Thành Pagoda

Thành Pagoda (its formal name is Diên Khánh Tự) is an ancient pagoda, currently located at No. 3 Hùng Vương Street, Lương Văn Tri Ward, Lạng Sơn Province, Vietnam. In 1993, the pagoda was classified as a National Historical and Cultural Monument. At present, the pagoda serves as the headquarters of the Provincial Buddhist Representative Board.

The pagoda was established by local people in the 15th century, during the Early Lê dynasty. At that time, the pagoda was named Hương Lâm, but because it was located next to Đoàn Thành, people commonly called it Thành Pagoda.

In 1796, under the reign of King Cảnh Thịnh, the pagoda was relocated to its current site (about 200 metres from the original location), in the Bến đá Kỳ Cùng area, on the southern bank of the Kỳ Cùng River and next to the Thạch Độ ferry (where Kỳ Cùng Bridge now stands), and was renamed Diên Khánh Tự (Diên Khánh means accumulating virtue to bring blessings for future generations). In 1846, under the reign of King Thiệu Trị, the pagoda was renamed Tuần Khánh Tự. Later, the pagoda reverted to its former name, Diên Khánh Tự, which it retains to this day.

Thành Pagoda is a grand ancient pagoda in Lạng Sơn Province. The tam quan (triple gate) is designed in the multi-tiered chồng diêm style, with 24 roofs covered with shoe-shaped tiles and soaring curved finials. The pagoda's roof system is meticulously carved, with phoenix heads supporting the entire beams and rafters. Sacred animals such as dragons, kylins, tortoises, and phoenixes are all artistically modelled and painted.

The large ironwood pillars, 9 metres high, are set on blue stone bases, and the pagoda floor is paved with Bát Tràng tiles (from Gia Lâm, Hà Nội). The windows are designed in a distinctly East Asian style, with round exteriors and square interiors symbolising yin-yang and heaven-earth. The doors are crafted as four-panel paintings, representing the four seasons. All the couplets outside, written in Han script, are meticulously and elaborately inlaid with porcelain.

The pagoda consists of 38 large and small compartments, with many architectural components: tiền đường (front hall), phương đình (square pavilion), bái đường (worship hall), tổ đường (ancestral hall), hậu đường (rear hall), etc.

Thành Pagoda has been restored several times in the years 1796, 1947, 1967, 1980, and 1992. In 2004, the pagoda underwent a major restoration, resulting in its present grandeur.

The entire system of worship statues (including 53 large and small statues) at Thành Pagoda is cast from solid bronze. In 2007, this system of statues was recognised by the Vietnam Records Book Centre as "The pagoda with the largest number of solid bronze worship statues in Vietnam".

In addition, the horizontal lacquered boards and couplets of the pagoda are also exquisitely carved. Many sets are gilded and have been preserved for hundreds of years. Notably, the pagoda still preserves a bell weighing 600 kg, cast in the 9th year of the Cảnh Trị era (1671), under the reign of King Lê Huyền Tông, and the Diên Khánh tự bi ký stele (Inscription Stele of Diên Khánh Pagoda) erected in 1796, under the reign of King Cảnh Thịnh. This is a double-sided stone stele, engraved with inscriptions in Han script, placed on the back of a tortoise, with the top of the stele carved in relief with "two dragons flanking the moon", and the border decorated with ornamental patterns.

Additionally, at the tam quan (triple gate) there currently hangs a great bronze bell, cast in 2007 by artisans from Ngũ Xã village (Hà Nội). The bell weighs 2.1 tonnes, symbolising the wish for Vietnam in the 21st century to be prosperous and for the nation and people to enjoy peace.