Quang Ninh (VNA) –Yen TuFestival, which is held at the Yen Tu historical relic and landscape area,northern Quang Ninh province, from the tenth day of the Lunar New Year throughthe end of the third lunar month, has become a big spring festival forBuddhists and tourists nationwide.

Located 1,068 metres above sea levels, YenTu Mountain has different names such as Tuong Son (Elephant Mountain), Bach Van(White Cloud), Phu Van Son (Floating Cloud) and Linh Son (Holy Mountain).

The Yen Tu historical relic and landscapearea encompasses Thuong Yen Cong commune and Phuong Dong ward in the north-westof Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province.

In the 13thcentury, King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the third king of the Trandynasty (1225-1400), abdicated thethrone when he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu Mountain,practising Buddhism.

At the end of the Ly dynasty (1009-1225) and the beginning ofthe Tran dynasty, Yen Tu was a Buddhist worship venue for many monks like HienQuang, Vien Chung, Dai Dang, Tieu Dao and Hue Tue.

When Tran Nhan Tong practised Buddhism on the mountain, hefounded the firstVietnamese School of Buddhism called “Thien Tong,” Vietnam Zen Buddhism,turning the site into the capital of Vietnamese Buddhism. 

During the pastnearly 1,000 years, hundreds of pagodas and shrines have been built throughoutthe Yen Tu complex, including structures which boast thousands of prized statuesand artefacts.

Yen Tu is also a museum of architecture and diverse fauna andflora. It has favourable conditions for research in history, spiritual culture,tourism potential, ecological environment, bio diversity and gene protection.

The complex isa demonstration of interactions between human beings and nature, reflecting theuninterrupted residence of people, especially Buddhists, for thousands ofyears. 

Yen Tu also witnessed Vietnam’s struggles against invadersfrom the north and the west, becoming a symbol of Vietnam’s independence andself-mastery. 

With itssignificant historical, cultural and natural values, Yen Tu was recognised as aSpecial National Relic Site in September 2012. It was also selected as one ofthe 10 most popular spiritual destinations in Vietnam by the Vietnam RecordsOrganisation.

The website ofthe UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) included YenTu relic in the list of nominated heritages.-VNA