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Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam and a cultural
symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism.
It is said that, the pagoda was built under the reign of King Ly Nam De
(544-548) under its original na me of Khai Quoc (National Founder). It was
originally built on the bank of the Red River (then West Lake and the Red River
met). In the time of King Le Kinh Tong (1600-1618), the pagoda was removed to
the Kim Ngu (Golden Fish) Islet due to the river bank crumbling and was renamed
Tran Quoc (National Defence).
Behind the worshipping shrine is the Buddhist trinity followed by corridors,
ten shrines and the belfry. In the pagoda, there are many valuable statues, such
as the red lac� statue trimmed with gold of Sakyamouni Buddha's Parinirvana and
many ancient stelae with the old- one made in 1639 by Doctoral Law- Nguyen Xuan
Chinh recording the pagoda's history. In 1959, on his visit to Vietnam, Indian
Prime Minister Razendia Prasat offered the Pagoda a bodhi tree as a gift. The
plant was grafted from the holy Bodhi tree where Sakyamuni sat in zen
(meditation) position 25 centuries ago. Now the Bodhi tree is green and
luxuriant, shading part of the pagoda's yard. As a religious relic among
spectacle scenery, Tran Quoc Pagoda is a favorite stop-over of many foreign
visitors and pilgrims.
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