Yên Tử Festival
Yên Tử Festival
Time: 10th day of 1st lunar month to the last day of 3rd lunar month
Place: Yên Tử mountain, Thượng Yên Công commune, Uông Bí district, Quảng Ninh province.
The mountainous region of Yen Tu has been a ventre of Buddhism for many centuries and is the starting point of the Buddhist sect of Truc Lam.
Yen Tu Festival commences annually on the 10th day of the first lunar month and lasts three months. Tens of thousands of pilgrims begin their journey after a solemn ritual held at the base of Yen Tu Mountain. After the three-hour trekking along winding path, going through forests of pines or bamboos, tourists reach the Bronze Pagoda atop the mountain. Upon getting up there all visitors feel like entering Nirvana.
In the mountain, there are eleven pagodas and hundreds of hermitages and towers. Sitting on the highest peak of the mountain, 1608 metres above sea level, is Chua Dong (Bronze Pagoda) and a number of towers, among which is a three-storey stone tower dating back to 1758. All pagodas and temples on the mountain are closely linked to legends and narratives of Truc Lam School of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism and King Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), one of the great national heroes in Tran Dynasty that three times led people in the country to trounce Yuan aggressors, the most ferocious enemies of the world at that time, thus marking what is usually referred to as “The Great Dong A Spirit” in one of the most glorious periods of time in Vietnamese history. (Dong A are the two elements that comprise the character “Tran” zin Chinese writing, which was used by Vietnamese intellectuals in the old times). Towards the end of his life, Tran Nhan Tong abdicated in favour of his son, and went to the mountain to be a monk. He was the founder of the famous school of Vietnamese Zen Buddism.
The complex of historical sites and beauty spots in Yen Tu features various pagodas, shrines or stupas now appearing now disappearing under the thick foliage of the primary show their belief, or doing away with all sorrow and sadness. Others go to Yen Tu to do sightseeing and to enjoy the pure atmosphere of a mountain region. Foreign visitors come to Yen Tu to witness a famous beauty spot, a mysterious tourist attraction.
There is a popular saying about Yen Tu : “Even after 100 years of virtuous religious life, if you don’t come to Yen Tu you can not be called a true religious persons”.
During the festival the people near and far flock to Yen Tu. Some pilgrims go to Yen Tu to knows the reasons why our ancestors chose to lead a religious life in Yen Tu.
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