Another big step forward for Con Son - Kiep Bac to become a world cultural heritage

Famous places in the South

Anyone who has passed through Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac, immersed in the warm sound of temple bells, in the lingering incense smoke, blending into the sacred mountain scenery, will see that this place is truly a famous scenic spot in the South.

The Dong Trieu arc is about 270 km long, passing through many northeastern provinces. On this arc, the most well-known places, with the most typical relics and scenic spots include: Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac in Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Hai Duong. The Yen Tu range is likened to a large dragon stretching out to the East Sea. The dragon's head is Yen Tu peak, 1,068 m above sea level. Compared to the dragon's body and gradually lower to the west are the peaks of Phat Son, Ngoa Van, Ho Thien, Thanh Mai, Quan Am, Huyen Dinh... The lowest area - the Phuong Hoang range of Hai Duong is likened to a dragon's tail.

Yen Tu complex includes hundreds of relics and scenic spots, currently within the scope of 6 national relic sites and special national relic sites: Yen Tu relic and scenic spot site, Tran Dynasty historical relic site, Bach Dang Victory historical relic site (Quang Ninh); Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site, Thanh Mai pagoda, An Phu - Kinh Chu - Nham Duong relic site (Hai Duong) and Vinh Nghiem pagoda, Bo Da pagoda in Tay Yen Tu relic site (Bac Giang).

The nominated heritage site is a chain of 32 relics integrated into 18 relic clusters selected from hundreds of relics and landscapes to present a heritage story. Existing for more than 7 centuries, but to this day, the Yen Tu relic and landscape complex is still a living cultural heritage, lasting forever.

ConSon - Kiep Bac, a component part of the area goproduct

Con Son - Kiep Bac is a fascinating natural area with river shapes, mountain shapes, water colors, and sky colors blending together, creating a magical and mysterious space. Therefore, this place is a stopover for many heroes and literati throughout history.

Con Son - Kiep Bac still preserves within itself many sediments of time. Archaeological discoveries have proven the existence and development of a civilization that continuously developed here through many historical periods.

Con Son - Kiep Bac is closely associated with the lives and careers of famous generals and cultural figures such as Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa, Huyen Quang, Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Trai, Tran Nguyen Dan... This is not only a major religious center but also an important military defense line guarding the northeast of Thang Long Capital. Con Son Pagoda from the 13th and 14th centuries was a center of the Truc Lam Zen sect. Kiep Bac Temple was built at the Van Kiep military base of Tran Hung Dao, becoming one of the inner centers of worshiping Saint Tran.

Born and existed for a long time with history, converging the cultures of the regions, Con Son - Kiep Bac has become a treasure trove of tangible and intangible culture, diverse in types, rich in content, the crystallization of countless efforts, thoughts, intelligence, emotions... of generations of fathers and ancestors who have worked hard to cultivate, preserve and protect until today.

The Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site coexists and develops on the same land, worshiping two different religions and beliefs, but harmonizing to create a complete and unified spiritual and cultural entity. Therefore, over the past 7 centuries, the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site has always been one of the country's major spiritual and cultural centers, entering the consciousness of the people: "Con Son, Yen Tu, Quynh Lam / If anyone has not come, their mind is not yet settled", or: "No matter who trades near or far / On the 20th of August, return to commemorate the death of the Father" ... has said that.

With great historical, cultural and scientific values... Con Son - Kiep Bac is an integral and inseparable part of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex in the dossier submitted to UNESCO for recognition as a world heritage site.

The idea of ​​building this dossier was formed and started in 2013. However, in 2015, the implementation of construction had to be temporarily stopped to clearly define and expand, and supplement the relic clusters to ensure the data proving the values ​​as required by UNESCO including: "Outstanding Universal Value", "Integrity" and "Authenticity".

The three provinces of Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Hai Duong have simultaneously implemented methods to research, demonstrate, synthesize and clarify the value of the relic complex. International conferences and seminars have been organized to determine the outstanding global value of the relic complex.

Many scientific research topics on culture, history; architectural relic system, landscape; geological, geomorphological values ​​and biodiversity were implemented. At the same time, archaeological excavations were conducted simultaneously at relic sites such as An Sinh Temple, Am Hoa Pagoda, Trai Cap Pagoda, Am Thung Pagoda, Bao Dai Pagoda (Quang Ninh); Dam Tri Pagoda, Ho Bac Pagoda, Cao Pagoda (Bac Giang); Thanh Mai Pagoda (Hai Duong), to continue consolidating documents for the construction and completion of dossiers.

The nomination dossier of “The Complex of Monuments and Landscapes of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac” submitted to UNESCO for recognition and inscription into the list of world heritages is a big step forward, recognizing the tireless efforts of Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Hai Duong over the past decade.