Co Le Pagoda recognised as special national relic site

Attending the ceremony were Dang Xuan Phong, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Ninh Binh provincial Party Committee, Head of the provincial Delegation of National Assembly deputies; Le Hai Binh, alternative member of the Party Central Committee; Standing Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Dinh Thi Lua, Standing Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee; Le Quoc Chinh, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People’s Council; Pham Quang Ngoc, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee; and Mai Van Tuat, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, President of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Commitee.

Co Le pagoda, whose Chinese name is Than Quang Tu, located in Co Le commune, Ninh Binh province. It was built during the Ly Dynasty (12th century) associated with the merits of Saint Nguyen Minh Khong. However, the current work is a product created by Most Venerable Pham Quang Tuyen in the early 20th century.

The special feature of this pagoda is its unique architectural art, harmoniously combining traditional Eastern architecture with Western Gothic architecture, demonstrating the harmony between Buddhism and Christianity.

Co Le Pagoda is also a place of worship for the father and son Dr Dao Toan Ban and the first-place winner Dao Su Tich, who contributed to the construction of the homeland and laid the foundation for the tradition of learning in this land.

Through ups and downs, Co Le Pagoda has still been kept intact and become a precious masterpiece of the western-eastern architecture.

Numerous precious cultural items are still preserved at the pagoda such as 100 stone, bonze, wooden Buddhist statues in different times, and 312 stone steles.

The Co Le Pagoda Festival takes place from the 13th to the 16th day of the 9th lunar month every year to celebrate the birthday of Saint Nguyen Minh Khong.

At the ceremony, Standing Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh presented a certificate recognising Co Le Pagoda as a special national relic site.

Speaking at the event, Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Song Tung emphasised that the recognition of Co Le Pagoda as a special national relic site is a great pride and honour for the Party Organisation, administration and people of Ninh Binh in general and those in Co Le in particular.

He also affirmed that in the coming time, Ninh Binh will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, competent agencies, scientists, experts and local people to put forth solutions to preserve and promote the values of Co Le Pagoda in a sustainable manner.

The province has an orientation to preserve the relic in combination with developing cultural and spiritualtourism, thus spurring its socio-economic growth, he added./.