Đong Pagoda (Chùa Đồng) is also known as Thiên Trúc Tự (Pagoda of the Buddhist Realm), located at the highest peak of the Yen Tu mountain range (1,068 meters). The original pagoda, made of copper, was a small structure similar to a shrine, donated by a concubine of the Trịnh lord. In 1740, strong winds and storms caused severe damage to the pagoda, leaving only the Buddha statue and the pillars standing.
Dong Pagoda is the final stop in the pilgrimage journey to worship Buddha in Yên Tử. The term “Đong” (copper) refers not only to the material used to build the pagoda but also symbolizes the harmony between Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—people blending with nature, sky, and land.
The exact time when Chùa Đồng was constructed remains unclear. According to historical records, during the Lê dynasty, the pagoda was small, with a copper roof, resembling a Zen meditation hall, donated by the Trịnh lord’s concubine. In 1740, the pagoda was damaged by a storm, and only the Buddha statue and wooden beams remained.
A stone stele from 1931 notes that Bui Thi My, the abbot of Long Hoa Pagoda, rebuilt the Zen hall, which was made from cement and reinforced with copper.
In 1993, Ni trưởng Đàm Lựu and Vietnamese Buddhists in the United States donated funds to build a smaller copper pagoda next to the original one.
In 2006, both of the previous pagodas were dismantled. On December 12, 2007 (the 12th of the year Bính Tuất), with contributions from both domestic and international Buddhists, a new copper pagoda was built to replace the old ones. This pagoda stands on the site of the previous structures and measures 4.6 meters in length, 3.6 meters in width, 3.5 meters in height, and weighs 70 tons. The pagoda, designed like a lotus pedestal, houses statues of Amitabha Buddha and the Three Masters of Truc Lam.
When visitors reach this sacred site, they feel a sense of unity with the sky and earth, creating a memorable moment of “heavenly timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony”:
On the highest peak of Yên Tử mountain,
At the start of dawn, the sky is clear.
The universe extends beyond the vast ocean,
Talking and laughing, amidst the green clouds.
(Excerpt from a poem by Nguyen Trai, translated by Dao Duy Anh)
