The stone stele of Giàu Pagoda dates back to the Year of the Horse (1366) and is preserved at Giàu Pagoda, Đinh Xá Commune (Phủ Lý – Hà Nam). The stone stele of Tĩnh Lự Pagoda dates back to the Year of the Rat (1648) and is kept at Tĩnh Lự Pagoda, Lãng Ngâm Commune (Gia Bình – Bắc Ninh).
Historical Relics of the Lý Dynasty
Currently, both the stone stele of Giàu Pagoda and Tĩnh Lự Pagoda are preserved in the stele house of the pagoda.
The cultural sectors of Hà Nam and Bắc Ninh have conducted the relief printing of the patterns, images, and inscriptions on the stele for conservation purposes.
It can be affirmed that these are two rare and valuable steles in the system of pagoda steles in Vietnam. The images on the steles are identified as precious documents reflecting the lifestyle and clothing of society in the past.
It can be said that in the assessment and recognition of national treasures, Bắc Ninh is always at the top of the list. One reason given by conservationists is that this region has witnessed many historical events, especially during the Lý Dynasty.
In the decision to recognize 27 national treasures (Batch 11, 2022), Bắc Ninh had three artifacts recognized, with the stone stele of Tĩnh Lự Pagoda receiving the most attention due to its close association with the Lý-era pagoda and its location in the scenic area of Thiên Thai Mountain.
According to some records, Tĩnh Lự Pagoda was built in the 17th century under the order of Lord Trịnh. However, most historical sources assert that the pagoda was constructed during the Lý Dynasty, specifically in 1055 during the reign of King Lý Thánh Tông. Venerable Thích Minh Đạt, the abbot of Tĩnh Lự Pagoda, also confirmed this and mentioned that materials, worship objects, and household items made of ceramics from the Lý, Trần, and Lê Dynasties are still buried underground.
In early August 2022, the cultural sector of Bắc Ninh organized a scientific seminar after a long period of excavating four pits. The results uncovered architectural remnants from the Lý, Trần, and Lê Dynasties. Notably, there was a 90cm long and over 30kg heavy ceramic corner piece from the Lý period.
The outstanding value of the pagoda is the stone stele “Tĩnh Lự thiền tự bi”, which has just been recognized as a national treasure. Although built during the Lý era, this stele was erected in the Lê period (1648) for a specific reason. According to heritage records, in 1645, Lord Trịnh Tráng went on a pilgrimage to Thiên Thai Mountain and recognized that Tĩnh Lự Pagoda served as a national temple during the Lý period, where famous monks practiced.
Lord Trịnh Tráng allocated 300 taels of silver to Duke Nguyễn Công Hiệp for the construction. Subsequently, Emperor Lê Duy Kỳ contributed 100 taels, Queen Trịnh Thị Ngọc Trúc 40 taels, Trịnh Tạc 50 taels, and Trịnh Lê 30 taels.
In 1648, scholar Nguyễn Duy Thì drafted the content and had the inscription carved, clearly stating the grandeur of one of the three major landscapes in the Đông – Bắc region during the 17th century Đại Việt.
The stone stele measures 1.72m in height, 1.2m in width, and 0.17m in thickness, with the date inscribed as “Phúc Thái vạn vạn niên chi lục trọng thu tiết cốc nhật” (1648). The content of the inscription includes the following excerpt: “In the Kinh Bắc region, Thuận An Prefecture, Gia Định County, there are ancient traces of the scenic Dong Cuu Mountain. Later, there was a famous monk named Long Khánh who traveled far and attained enlightenment, then returned to reside here, enhancing and contributing to what became this pagoda. Hence, the pagoda was named Long Khánh…”
Family Inscription
The stone stele of Tĩnh Lự Pagoda built by Lord Trịnh Tráng during the pagoda’s restoration, drafted by scholar Nguyễn Duy Thì.
Since the time Tĩnh Lự Pagoda was renamed “Long Khánh tự”, and the stele has been around for 375 years, every carved detail remains very clear. A notable coincidence between the two steles recognized as national treasures this time is the reversed names of the pagodas.
Giàu Pagoda in Đinh Xá Commune (Phủ Lý – Hà Nam) has the official name “Khánh Long tự”. The reversal, while similar in the name of the pagoda, also highlights that the essence of the two steles is entirely different. While the stele in Bắc Ninh holds national significance, the stele in Hà Nam reflects the lineage of the local community – “Ngô gia thị bi”, meaning the Inscription of the Ngô Family.
The inscription recounts the story of a monk who moved from Đại Long hermitage to a smaller hermitage in Mai Village (Đinh Xá Commune, Lợi Nhân Road) and passed away there in 1305 during the Trần Nhân Tông reign. The monk, named Ngô, also known as “Ngộ Không cư sĩ”, donated the land to build the hermitage and decided to inter the monk there.
According to the Hà Nam Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the stele was previously broken into three pieces but has since been restored quite well. The stele stands 95cm tall, 58cm wide, and 12cm thick. The front of the stele features a dragon carving facing four calligraphic characters arranged in two vertical and two horizontal rows (two characters per row) reading “Đại Phúc Thông Minh.”
The carvings on the stele exhibit many typical artistic attributes of the late Trần period, such as the dragon depicted with a stout body, prominent ears, and antler-like horns. Additionally, floral patterns elegantly encircle the stele, flowing smoothly in a sinuous design from the base to the top, intertwining at the peak, with each curve adorned with a flower blooming outward.
At the heart of the stele is a relief of a figure seated on a dragon throne, holding a scepter in both hands, wearing a celestial crown, adorned in garments resembling a royal robe, with a radiant halo behind the head, all positioned upon a lotus pedestal.
This image has sparked debate as it is unclear whether it depicts a king or the Jade Emperor. After extensive discussion, researchers have agreed that this represents King Trần Nhân Tông, marking the event when he once visited this location.
According to scholars, the stone stele of Giàu Pagoda is a precious artifact due to its literary and artistic value. To date, no other stele has been found with a design similar to that of the Giàu Pagoda stele. Therefore, this is the only stele discovered in Hà Nam Province that holds significant research value for various historical, cultural, and religious issues.
