(VOVworld) - Located on the left bank of the Duong River, Kien So pagoda is part of the Phu Dong relic site, 15km to the northeast of Hanoi.
The pagoda was built by Zen Buddhist Cam Thanh in the early 9th century. It’s the cradle of the Vô Ngôn Thông Zen Sect, one of the earliest Vietnamese Zen schools of Buddhism. The pagoda was also the place where famous monks like Vo Ngon Thong, Cam Thanh, Da Bao, and nun Dieu Nhan reached the peak of the Way in their Buddhism.
Right at the first sight is the pagoda’s three-entrance gate with five compartments. The main compartment is designed like many ancient pagodas in the northern region.
Crossing the gate is a big lotus pond surrounded by lanes leading to the main pagoda.
 |
| Lotus pond |
To the left of the forecourt, there is a musical stone dating back 400 years.
 |
| Ancient musical stone. |
There are many ancient Buddha statues in the pagoda. The main hall is decorated with seven rows of statues with an altar on the upper worshipping three Buddhas showing different mudras (hand postures) which date back to the 17th century.
 |
Statues of 10 Plutos
|
Besides there remain statues of monk Vo Ngon Thong, King Ly Thai To and his mother in Kien So Pagoda.
 |
| Statue of Monk Vo Ngon Thong. |
 |
| Statue of King Ly Cong Uan. |
Due to being closely linked to legends of King Ly Cong Uan who founded the Ly dynasty, Kien So Pagoda was ranked as a national historic relic in 1975.
 |
| It’s been a long custom for villagers and people nearby to visit and go to the pagoda to pray for good health and prosperity for the whole year. |
 |
| Ancient stone stele on the right lane in the pagoda. |
 |
| The pagoda’s bell-tower located behind the upper shrine. |
 |
| The way leading to Kien So Pagoda and Giong Temple. |