Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
Sung Nghiem Diên Thánh Pagoda Tourism
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Phone: 0904643838

Time to visit a place: No limit

Open Time: 7:00 AM - Close Time: 6:00 PM

Email: chuasungnghiemdienthanh@gmail.com

Address: khu trung tam, thi tran hau loc, huyen hau loc, tinh thanh hoa Thuan Loc commune, Hau Loc district,

Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda – A Millennium-Old Historical Site in the Land of Scholars
The Duy Tinh region, in Văn Lộc Commune (now Thuần Lộc Commune), Hậu Lộc District, Thanh Hóa Province, has long been famous for its strong academic tradition, producing many highly educated individuals with advanced academic titles. As early as the 15th century, the area was home to the renowned scholar Lê Niệm, a man of both literary and military talent. He served as the Minister of the Interior under King Lê Thánh Tông and contributed to the compilation of the book Anh Hoa Hiếu Trị with the king. (Anh Hoa Hiếu Trị is a collaborative work between King Lê Thánh Tông and the scholar Lê Niệm, which further highlights the king's efforts to promote a moral, idealistic form of governance.)

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Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda – A Millennium-Old Historical Site in the Land of Scholars

The Duy Tinh region, in Văn Lộc Commune (now Thuần Lộc Commune), Hậu Lộc District, Thanh Hóa Province, has long been famous for its strong academic tradition, producing many highly educated individuals with advanced academic titles. As early as the 15th century, the area was home to the renowned scholar Lê Niệm, a man of both literary and military talent. He served as the Minister of the Interior under King Lê Thánh Tông and contributed to the compilation of the book Anh Hoa Hiếu Trị with the king. (Anh Hoa Hiếu Trị is a collaborative work between King Lê Thánh Tông and the scholar Lê Niệm, which further highlights the king's efforts to promote a moral, idealistic form of governance.)

Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda – A National Historical Monument

Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda, also known as Duy Tinh Pagoda, is a historical and cultural relic that is over a thousand years old. It is located in the Duy Tinh – Phủ Market region, once the economic, political, and cultural center of the Cửu Chân District (Châu Ái) during the Lý and Trần dynasties. Under the Lê Dynasty, Duy Tinh became the administrative center of Hà Trung, which included the four districts of Hậu Lộc, Hoằng Hóa, Tống Sơn (now Hà Trung), and Nga Sơn. In the 19th year of Minh Mạng's reign (1821), it became the seat of Hậu Lộc District. Although the district seat was moved elsewhere in 1984, the Duy Tinh – Phủ Market area remains an important economic, cultural, and commercial center for Hậu Lộc and some surrounding communes in Hoằng Hóa District.

The stele inscription at Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda, erected in 1118 (which is still preserved at the pagoda), states: “In the second month of the Bính Thân year, during the seventh year of the Đại Khánh era (1116), the king toured the southern region, arriving in the Ái Province. His dragon boat anchored, and the royal procession paused. The flags and pennants were so bright they seemed to light up the sky, and the guards filled the air like a sea of clouds... Beyond the borders, the people showed deep gratitude. Truly, such an event, of great fortune, is rare in a thousand years and is a profound honor for the entire region.” This refers to King Lý Nhân Tông's southern tour to inspect local affairs. Upon his return to the capital, to express gratitude and wish for the nation's prosperity, the governor of Thanh Hóa at the time, Chu (a high-ranking official in the Lý dynasty), ordered the reconstruction of the old pagoda and erected a stele to commemorate the event, which was completed in 1118. The inscription, around 2,000 characters long, mainly praises the achievements and describes the process of restoring the pagoda. The text contains elevated discussions about Buddhism, with eloquent language and smooth writing. This is the oldest and longest stele inscription still preserved to this day.
In the Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Dictionary, it is noted: “The pagoda has existed for a long time, predating the Lý dynasty. During King Lý Nhân Tông's southern tour, his royal procession stopped at the administrative center of Ái Province (Thanh Hóa). Upon returning... in gratitude to the king and wishing for the country’s enduring prosperity, the governor Chu Công (appointed by the Lý king to manage Thanh Hóa) instructed the district magistrate Lê Chiếu to rebuild the ancient pagoda which had fallen into ruin.”
 
 

Inside Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda

Architecturally, the pagoda is built with great care, featuring intricate carvings and tiles shaped like the tails of mythical creatures. The roof arches in the form of a bird spreading its wings, and the column capitals are carved like phoenixes and lions in motion. Surrounding the pagoda, the walls evoke a sense of purity, separating the mundane world from the sacred space. The pagoda is enveloped by a covered corridor, and its four seasons seem to breathe with tranquility. There is a fragrant garden by the door, with soft orchid clusters hanging down. To the left, a cool pond reflects vibrant lotus flowers. The pagoda grounds are spacious, with stone elephants at the gate facing each other, and a bell tower at the entrance. On the western side, there are two stone gongs. To the left, a stele honors those who have made contributions to the pagoda.

The pagoda consists of three halls: the first, second, and third. It has a four-room rear hall, a five-room front hall, and a five-room ancestral hall. In recent years, two additional rooms were added on the right side. The pagoda has been extensively renovated, maintaining the architectural style of the Lý period. The rear hall houses the Buddha statues, while the front hall is dedicated to Lý Thường Kiệt. The pagoda currently houses 22 wooden statues, numerous wooden prints, a bell from the Nguyễn Dynasty weighing approximately 500 kilograms, two wooden parrots, a stele from the Nguyễn era, and a statue of Lý Commander-in-Chief (Lý Thường Kiệt).
The presence of Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda offers valuable insight into the integration of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist elements in more recent centuries. This synthesis is almost universal in Vietnamese pagodas. Moreover, the existence of Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda adds further beauty and allure to the Duy Tinh region, in the Văn Lộc Commune of Hậu Lộc District in Thanh Hóa.

In 1990, the pagoda was recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a national historical and cultural monument. Major renovations took place in 1997, 2001, and 2005. Thanks to its historical and cultural significance, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has continually directed efforts to preserve and enhance the site, while the Thanh Hóa Provincial People’s Committee has invested in its maintenance and renovation. This ensures that the site is preserved for future generations, and it is becoming an increasingly popular spiritual tourism destination. In the near future, the pagoda in this thousand-year-old land of Thanh Hóa is sure to become an ideal destination for travelers.

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Sùng Nghiêm Diên Thánh Pagoda – A Millennium-Old Historical Site in the Land of Scholars
The Duy Tinh region, in Văn Lộc Commune (now Thuần Lộc Commune), Hậu Lộc District, Thanh Hóa Province, has long been famous for its strong academic tradition, producing many highly educated individuals with advanced academic titles. As early as the 15th century, the area was home to the renowned scholar Lê Niệm, a man of both literary and military talent. He served as the Minister of the Interior under King Lê Thánh Tông and contributed to the compilation of the book Anh Hoa Hiếu Trị with the king. (Anh Hoa Hiếu Trị is a collaborative work between King Lê Thánh Tông and the scholar Lê Niệm, which further highlights the king's efforts to promote a moral, idealistic form of governance.)

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