Duc La Pagoda, or normally known Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, is located in Yen Dung District, Bac Giang Province. Vinh Nghiem Pagoda plays an important role in the history of Viet Nam Buddhism, and is the place of origin of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam Zen sect.
After ceding throne to his son, King Tran Nhan Tong retired to lead a religious life as a hermit in Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, taking the title of Huong Van Dai Dau Da (The Great Ascetic Monk), founding the Thien Tong Zen sect. The place became the Buddhism centre under the Tran Dynasty.
The pagoda is structured on an axis in the South-North direction, including five blocks. The first block is the Tam Quan gate (three-entrance gate with curved red tile roof), going through which means you have entered a meditation, sacred place.
The second block is the Tam Bao (Three Jewels) sanctuary, including Tien duong the front ceremonial hall), Thuong dien (major hall worshiping Buddha statues) and Thieu huong (votive burning house). The third block is the sanctuary that worships the three founding patriarchs of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhism.
At present, the statues of all three patriarchs are still preserved, that is, Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa and Huyen Quang. The fourth block is a two-storey, eight-roof bell tower, hanging a big bell. The fifth block is the sanctuary that worships second patriarchs, the follow-up of the first patriarchs of the Truc Lam Zen sect.
In December 2015, the then Prime Minister decided to classify the pagoda as a special national relic.
