The oldest Dau Pagoda in Vietnam and the nearly 2,000-year-old stone sheep

Visit Bac Ninh to explore Dau Pagoda - a 1,800-year-old pagoda, considered the oldest pagoda in Vietnam.

According to ancient documents, Dau Pagoda (also known as Phap Van Pagoda) was built in the late 2nd century. At that time, our country was ruled by the Han Dynasty. This area was called Luy Lau, which was the political , economic, cultural and religious center of our country at that time. This was the intersection of Indian Buddhism, Taoism, Chinese Confucianism and indigenous beliefs.

Dau Pagoda Festival is one of the oldest Buddhist festivals - Sketch by architect Bui Hoang Bao

Entrance to Dau Pagoda - Sketch by architect Tran Xuan Hong

Dau Pagoda was built in the style of "inner public, outer private". The worshiping hall, incense burner and upper hall form the shape of the letter "Cong" 工. The front hall, the corridors on both sides and the rear hall behind form the shape of the letter "Quoc" 国.

Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang

The oldest pagoda in Vietnam - Sketch by architect Linh Hoang

Sweeping leaves in the temple yard - Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang

The pagoda has been rebuilt and renovated many times. In the middle of the pagoda yard is the Hoa Phong square tower, nearly 7 m on a side and about 17 m high. The tower used to be 9 stories high, now only 3 remain, but it is still enough for the four-cornered Heavenly King statues to stand and protect Buddhism. Above it hangs a bronze bell cast in the late 18th century. The tower is built of large bricks, fired by hand.

Dau Pagoda on a winter day - Sketch by Architect Phung The Huy

Panorama of Dau Pagoda - Sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

Dau Pagoda witnessed the formation of the first Zen sect in Vietnam - the Tỳ Ni Đa Lưu Chi Zen sect (the name of the Indian Zen master who brought this Zen sect to our country in the 6th century and resided at Dau Pagoda). His statue is still there, in the Upper Palace.

In front of the tower, there is a statue of a stone sheep (0.8 m high, 1.33 m long) which is the oldest remaining vestige (believed to be nearly 2,000 years old). Legend has it that when he came to Vietnam, the Indian Zen master brought two sheep with him. One strayed to Dau pagoda, the other to Si Nhiep's tomb (the governor of Giao Chi at that time, about 3 km from Dau pagoda), so people carved a statue of each sheep to worship.

Dau Pagoda - Painting by Architect Hoang Dung

Panorama of Dau Pagoda - Sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

The Dau Pagoda Festival (April 8th of the lunar calendar) is one of the oldest Buddhist festivals. In 2013, the structure was recognized as a special national monument. The 107-piece set of woodblocks(*) of Dau Pagoda (content about Buddhist teachings, rain-praying rituals, praying for rain, praying for rain, etc.) also became a national treasure.

(*) ancient printing method: carving letters and drawings on wood for printing.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chua-dau-co-nhat-vn-va-cuu-da-gan-2000-nam-tuoi-18525062119595333.htm