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1,000-Year-Old Pagoda Foundation Uncovered in Vietnam

1,000-Year-Old Pagoda Foundation Uncovered in Vietnam

According to a Vietnam News Agency report, four layers of pagoda foundations have been uncovered on Xuan Dai Mountain, which is located in Vietnam’s north central coast region.

The earliest construction is thought to date to the tenth century A.D. Pillars and tiles dating to the Tran Dynasty (1225–1400), glazed ceramic tiles from the Late Le Dynasty (1428–1527), and intricately carved pillars and metal nails from the Le Trung Hung Dynasty (1533–1789) were also found.

A great number of tiles from the Trần Dynasty were also found, as well as glazed ceramic tiles from the Late Lê Dynasty (1428-1527), lotus decorative patterns from the Lê Trung Hưng Dynasty and metal nails.

Rock-solid proof: Scientists search the Xuân Đài Mountain site. They have uncovered big stones that served as Thông Pagoda’s foundation. Image: dantri.vn
Rock-solid proof: Scientists search the Xuân Đài Mountain site. They have uncovered big stones that served as Thông Pagoda’s foundation. Image: dantri.vn

 

Nguyen Duc Binh of the Vietnam Archaeology Institute said the pagoda was eventually dedicated to Princess Du Anh, daughter of King Tran Nghe Tong, who was successfully treated with herbs for an illness at the pagoda in the late fourteenth century. She got healthier after consuming herbs taken from nearby Hồ Công grotto.

The King then improved the pagoda. She is thought to have managed renovations of the building, including the additions of statues and a bell to the structure, which was then named for her.

The eight pillars at the foundation of different periods prove the temple existed for a long time and that the structure had been renovated multiple times, Bình said.

Architectural remnants and objects unearthed at the site show that the site is even older than two other ancient structures found in the district – Hồ Citadel (built in 1397) and Nam Giao royal worship platform (1400).

Scientists examine the remnants of an ancient pillar at the site.
 Image: dantri.vn
Scientists examine the remnants of an ancient pillar at the site.
 Image: dantri.vn

 

Bình said the relic site must have been built on a large area, with space to protect various valuable antiques.

“As the excavation site is small, we still cannot see the whole scale of the structures,” Binh said. “The site needs to be further excavated in order to gather enough evidence and information for future preservation.” 

Researcher Đỗ Quang Trọng, director of the Hồ Citadel Preservation Centre, suggested displaying the unearthed objects at the site to enhance people’s awareness of the importance of protecting heritage sited and to develop the value of the relic site.

“The site may be named one of the locality’s destinations for spiritual tourism,” he said.


 


Source : Vietnam News | Archeology.org

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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