Phí Trạch Pagoda

• History of construction: Based on the material traces collected, such as a system of blue stone blocks supporting columns with relief-carved lotus flowers, hòm sớ bricks and lemon-flower bricks, the relic is determined to have had a very large scale and a date at least from the Lê - Mạc period (15th - 16th centuries). Through subsequent centuries, the structure was continuously repaired and embellished by the people of Phí Trạch.

• Religious significance: The pagoda is a place to worship Buddha according to the Mahayana school in order to meet the religious needs and healthy cultural-spiritual activities of local residents and surrounding areas. Its teachings guide people toward compassion, encourage goodness, punish evil, and educate in humanity and righteousness.

The pagoda is located on a high, spacious plot in the center of the village, hidden under the shade of ancient trees and a system of stupa gardens. The plan of the main items includes:

• Pagoda Gate (Three-Entrance Gate): Simple design, above it are four large characters "Thái Dương Tự môn". Through the gate is a square-brick-paved path leading into the front yard, decorated with an ornamental rockery and elegant plants.

• Front Hall (Worship Hall): Built on a high foundation via 3 steps in the style of a closed gable with ngai arms; the front has 2 square pillars with attached lanterns. Two roofs are covered with old ri tiles, and the two side gable walls have windows with relief characters "Thọ". The sturdy lim wood frame bears on rows of square-cut columns; the truss structure is made in the style "Gia chieng con Nhi". The relief-carved panels, painted and carved with the theme "Tứ quý hóa long" (plum, bamboo, chrysanthemum, pine transforming into dragons) on a wondrous deep black background.

• Upper Hall: Connected to the Tiền đường (Front Hall) in a structure of the character Dinh ($\mathbf{J}$) closed form. The structure consists of 3 solid bays; the altar system is built with 5 gradually receding tiers from top to bottom, helping the layers of Buddhist statues be arranged solemnly and reverently without obstructing the view from below.

• Auxiliary structures: The ground plan of the inner compound also synchronously arranges the Mẫu House row (horizontal closed-gable architecture) and the Guest House row running parallel, creating an imposing appearance.

The system of artifacts at the relic is rich and carefully preserved, notably including:

• System of round statues (20 wooden statues from the Nguyễn period):

  • Front Hall: Arrangement of a pair of statues Dharma Protectors Khuyến Thiện (guarding on the right) and Trừng Ác (on the left), built of earth, nearly 3m tall. Next to them are the statue of Đức Chúa (Đức Ông - Mr. Cấp Cô Độc, a civil mandarin holding a brush and a book, in a lacquered and gilded court costume as a single block) and the symmetrically placed statue of Thánh Hiền.

  • Upper Hall: The highest tier is 3 statues Buddhas of the Three Times made of wood, seated in meditation on a fully blooming lotus pedestal with five layers of single thick-carved petals. The second tier is the statue Amitabha the largest lacquered and gilded statue in the pagoda (1.15m high, chest not carved with the character Vạn), adjacent to the statues of Quan Âm and Thế Chí Bodhisattva wearing golden Buddha crowns. The third tier is the statue Quan Âm Nam Hải unique, seated in meditation with the tam muội mudra on a lotus pedestal; below the pedestal is the image of a gray fierce demon lifting the lotus pedestal over the waves in support, with Kim Đồng and Ngọc Nữ standing in attendance on both sides. The fourth tier is Cuu Long Hall the sculpture of a dragon spraying water to bathe the infant Shakyamuni, together with 29 small statues of immortal boys and girls surrounding and welcoming the Buddha.

• Artifacts of paper and metal materials: 01 ancient bronze bell cast in the 3rd year of Duy Tân (1909), the bell handle is shaped like a pair of stout, strong dragons with their backs joined to bear the weight; the bell body has raised brocade seal ridges and 4 striking knobs engraved with a eulogy praising merits.

• Stone and ceramic artifacts: 01 stone stele chronicling the relic, 02 ancient stone elephant statues, 02 stone-carved incense burners; combined with 03 blue-painted ceramic incense burners, 02 wooden candle holders, 02 carved flower vases.

• Remaining traces of ancient architecture: The main column bases are made of blue stone blocks from the Lê period, carved with 3 exquisite layers of lotus petals; large-sized hòm sớ bricks used for wall construction with relief images of phoenixes; and 04 ancient square lemon-flower bricks (26cm in size).

Based on the cadastral map drawn in 1985 (Sheet No. 01, scale 1/1000) and the inter-sectoral agreement minutes dated May 12, 2000, the administrative boundary of the relic is defined as closed for Protection Area I (Inviolable zone) is as follows:

• Core land area: Total area reaches 3.707 $m^2$, located on two land plots denoted No. 239 and 241.

• Adjacent boundaries:

  • East: Directly adjacent to the village road axis.

  • West: Adjacent to the rice field parcel No. 358.

  • South: Directly adjacent to the cultivated rice field area.

  • North: Adjacent to two land plots No. 358 and No. 236.

• Any act of digging, dismantling original architectural components, encroaching, or arbitrarily moving antiquities or Buddhist statues out of the corridor of the above two land plots is strictly prohibited and will be strictly handled in accordance with the law.