The Yen Tu -Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac World Cultural Heritage Complex, especially the Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape Complex, is closely associated with the legacy of Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308). He was the king who twice led the Tran Dynasty’s army and people to victory against the Yuan-Mongol invaders before renouncing the throne, retreating to Yen Tu to pursue monastic life and founding the Truc Lam Zen School, a distinctly Vietnamese school of Buddhism.
Throughout history, Yen Tu has remained one of the country’s most important Buddhist centers, home to numerous ancient architectural works built across different dynasties, including the Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen.
Therefore, the history of Yen Tu and the legacy of the Truc Lam Zen tradition stand out as profound and enduring values of this sacred mountain, giving it both spiritual depth and lasting prominence.
Giai Oan Stream at the foot of Yen Tu Mountain is steeped in legends associated with Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, including the story of royal concubines who drowned themselves in an attempt to dissuade him from leaving the throne to pursue monastic life on Yen Tu.
Dong Pagoda, perched at an elevation of 1,068 meters atop Yen Tu Mountain, is the ultimate destination for most pilgrims journeying to this sacred Buddhist sanctuary.Dong Pagoda was cast and erected 19 years ago in early spring 2006. Made from 60 tons of bronze, the pagoda had to be cast at the foot of the mountain, fully assembled for testing, then dismantled, transported to the summit, and reassembled once again.The statue of Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong at Hue Quang Patriarch Tower in Yen Tu was recognized as a national treasure in 2020.
The ancient row of pine trees, believed to embody the spiritual essence of the Truc Lam Zen tradition, is more than 700 years old.Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, along with the Truc Lam Zen School, has long been a subject of study for historians and cultural scholars.A corner of Yen Tu in winter, when the season seems to lend the sacred retreat an even more mystical aura.
