Ba Vàng Pagoda

Ba Vàng Pagoda (also known as Bảo Quang Tự) is a pagoda located halfway up Thành Đẳng Mountain, in Uông Bí ward, Quảng Ninh province.

The pagoda is situated on the slope of Thành Đẳng Mountain, facing west towards the centre of Uông Bí city. In front lies the Bạch Đằng River, and in the distance is the port city of Hải Phòng, with the Đồ Sơn sea stretching out to the horizon. To the left are the undulating Thanh Long mountain ranges converging towards the pagoda, while to the right are the majestic Bạch Hổ mountains lying low.

In 2007, with the approval of the authorities and the permission of Most Venerable Thích Thanh Từ (Abbot of Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery), Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh took on the responsibility of abbot of Ba Vàng Pagoda. On 9 March 2014, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha announced the inauguration of Ba Vàng Pagoda. On 16 September 2014, Ba Vàng Pagoda announced the inauguration of the Tam Tổ Trúc Lâm Ancestral Hall and the great statue of Amitābha. Under the abbotship of Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh, Ba Vàng Pagoda has since developed additional branch and affiliated pagodas, including: Thiên Lai Pagoda, Diên Phúc Pagoda, and Đế Thích Pagoda.

In addition to the activities and events organised at the pagoda, Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh, the monastic community, and lay Buddhists of Ba Vàng Pagoda also actively participate in charitable work and social welfare, joining hands with the authorities to help people in difficult circumstances.

In March 2019, some newspapers reported on the activities of "summoning wandering souls" and "calling spirits" at Ba Vàng Pagoda. Lao Động newspaper wrote: "Anyone wishing to escape misfortune must 'repay debts' to the spirits, ranging from several million to tens of millions of đồng, through offerings (merit) or by performing voluntary work for the pagoda." Tuổi Trẻ newspaper wrote: "Every month, in three sessions, each lasting two days, Ba Vàng Pagoda holds ceremonies to summon spirits and resolve karmic debts, attracting thousands of participants per session. All illnesses and misfortunes in life are explained as being caused by vengeful spirits."

On 20 March 2019, the People's Committee of Quảng Ninh province issued official dispatch No. 1710, requesting the People's Committee of Uông Bí city to take the lead and coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to immediately investigate the press reports regarding the summoning of vengeful spirits and karmic resolution at Ba Vàng Pagoda.

On 26 March 2019, the Standing Committee of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (GHPGVN) in the northern region held a meeting regarding the preaching and organisation of the "summoning of karmic creditors" ceremony at Ba Vàng Pagoda and concluded: the abbot of Ba Vàng Pagoda, Thích Trúc Thái Minh, allowing layperson Phạm Thị Yến, Dharma name Tâm Chiếu Hoàn Quán, to give Dharma talks at Ba Vàng Pagoda was not correct. Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh, as abbot of Ba Vàng Pagoda, must take full responsibility for this incident, and Ba Vàng Pagoda was required to cease organising the summoning of karmic creditors ceremony. It was also decided to temporarily suspend all positions held by Thích Trúc Thái Minh within the GHPGVN pending the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Executive Council. On the same day, the People's Committee of Quang Trung ward issued an administrative penalty against Ms. Phạm Thị Yến (born 1970, residing in Hạ Long city, Quảng Ninh province) for exploiting the activities of summoning spirits and calling souls to practise superstition.

In December 2023, a group of monks from the pagoda visited the Buddha's hair relic at Parami Monastery and the Parami International Buddhist Relics Museum. Afterwards, the monks invited Most Venerable U Wepulla, abbot of Parami Monastery, along with senior Myanmar monks, to attend the Grand Ceremony commemorating the 765th birth anniversary of Emperor Trần Nhân Tông and to bring the hair relic to Vietnam. The relic was brought to Ba Vàng Pagoda on 22 December and returned to Myanmar on 27 December. Tens of thousands of people and Buddhists flocked to venerate the object believed to be the "Buddha's hair relic". Ba Vàng Pagoda stated, "this is one of eight strands of hair that the Buddha himself plucked from his head and gave to two Myanmar merchants over 2,600 years ago." During the Grand Ceremony celebrating the 765th birth anniversary of Emperor Trần Nhân Tông at Ba Vàng Pagoda, thousands of people and visitors were astonished to see the hair relic, believed to be the Buddha's, apparently move on its own.

Following the event, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha requested Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh, abbot of Ba Vàng Pagoda, to provide an explanation regarding the origin of the "Buddha's hair relic". However, the pagoda affirmed that "the Buddha's relic" is a sacred and noble religious symbol. The veneration of the Buddha's relic "is a ritual and religious belief of Buddhism". The abbot of Ba Vàng Pagoda, Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh, asserted that he did not deceive Buddhists and that contrary information on social media about the "Buddha's hair relic" was intended to defame Ba Vàng Pagoda. Regarding information that the eight strands of hair at Shwedagon Pagoda (also known as the Golden Pagoda, Myanmar) are strictly preserved and only venerated from a distance, yet appeared at Ba Vàng Pagoda for the public to venerate up close, Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh explained that it is not confirmed whether Shwedagon Pagoda actually possesses all eight strands of the Buddha's hair. At Parami Pagoda (Myanmar), the hair relic has been passed down from generation to generation, with each abbot handing it over to his successor, and the abbots believe it to be the "Buddha's hair relic". Regarding the issue of DNA testing to verify whether the hair belonged to the Buddha, Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh stated that there is no one to compare it to, as the Buddha entered nirvana thousands of years ago. According to Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh, the Myanmar monks said this was the first time the Buddha's hair relic had been brought to Vietnam.

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs then requested the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to verify the origin of the "Buddha's hair relic" displayed at Ba Vàng Pagoda and to strictly handle any Buddhist organisations or individuals involved in violations. Accordingly, the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar would verify the origin of the "Buddha's hair relic" said to have been brought by the abbot of Parami Monastery and the Parami International Buddhist Relics Museum for display at Ba Vàng Pagoda at the end of December 2023. The management of the relic by the Myanmar government and Buddhist authorities was also clarified by the Embassy.

On the evening of 2 January 2024, the People's Committee of Quảng Ninh province stated that Ba Vàng Pagoda's organisation of the procession and display for Buddhists to venerate the so-called "Buddha's hair relic" constituted an exhibition activity, thus violating Decree 23/2019 on exhibition activities. This activity also did not comply with regulations regarding the organiser and the registration period as stipulated by the Law on Belief and Religion and Decree 162/2017 detailing certain provisions and measures for implementing this law. The People's Committee of Quảng Ninh province required Ba Vàng Pagoda not to compile, produce videos, images, or documents, and to remove all information introducing the object said to be the "Buddha's hair relic" from the pagoda's website, Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh's website, and all social media platforms. This information caused public controversy, affecting security, order, and normal religious and belief activities in the area.

On the afternoon of 4 January, the Standing Committee of the Executive Council in the northern region held a meeting at Quán Sứ Pagoda, Hanoi, regarding the "Buddha's hair relic" incident. The meeting considered disciplinary action against Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh, abbot of Ba Vàng Pagoda, for displaying the "Buddha's hair relic". According to the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Ba Vàng Pagoda displayed the "Buddha's hair relic" in violation of regulations, and Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh travelled abroad multiple times without notification, violating the Law on Belief and Religion. Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh repented before the senior monks of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha for displaying the "Buddha's hair relic". The Executive Council required that for the next year, absolutely no international delegations are to be invited for any exchange activities at Ba Vàng Pagoda.

On 21 January, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha issued a warning to Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh for displaying the "Buddha's hair relic", which seriously affected Buddhist faith. In addition to the warning, Mr Minh was required to repent before the Standing Committee of the Executive Council. These disciplinary measures were communicated to all local Buddhist Sangha management boards nationwide. According to the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Ba Vàng Pagoda's organisation of veneration and media coverage of the "Buddha's hair relic" was criticised by public opinion and generated much controversy. This incident "seriously affected the faith of Buddhists and the reputation of the Sangha". Five days later, the People's Committee of Uông Bí city decided to fine Venerable Thích Trúc Thái Minh 7.5 million đồng for displaying the "Buddha's hair relic" in violation of exhibition regulations.