Receiving the certificate of recognition as a national treasure for the statue of Guanyin in Bac Ninh

On November 4, at Thuong Phuc Pagoda (Cung Kiem Quarter, Nhan Hoa Commune, Que Vo Town, Bac Ninh Province), the Quan The Am Dharma Assembly took place and the Prime Minister's Decision to recognize the National Treasure - the Quan The Am statue took place.

Leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province awarded the Certificate of National Treasure recognition for the statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara to Cung Kiem pagoda.

The national treasure, a stone statue of Bodhisattva Guan Yin from the Early Le Dynasty, dated 1449, was recognized by a decision signed by the Prime Minister on January 30, 2023.

Based on the artistic image, classics and legends about Quan The Am circulating in Vietnam, it can be seen that the statue represents the incarnation of Nam Hai Quan Am (commonly known as Quan Am Dieu Thien).

The statue consists of two parts: the body and the pedestal with a total height of 88.7 cm. Both parts of the statue are engraved with inscriptions, a total of 67 characters providing information about the year of creation and the address and names of the donors.

National treasure: Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara statue at Cung Kiem pagoda, Nhan Hoa ward, Que Vo town, Bac Ninh province.

This is the earliest carved statue in Vietnam (1449); and is also the only statue of Guanyin from the early Le Dynasty. Besides its historical significance, the statue also has significance in the history of Buddhism as well as the history of Vietnamese statue making.

To date, the Quan Am statue of Cung Kiem Pagoda is the only stone statue created from two separate blocks including the statue body and the pedestal, with a total height of 88.7 cm.

The statue is carved in a half-lotus meditation position, wearing a celestial crown and celestial robe, and a nine-petal plum blossom necklace on the chest. The statue has been repaired and patched together in some broken and cracked places on the right hand, nose, neck and right ear.

Heritage records commented that the artifact is the only statue of Guanyin with inscriptions engraved on both the body and pedestal. The inscription consists of 67 characters, providing information about the year of creation, address, and donors.

The back of the statue is engraved with words and is the earliest dated in Vietnam (1449).

The back of the statue is engraved with 39 Chinese characters with the content "Year of Ky Ty (1449), Thai Hoa era, 7th year of the 3rd reign of the Le dynasty. The believers in Kiem commune, Vu Ninh district, Bac Giang Trung road include: Dao Ngan, Nguyen Thi Bien, Nguyen Lang, Dao Thi Dieu, Nguyen Be/Be, Nguyen Thi Thieu ".

"The image of the pair of sea monsters wearing lotus petals originates from the legend of Quan Am crossing the sea in Buddhist scriptures. The story tells of Quan Am crossing the sea and seeing sea monsters raging below. She rescued all living beings and subdued the sea monsters," the heritage file states.

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