This pagoda is located in Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province. It was built during the reign of king Tran Thanh Tong (1258-1278) and its chief monk was the Most Venerable Huyen Quang…
This pagoda is located in Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province. It was built during the reign of king Tran Thanh Tong (1258-1278) and its chief monk was the Most Venerable Huyen Quang, one of the three founders of the True Lam Buddhist sect. In 1646 – 1647 Lord Trinh Trang had the pagoda renovated.
The main part of the pagoda follows the architectural style of noi cong ngoai quoc. It has a three-entrance gate, the antechamber (Tien duong), the middle hall (Thieu huong), the Main Sanctuary (Thuong dien), the small shrine Tich Thien Am, a 9-storey Lotus Tower (Cuu pham lien hoa), and some others. The impressive 13.5m high octagonal tower Bao Nghiem and the statue of Quan Am Thien Thu Thien Nhan (Thousand-armed and thousand-eyed Avakilotesvara) made in 1656 are masterpieces of Vietnamese sculpture.
The main part of the pagoda is surrounded by a balustrade comprising 30 elaborately carved stone planks. Given its 200 metres in length, But Thap is the largest pagoda in North Vietnam.
