon Thap, Ma Yen, Binh Long, Ho Bac and Dam Tri.
Additionally, recent discovered relics and artifacts show that the cultural space of Truc Lam Buddhism is not limited to the Huyen Dinh - Yen Tu range but also extends to Yen The and Lang Giang districts.
Among the Truc Lam Buddhism relics in Bac Giang, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda holds a particularly important position. This ancient pagoda was chosen by King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong as the place to keep the records of monks and nuns nationwide.
Later, the three patriarchs of Truc Lam Buddhism, namely Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa, and Huyen Quang, all chose Vinh Nghiem Pagoda as the centre for their practice and preaching.
Along with the western slope, the Nham Bien mountain range, now part of Bac Giang city, marked the flourishing of Buddhism during the Ly - Tran dynasties.
Ancient pagodas such as Hang Cham, Nguyet Nham, Lieu De and Kem preserve the marks of the fusion of the Three Teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism) and folk culture and beliefs.
Additionally, the communal house and temple dedicated to chancellor Tran Thu Do represents Buddhism’s blending with the culture and life of the Vietnamese people with the spirit of "An dan ho quoc” (The people’s peace supports the nation).
Along with the formation and flourishing of the Truc Lam Zen sect, the western slope of Yen Tu also preserves many unique cultural practices associated with temples, shrines, and communal houses, notably the worship of the Mother Goddesses.
During the spring pilgrimage to Tay Yen Tu, visitors can visit the pagodas to worship Buddha and immerse themselves in the belief of the Mother Goddess worship, with the system of temples at the Suoi Mo Eco-tourism Area in Luc Nam district as the centre.
Here, there are the Lower Temple, the Middle Temple, and the Upper Temple, all dedicated to a single female deity, Thanh Mau Thuong Ngan (Princess Que My Nuong).
The Tay Yen Tu region also boasts a treasure trove of intangible cultural heritage, such as traditional festivals, rituals, and folk songs of ethnic minorities.
During the spring pilgrimage to Tay Yen Tu, visitors can visit the villages of the Dao people living at the foot of Yen Tu mountain to learn about their unique cultural features, including the "Cap Sac" (coming of age) ritual, the worship of Ban Vuong (the ancestor of the Dao people), folk songs, and traditional crafts such as medicinal herb gathering and costume embroidery.
From the Dao villages, moving towards Luc Ngan district, visitors will not only find a region known for its fragrant flowers and sweet fruits year-round, but also a place filled with the unique characteristics of the Sloong Hao singing festival and the highland spring market of Luc Ngan.
The spring pilgrimage to Tay Yen Tu, lively with the onset of spring, paints a vibrant and enchanting picture in the sacred, mythical mountain range.
BAC GIANG - According to Tay Yen Tu Service Joint Stock Company, from January 30 to February 4, 2025 (or lunar January 2-6), Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecotourism complex welcomed more than 25,000 visitors.
BAC GIANG - With open spaces, charming landscapes and unique architectural buildings imbued with traditional historical and cultural values, many destinations in the northern province of Bac Giang always attract visitors from near and far.
BAC GIANG - The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Bac Giang province launched a survey programme from December 21 to 23 to introduce tourist areas, destinations, craft villages and fruit growing areas in 2024. The survey team included more than 60 delegates representing travel agencies and businesses, tiktoker groups in Hanoi and Bac Giang.
The northern province of Bac Giang has set its sights on developing rural tourism to leverage its agricultural potential, traditional crafts, cultural heritage, and natural landscapes, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Mai Son has said.
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