Unique ancient Van Tue pagoda

Van Tue pagoda was classified as a provincial artistic structure in 2019

According to stele inscriptions, Van Tue pagoda was built before the 2nd Vinh Thinh year (1706). In the 41st Canh Hung year (1780), the back house was renewed. In the 7th Minh Mang year (1826), the 6th Thieu Tri year (1846), the 15th Tu Duc year (1862), etc., the pagoda was restored and embellished with ding (丁) architecture, consisting of a five-compartment front house and a three-compartment central house made of ironwood.

The front house, 12.67 m long and 5.69 m wide, was built on a high platform five stone stairs from the yard. Behind the front house are three compartments of the central house, 9.02 m long, 6.67 m wide, roofed with shoe-point tiles, and having four trusses.

There are 11 stone steles at Van Tue pagoda, on which are epitaphs compiled and inscribed in different periods and ages, from the 2nd Vinh Thinh year to the 27th Tu Duc year (1874).

Along with the epitaphs, many other antiques are being kept at the pagoda, such as dai tu (big words) and statues of Three Noble Buddhas, Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, Amitabha Buddha, Lokapalas, Ananda, Kasyapa, etc. with  high artistic value dating from Later Le and Nguyen dynasties.

Many important historical events took place at Van Tue pagoda.

In 1938, Nguyen Van Tue, a Party official, went to Van Tue village to propagandize and develop revolutionary movements. He wore a frock and acted as the head monk of the pagoda.

In front of the (northern) right front wall of the pagoda, he built a pen tower and a hammer cutting chains into two to symbolize the working class and peasantry's fight against the restraint, oppression, and exploitation of French colonists and feudal landlords.

On the morning of August 21, 1945, the Viet Minh Party organization of Thanh Ha district held a meeting at the pagoda to discuss plans and organize armed forces to seize power.

During the resistance war against French colonists (1946 - 1954), the relic was the venue for voters in the village to elect the first National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the facility of literacy classes.

Especially, in early 1952, the militia and guerrillas of Van Tue village coordinated with those of Ngoc Lo and Cam Lo villages to attack Dai Dien post and captured and took two French prisoners to the pagoda for detainment.

In 2008, the People's Committee of Thanh Ha district built a memorial stele house to the left of the pagoda yard to mark the founding place of the first Party cell.

DANG THU THOM