The terracotta tower of An Xa temple dating back to the 16th century. (Photo: Huu Nghi/ dantri.com.vn)

Last November, the terracotta tower of An Xa temple in Tien Lu district dating back to the 16^th century was recognized as a national treasure. The tower is divided into four parts including the pedestal, the base, the body (including 12 floors) and the top peak. The tower, believed to be built during the reign of King Le Trung Hung, remains mostly intact.  

An Xa Temple is an ancient shrine dedicated to the Jade Emperor and gods. It is associated with the history of Taoism and Buddhism in Vietnam. Professor Tran Lam Bien is a researcher on Vietnam’s culture and heritages.

“The tower has unique patterns and decorations, representing Vietnamese people’s aspirations  for a good life,” said Bien.

Meanwhile, Me So pagoda in Van Giang district houses a thousand-hand and thousand-eye Goddess of Mercy statue crafted in the early 19^th century. It is considered the most beautiful statue of its kind in Vietnam and was included on the list of national treasures in 2018.

Huong Lang pagoda in Van Lam district preserves 2 of the 6 treasures: a stone lion statue and a stone staircase dating back to the late 11th or early 12th century.

The lion statue was made from many stone slabs assembled so tightly that it looks like a single block. It is fully covered with sophisticatedly carved patterns, giving the statue an elegant aura – a typical feature of sculptures from the Ly Dynasty.

“This is one of three statues under the Ly Dynasty which are being preserved in Vietnam. These sculptural works reflect the traditional cultural values of our country under the feudal dynasties,” said Hoang Huu Nam, Head of Van Lam district’s Department of Culture and Information.

The stone lion statue was recognized as a national treasure in 2022. Professor Tran Lam Bien, said, “Huong Lang pagoda probably has the most cultural vestiges related to the Ly dynasty in Vietnam. The images of unicorns and phoenixes are imbued with Buddhist philosophy. A statue of Buddha on the lotus base in the pagoda is the biggest in Vietnam.”

A stone stele, which remains almost intact, in Canh Lam pagoda in Yen My district is another vestige showing the development of traditional stone carving under the Ly dynasty in Hung Yen province. The stele featuring 2 phoenixes contains information on the architecture and position of Buddhist statues in the pagoda.

Last on the list of Hung Yen’s national treasures is the Cong Vu lotus gold plate collection in Kim Dong district, dating back to the 11^th or 12^th century. The collection was discovered in 1965 and is now kept at Hung Yen’s State Treasury.

These treasures not only highlight the historical and cultural values of Hung Yen but also teach the young generations about the thousands-year-old history of Vietnam.