Long Đọi Sơn Pagoda

Long Đọi Sơn Pagoda, also known as Đọi Sơn Pagoda, is an ancient pagoda from the Lý dynasty, which has been classified as a Special National Monument in Vietnam. Đọi Sơn Pagoda still preserves many artefacts of exceptional value such as the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stele and the set of Kim Cương (Diamond Guardian) statues, both of which have been recognised as National Treasures by a decision signed by the Prime Minister.

The pagoda is located on the summit of Đọi Mountain, currently within the territory of Tiên Sơn ward, Ninh Bình province. The pagoda is 42 km north of Ninh Bình city centre and 50 km south of the capital, Hà Nội.

The original Sino-Vietnamese name of the pagoda is Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Tự, built during the reign of King Lý Thánh Tông, situated on the summit of Đọi Mountain, at an elevation of 79 metres above sea level. Initially, the pagoda was constructed on a small scale. By 1118, during the reign of King Lý Nhân Tông, the pagoda was rebuilt on a grand scale, with the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stupa constructed with the intention of praying for virtue.

The Long Đọi Sơn relic complex covers a construction area of up to 10,000 m². According to legend, during the Lý dynasty the pagoda was named Long Đội Sơn, and during the Later Lê dynasty it was renamed Đọi Sơn. The pagoda's grounds are very spacious, with its back resting against Điệp Mountain and three winding rivers surrounding it. The pagoda still preserves many precious relics such as: a bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha in the main hall; six stone Kim Cang Dharma Protector statues placed on dragon-carved stone pedestals, with carvings and decorative motifs on the stele bearing the distinct style of the Lý dynasty; and four statues of human figures with wings. Around the foot of the mountain are nine natural wells, which local people call the nine dragon eyes. From the summit, looking out in all directions, the scenery is vast and poetic, with lush green rice fields, maize fields, and sweet potato fields, and at the foot of the mountain, the Châu Giang River meanders like a pink silk ribbon winding around.

During the Lý dynasty, Đọi Pagoda was ranked as a “Great Scenic Site” and also served as an imperial residence; during the French colonial period, it was listed among the ancient monuments and scenic spots to be protected. The most distinctive feature of the Đọi Sơn Pagoda complex is the pagoda and the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stupa, built by King Lý Nhân Tông in the 9th year of Hội Tường Đại Khánh (1118), with construction starting in the 5th lunar month and completed in the autumn of the 2nd year of Thiên Phù Duệ Vũ (1121). In the 3rd lunar month of the year Nhâm Dần (1122), the king held the inauguration ceremony for the pagoda and stupa. The entire precious architectural complex was destroyed by the invading Ming army. Fortunately, the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stele, six Kim Cang Dharma Protector statues, and the Kinaras deity statues survived. The pagoda has undergone many restorations during the Later Lê, Mạc, and Nguyễn dynasties. The largest restoration was during the Nguyễn dynasty, when the pagoda had over 100 large and small compartments, designed in the "nội công ngoại quốc" style (inner I-shaped, outer square). The pagoda is built on the mountain summit. Right at the main gate, in front of the Tam Bảo Hall, is the stele house containing the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stele—a splendid Buddhist relic of the Lý dynasty, now recognised as a National Treasure. The stele was personally supervised by King Lý Nhân Tông, with the inscription composed by Nguyễn Công Bật, Minister of Justice, and the calligraphy carved by Lý Bảo Cung, Minister of Public Works. The stele is inscribed on both sides. The front is in Chinese characters, praising the merits and wisdom of King Lý Nhân Tông and Grand Commander Lý Thường Kiệt in building, developing, and defending the country, reflecting the Buddhist philosophy of dependent origination and the state of Buddhism during the Lý dynasty. The reverse records the restoration of the pagoda during the reign of the fifth Mạc king, Empress Dowager Ỷ Lan's donation of 72 mẫu (Vietnamese acres) of land for incense offerings, and a regulated verse poem by King Lê Thánh Tông written in the 8th year of Quang Thuận (1467) on the occasion of his pilgrimage to the royal tombs and visit to the pagoda. Behind the stele house is the Tam Bảo Hall, then the main pagoda with six compartments. The pagoda still preserves many valuable artefacts rich in traditional cultural value, such as: a bronze Maitreya statue, six Kim Cương statues, Kinari statues (human-headed, bird-bodied), many decorative terracotta reliefs, Lý dynasty patterned bricks, and especially the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stele.

Every year, the pagoda holds a festival from the 17th to the 21st day of the 3rd lunar month. This is one of the largest traditional festivals in Hà Nam province.

This is the stele of the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stupa from the Lý dynasty, created in 1121. The stele is a unique artefact, the largest of its kind from the Lý period. The stele remains quite intact in both shape and carving. Its form is unique due to its two main decorative parts:

First: the stele's pediment, border, and sides are uniformly carved with Lý dynasty dragons in a symmetrical composition facing a bodhi leaf, winding in the shape of a bodhi leaf, and curling within a lozenge shape... At the base of the stele are carvings of water waves.

Second: the stele base is carved with two pairs of dragons entwined with each other. This type of stele base is only found at the Chương Sơn Stupa of the Lý dynasty, but the Chương Sơn stele has been lost, and it is unclear whether the base still exists. Therefore, this type of stele base is unique to the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stele.

The Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stupa stele holds great value for the study of Lý dynasty history and culture.

The entire stele is a perfect work of sculptural art, reflecting the brilliant peak of Lý dynasty art and technique. The inscription on the stele reflects the literature of the Lý era, with its elaborate, complex parallel prose, characteristic of Lý dynasty literature. The content of the inscription reflects the noble and virtuous qualities of King Lý Nhân Tông, the Buddhist devotion of Đại Việt during the Lý dynasty, and describes a distinctive ritual and festival of the Lý period. This is also the only surviving original document from the Lý dynasty that mentions the Thăng Long capital, such as Đoan Môn, the Forbidden City, and the One Pillar Pagoda. The inscription also directly describes the Sùng Thiện Diên Linh Stupa of the Lý dynasty with many unique details that can no longer be seen today. This is of great help for the study of Lý dynasty stupas and Buddhism.