The annual Tay Thien Festival opened onMarch 30, the 15th of the second lunar month, at the Truc Lam (BambooForest) Tay Thien Zen Monastery in the northern province of Vinh Phuc.
Located in Dai Dinh commune, Tam Dao district on Tay ThienMountain, 85km west of Hanoi, it is considered one of the mostimpressive and peaceful monasteries in Vietnam together with the ZenMonastery in Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong andthe Yen Tu Monastery in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
This year the festival was welcomed by a van (spiritual) singingfestival featuring troupes from ten northern provinces that started onMarch 26.
Various other traditional festivities and rituals were held to honour the Goddess of Tay Thien, observed by 30 researchers.
Legend has it that the Goddess of Tay Thien is Lang Thi Tieu, HungChieu Vuong’s Queen (2450 BCE), who helped the king defeat invaders andteach the people how to grow rice and develop handicrafts. Apart fromthe Tay Thien Monastery, she is also thought to have worshipped at 71other temples and pagodas in the local area.
Dang Van Bai, former director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports andTourism’s Heritage Department, said that worshipping the Goddess of TayThien was part of the Holy Mother Religion of the Vietnamese, along-standing religion that has a powerful influence over a large area.He also emphasized two intangible features of the religion includingvan singing and hau dong (mediumship).
During three-day festival, various activities will be held such asdisplays by the San Diu ethnic group, folk singing contests, cookingrice and folk games.
Built on ruins of an ancient pagoda, Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monasterysits majestically on the apex of the mountain, where from below the redtips of its tile-covered roof can be seen peaking through the pinetrees. The Zen Monastery was officially inaugurated on November 27,2005. It is very ornate, from the carved pictures on the doors to theembossed works on the walls, ceilings, and pillars, every detail wasconsidered.
In addition to the monastery, there are support buildings constructedin the ancient architectural style including a library, museum,meditation house for monks, and temples in honour of the three foundersof Truc Lam Zen.
Walking around the buildings, visitors can almost taste the tranquilitythat is in the air of the mountainous landscape and holy temples./.
Located in Dai Dinh commune, Tam Dao district on Tay ThienMountain, 85km west of Hanoi, it is considered one of the mostimpressive and peaceful monasteries in Vietnam together with the ZenMonastery in Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong andthe Yen Tu Monastery in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
This year the festival was welcomed by a van (spiritual) singingfestival featuring troupes from ten northern provinces that started onMarch 26.
Various other traditional festivities and rituals were held to honour the Goddess of Tay Thien, observed by 30 researchers.
Legend has it that the Goddess of Tay Thien is Lang Thi Tieu, HungChieu Vuong’s Queen (2450 BCE), who helped the king defeat invaders andteach the people how to grow rice and develop handicrafts. Apart fromthe Tay Thien Monastery, she is also thought to have worshipped at 71other temples and pagodas in the local area.
Dang Van Bai, former director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports andTourism’s Heritage Department, said that worshipping the Goddess of TayThien was part of the Holy Mother Religion of the Vietnamese, along-standing religion that has a powerful influence over a large area.He also emphasized two intangible features of the religion includingvan singing and hau dong (mediumship).
During three-day festival, various activities will be held such asdisplays by the San Diu ethnic group, folk singing contests, cookingrice and folk games.
Built on ruins of an ancient pagoda, Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monasterysits majestically on the apex of the mountain, where from below the redtips of its tile-covered roof can be seen peaking through the pinetrees. The Zen Monastery was officially inaugurated on November 27,2005. It is very ornate, from the carved pictures on the doors to theembossed works on the walls, ceilings, and pillars, every detail wasconsidered.
In addition to the monastery, there are support buildings constructedin the ancient architectural style including a library, museum,meditation house for monks, and temples in honour of the three foundersof Truc Lam Zen.
Walking around the buildings, visitors can almost taste the tranquilitythat is in the air of the mountainous landscape and holy temples./.
