But Thap Pagoda on the bank of Duong River, Bac Ninh Province was reconstructed
in the 17th century by the monk Zhus Zhus (regarded as the founder of the pagoda)
and Queen Trinh Thi Ngoc Truc, a daughter of Lord Trinh Trang. In the Nei Kung Wai
Kwo architectural style,
But Thap Pagoda. has the shape of the Chinese script Kung
inside and the script Kwo outside.
But Thap (Pen Stupa) The pagoda features more than 100 compartments and 10 buildings
spread over 100 meters from the three-entrance gate to the bell-tower and back house.
Inside the temple are more than 50 statues in different sizes and the most remarkable
is "thousand-hands, thousand-eyes" Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin in Chinese) made in
1656 and took several years for completion. Behind the backyard garden stand two
stone stupas of the monk Zhus Zhus and Minh Hanh.
Once visiting in 1876, the King
Tu Duc saw the stone stupa's shape like a pen and named this pagoda
But Thap.
How to get there? But Thap Pagoda is about 25km far from
Hanoi, between highways
one and five in But Thap Commune.
Travel Tips:
Dress modestly and respectfully once visiting pagodas.
