Relics

Con Son - Kiep Bac: Globally Outstanding Cultural and Landscape Values

PV January 5, 2025 13:00

As an important part of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son and Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex, which is being proposed for UNESCO recognition as a world heritage site, the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic (Chi Linh, Hai Duong) possesses all outstanding values.

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Kiep Bac Temple area. Photo: THANH CHUNG

Unique heritage

Associate Professor, Doctor Tong Trung Tin, Chairman of the Vietnam Archaeological Association, said that the outstanding global value of the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site is determined to lie in the influence of the powerful Tran Dynasty, with its pro-people ideology (one of the most brilliant feudal dynasties in Vietnamese history); the ideology and practice of the Truc Lam Zen sect.

In the story of the heritage of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son and Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex, if the historical relics of the Tran Dynasty in Dong Trieu (Quang Ninh) are the homeland of the Tran Dynasty and the resting place of many kings and royal families, then Kiep Bac (Hai Duong) is the place associated with the glorious feats of arms and people of the Tran Dynasty in the resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol invasion and the name of the national hero Tran Hung Dao. He was the one who advised King Tran Anh Tong: "To be lenient and to spare the people's strength is the best policy to preserve the country". In the minds of the people, Tran Hung Dao is the god of victory, protector of peace, protector of women...

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King Tran Nhan Tong was the founder of the Truc Lam Zen sect, which carries the national spirit and creativity of Vietnam.

Con Son Pagoda is where the First Patriarch - Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, the Second Patriarch - Venerable Phap Loa and the Third Patriarch - Venerable Huyen Quang all came here to propagate and preach the Dharma, develop the Truc Lam Zen sect, and build Hun Pagoda (Con Son Pagoda) into the ancestral temple called Lieu Ky Lan, a famous large Zen monastery of the Tran Dynasty.

This is a separate Zen sect, breaking away from the traditional Zen sects that were imported from India and China, clearly expressing the national spirit and creativity of Vietnam. With the spirit of "actively engaging in the world", linking religion with life, Truc Lam philosophy has a wide influence, making an important contribution to the unification and development of the country, strongly affirming independence and sovereignty. Truc Lam ideology is not only widespread throughout Vietnam but also spread to neighboring countries, contributing to promoting peace and preventing the risk of war in many countries in the region.

In the Con Son relic site, there is also a practice of worshipping Truc Lam Buddha, ancestors, gods and national heroes. Kiep Bac temple is a place to worship one of the immortal saints, the god of peace and the patron of women - Tran Hung Dao. This belief has been passed down through many generations and is still a living cultural tradition, maintained today.

The Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site also has an organically developed cultural landscape, demonstrating the integration between humans and the environment, through the selection of suitable natural locations for living and practicing religion, the use of natural materials in construction, living (food, fuel and medicine) as well as deep understanding of the natural environment in the military.

Authenticity and integrity

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The military festival on Luc Dau River was restored to recreate the heroic spirit of Dong A of the Tran Dynasty. Photo: THANH CHUNG

Scientists participating in the construction of the dossier of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic complex believe that the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic complex was identified and verified from reliable sources of information. These are documents distilled from Vietnamese chronicles, ancient religious documents, Buddhist scriptures, poems, hundreds of steles at the locations, along with ancient maps and inscriptions. Many important sources of oral information such as rituals in festivals, rituals of worshiping gods, chanting, storytelling, legends... Special performances are also organized such as martial arts, mock battles, rowing, games and competitions.

Dr. Pham Van Trieu, Vietnam Institute of Archaeology, said the importance and outstanding global value of the sites and structures in the relic site is the authenticity related to a brilliant historical period, the story of a unique Buddhist sect and its role in society and the nation.

Ranked as a special national monument in 2012, the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site has been strictly protected under the Law on Cultural Heritage. Surrounding the relics are common landscape protection areas, called buffer zones. The buffer zones are large enough to protect the values ​​of the relic site from external impacts.

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Con Son is a place with a rich history and culture. Photo: THANH CHUNG

According to Dr. Le Duy Manh, Deputy Head of the Con Son - Kiep Bac Relic Management Board, along with efforts to protect existing relics, Hai Duong has researched and restored architectural works of the relic site that existed in history, based on documents (steles, legends) and archaeological results such as the Nine-Plate Lotus Tower, the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Temple, the left and right corridors of Con Son Pagoda...

In the coming time, the People's Committee of Hai Duong province will direct the People's Committee of Chi Linh city and related departments and agencies to study and report on the Thanh Long Lake Ecological Project (Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site) for implementation. The Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site management board is coordinating with the Vietnam Institute of Sustainable Tourism to develop the Con Son - Kiep Bac tourist site development project for the period 2025-2030, with a vision to 2045, creating momentum for tourism development. The goal is to strive to turn the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site into a national tourist site for the period 2025-2030.

The dossier of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex has been submitted to UNESCO and is being supplemented and completed for consideration of recognition as a world heritage site. It is expected that when recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO, the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic complex will welcome about 4 million visitors per year.

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Con Son - Kiep Bac: Globally Outstanding Cultural and Landscape Values