Bắc Ninh
Preservation of Bo Da relic’s values coupled with sustainable tourism development
Updated: 19:34, 10/03/2017
(BGO) - The Bac Giang People’s Committee will hold a ceremony to receive a certificate recognising Bo Da Pagoda (Viet Yen) as a special national relic site on the 15th day of the second lunar month, which falls on March 12 this year. This is the province’s important socio-economic event in 2017. Bac Giang newspaper had an interview with Le Anh Duong, Vice Chairman of the Bac Giang People’s Committee and head of the ceremony’s organising board.
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Vice Chairman of the Bac Giang People’s Committee
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First, it comes from the pagoda’s values, which meet all criteria as regulated by the Cultural Heritage Law to become a special national relic status. The pagoda has long-lasting history. Legend has it that the pagoda was built under the Ly Dynasty (11th century) and was restored and developed under the Le Dynasty (17th – 18th century). It is a large Buddhism centre in the northern region and the centre of the Lam Te Buddhist sect.
Despite a number of restorations through centuries, the pagoda is still intact with its unique architecture “noi thong ngoai be”, which is different from traditional pagodas in northern Vietnam. Bo Da also preserves a system of ancient Buddhist statues. Earthen walls also contribute to Bo Da Pagoda’s exceptional architecture. In addition, with nearly 100 Buddhist towers, the pagoda’s garden was recognised as the largest garden of towers in the country by Vietnam’s Book of Record (Vietking).
The pagoda still keeps nearly 2,000 Buddhist woodblocks carved in Chinese and Nom (old Vietnamese script based on Chinese characters) and Sanskrit on Diospyros decandra wood with skilful techniques. They were also named the oldest Buddhist woodblocks made of Diospyros decandra wood of the Lam Te Buddhist Zen sect by Vietking.
In addition, the Bo Da Pagoda Festival is of great values, especially Quan ho (love duet) singing recognised by the UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2009.
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Venerable Tu Tuc Vinh (standing), head of Bo Da Pagoda introduces the relic to visitors. |
The Prime Minister has decided to recognise Bo Da Pagoda as the special national relic site. What is its significance to Bac Giang province?
The recognition of Bo Da Pagoda as the special national relic site showed the highly appreciation of the efforts made by the Party, authorities and people of Bac Giang in preserving and promoting historical and cultural values of the relic as well as the national tradition. It was a source of encouragement for them to work harder to make culture and people of Bac Giang shine brighter.
The Prime Minister’s decision on recognising Bo Da Pagoda as the special national relic site helped affirm that the province is rich of cultural, historical and traditional values and is home to many tangible and intangible heritages.
There are now three special national relic sites recognised in Bac Giang, namely locations of the Yen The uprising, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and Bo Da Pagoda, opening up a huge opportunity for the growth of the local tourism industry and social-economic development.
It also brought an opportunity for Bac Giang to call for attention from state agencies and scientists who will support the province in protecting and promoting the relic’s values.
Does the provincial People’s Committee have any plan to preserve the pagoda’s values for tourism development?
The Bac Giang People’s Committee has instructed relevant agencies to preserve Bo Da Pagoda by fostering communication campaigns for the relic, especially on mass media, so that Vietnamese at home and international friends will get to know more about its historical values and unique architecture. We intend to produce publications of the pagoda and design tours that link the relic with other tourist attractions in the province and neighbouring localities.
We will also develop a master plan for the preservation of Bo Da Pagoda and the study of the pagoda’s carved Buddhist Sutras woodblocks. Local infrastructure, especially roads connecting the relic with national and provincial highways, will be upgraded to serve tourists better.
Additionally, the province will work to improve outdoor public areas and the environment around the pagoda as well as uphold the Bo Da Pagoda Festival and intangible heritage Quan Ho singing while the capacity of the management board of the pagoda will be strengthened.
Thank you very much!
Kim Hieu
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