Hồ Thiên Pagoda

Hồ Thiên Pagoda (temple name: Trù Phong Tự) is located on the slope of Phật Sơn Mountain, part of the Yên Tử mountain range, within the territory of Bình Khê ward, Quảng Ninh province. Hồ Thiên Pagoda was built during the Trần dynasty and was recognised as a national historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam on 29 May 2006, according to Decision No. 55/2006/QĐ-BVHTT.

Hồ Thiên Pagoda is situated halfway up the mountain, on the southern side of Phật Sơn Mountain, with mountains surrounding the back and both sides of the pagoda, and a hill in front forming a blessed land in the middle. The pagoda was erected around the period from when the Second Patriarch Pháp Loa succeeded the First Patriarch until the end of his life (1307–1330). This pagoda is one of the relics from the same era, related to a series of other Trần dynasty relics associated with the Trúc Lâm Three Patriarchs in Quảng Ninh, such as Yên Tử Pagoda, Ngoạ Vân Pagoda, and Quỳnh Lâm Pagoda.

A. Current state: The Hồ Thiên Pagoda complex consists of two parts

1. The ancient relic section: Structures and vestiges remaining from the feudal era

1.1 The ancient pagoda foundation with green stone column bases, stone troughs, etc., determined to date from the Trần dynasty

1.2 The stupa garden with a four-sided, seven-storey green stone stupa enshrining a Buddha statue (already restored), a patriarch stupa built of brick on a green stone base carved with stylised lotus petals (relatively intact), and three similar stone stupa bases

1.3 The stele house made of green stone

1.4 The old pagoda building constructed of brick, dating from the Nguyễn dynasty

1.5 The thất garden with traces of an ancient foundation protected by a kerb of stacked stones

1.6 Hàm Rồng Hermitage with traces of an ancient foundation and several green stone column bases. This hermitage is located near the mountain summit.

2. The newly built section serving the daily and monastic needs of the pagoda

2.1 The main hall for worshipping the Triple Gem, conducting ceremonies, and sitting meditation

2.2 The central area including the laypeople's residence, kitchen, dining hall, guest house, and rest stop

2.3 The abbot's thất (hermitage): Including the abbot's residence and reception area

2.4 The auxiliary pagoda area in front of the stele house, including accommodation for female lay Buddhists and a stilt house providing free service to tourists

B. Personnel and activities

The abbot of the pagoda is Zen Master Thích Đạt Ma Chí Thông

Religious activities at the pagoda are maintained according to the practices of the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen school

Festivals: Hồ Thiên Pagoda does not have an official festival. The major and important annual ceremonies at the pagoda include:

1. The full moon of the first lunar month (15th day of the 1st lunar month). On this day every year, the local authorities organise for people to visit the pagoda to worship the Buddha and sightsee, while the pagoda organises a peace-praying ceremony and offers free vegetarian meals.

2. The memorial day of Patriarch Huyền Quang

3. The memorial day of Patriarch Pháp Loa

4. The memorial day of Patriarch Trần Nhân Tông (Trúc Lâm Đại Đầu Đà)

In addition, the pagoda also organises major Vietnamese Buddhist festivals such as Vesak (Buddha's Birthday), Vu Lan (Ullambana)

C. Other information

There are many explanations for the name Hồ Thiên (Heavenly Lake) of the pagoda (mountain). On certain special winter days, after heavy showers, thick fog fills the surrounding valleys, making the scenery viewed from the pagoda resemble islands rising from a lake halfway up the sky.

Hồ Thiên Pagoda is one of the scenic sites of the Yên Tử region.