Climbing Mount Yen Tu, it’s easy to see why King Tran Nhan Tong selected the mountain as the location in which to establish the Truc Lam Buddhist Sect.
The mountain, located in Uong Bi District in the northern
province of Quang Ninh, is famous for its beautiful landscapes, historical
relics and ancient pagodas and towers, earning its name as the Buddhist capital
of Dai Viet, Viet Nam’s former name.
King Tran Nhan Tong was born in 1258, promoted to Crown
Prince at the age of 16 and becoming king when he was 21. Although he wielded
supreme power, he wanted to become a Buddhist monk. He read many books and
studied Buddhist scriptures, often discussing Zen with Zen masters and
practitioners. In 1299, he eventually left the court to become a monastic monk
on Mount Yen Tu, later establishing temples, meditation centers, and undertaking
Zen missions.
Modern Yen Tu
Before 2002, tourists had to climb the mountain’s
six-kilometer track on steps made of rock as they wound through bamboo and pine
tree forests. Today, however, they have the option of going by cable Car which
has been in operation since 2002. The system carries tourists up to Hoa Yen
Pagoda, and from there they can walk to visit other landscapes in the
region.
In the cool weather of spring, many tourists still prefer to
follow the tracks for a leisurely climb to Yen Tu’s attractions. All the pagodas
and sites here bear legendary stories of King Tran Nhan Tong.
In order to get a real glimpse of the beauty of the pagodas
and temples of Yen Tu, tourists should follow the Giai Oan Stream (Vindication
Stream), then head to Tung and Truc Streets to the Tower and Hoa Yen Pagoda.
From there, make your way to the Mot Mai and Bao Sai Pagodas, and be sure to
visit An Ky Sinh Statue and the Dong (Bronze) Pagoda, which is the last stop on
the peak of the mountain, 1,068 meters above sea level.
Pining for Piety
There are three species of pines in Yen Tu: the white thuy
tung, the green thanh tung, and the red xich tung. The red wooded pine is the
rarest and most precious of species.
To date, there are 274 pine trees in Yen Tu that are around
700 years old. These tall trees are both symbols of immortality and witnesses to
the passage of times. Pilgrims often address the trees as “Old Pine” and the
roads leading to the pagodas in Yen Tu are referred to as Pine Road.
Mr. Tran Duc Luong, ex-President of Viet nam said during a
visit to Yen Tu, “The high pine trees and the bamboo forest here is extremely
valuable. It can take just a few months to build a big pagoda, but it took about
700 years for the pine trees here to become themselves.”
The Yen Tu historical site annually attracts a large number
of tourists and pilgrims. Interested travelers can also combine a tour to Yen Tu
with a visit to UNESCO Heritage Site Ha long bay also in Quang Ninh
Province.
Tag: Viet Nam , Mt Yen Tu Mt Yen Tu - Visiting the Buddhist Capital of Viet Nam
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