In the spiritual center of Yen Tu, the Hue Quang Stupa Garden is a place that gathers the vitality of the Yen Tu dragon vein, originating from the Non Thieng Peak, running from north to south. It is a place that preserves the relics and remains of great Buddhist masters who once practiced in Yên Tử during the Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties. The current Hue Quang Stupa Garden houses nearly 100 stupas, each varying in size and height, representing the positions and dignitaries of these masters within the Buddhist hierarchy, such as the Dieu Đang Stupa, Truong Quang Stupa, Hoa Quang Stupa, Chan Thuong Stupa, Ton Đuc Stupa, and more. It is rare to find such a large number of stupas in any other place in Vietnam, proving that many generations of Buddhist masters have practiced and attained Nirvana at Hoa Yen Pagoda in Yen Tu.
At the heart of the Stupa Garden is the Huệ Quang Kim Stupa (often referred to as the Stupa of the Master), which enshrines the relics of Bulddha King Tran Nhan Tong. He was the third king of the Tran dynasty, born on November 11, 1258, with the personal name Tran Kham. It is said that when he was born, his body radiated a golden light, so his father affectionately called him “Kim Phật” or “Golden Buddha.”
From a young age, he exhibited intelligence, a love for learning, and a deep devotion to Buddhism. At 16, he was crowned crown prince and became king at 20. He united the people, leading them to victory against the Mongol invaders twice (1285-1288). After the war, he successfully reconciled the people and established a prosperous nation. At 35, he abdicated in favor of his son, Crown Prince Trần Thuyên (Trần Anh Tông), and retired to the Vũ Lâm Retreat (modern-day Ninh Bình) to focus on studying Buddhist scriptures.
In the autumn of 1299, the former emperor Tran Nhan Tong came to Yen Tu to practice, taking the Dharma name Huong Van Đai Dau Da and the title Trúc Lâm Đại Sỹ, harmonizing the various Buddhist schools in Vietnam and founding the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen School – a distinctive Vietnamese Buddhist tradition.
On November 1, 1308, in the Year of the Earth Horse, he passed away at the Ngọa Vân Hermitage on Yên Tử Mountain. His body was cremated, and a portion of his relics was enshrined by King Trần Anh Tông in this stupa, named the Huệ Quang Kim Stupa. His life and career embodied the highest ideals of compassion and wisdom, with his Dharma being deeply intertwined with the Vietnamese people.
The stupa was constructed after his passing. The base of the stupa is from the Trần period, with the body rebuilt during the Lê period, and the stupa was restored in 1995. The surrounding stupas were also renovated in the same year, using concrete foundations, and the collapsed, tilted, or sunken stupas were reconstructed to their present solemn state.
The Huệ Quang Stupa stands 7 meters tall, with a hexagonal base. The outer stone base is decorated with wave-like patterns (some believe this represents Mount Tu Di) typical of Trần-era artistic style. The first tier of the stupa is a lotus base with 102 petals surrounding the stupa. The second tier has a southern-facing entrance, inside which is a statue of Phật Hoàng Trần Nhân Tông sitting in meditation with a calm, serene posture, sculpted from marble during the Lê Sơ period. In front of the stupa is a stone incense burner, a gift from the Buddhist followers in Kinh Môn district, Nam Sách during the Lê dynasty.
The stupa is protected by four thick walls, with a roof covered in double-layered lotus petal tiles surrounding it. All materials used date back to the Trần period (13th-14th century). The front gate on the southern wall and the back gate on the northern wall are arch-shaped, quite low, forcing visitors to bow as a sign of respect. The Chrysanthemum Brick Path connects the back gate to the stone-paved road leading to Hoa Yên Pagoda. The Chrysanthemum Brick Path is currently paved with bricks restored to match the original Trần-period design. On either side of the path are two rows of stupas, each housing the relics of monks who practiced in Yên Tử, symbolizing the Buddhist monks who, upon Phật Hoàng’s ordination, accompanied him on his spiritual journey to Hoa Yên Pagoda to recite scriptures as he did in life. All these elements enhance the majesty of the Huệ Quang Kim Stupa.
Behind the Stupa of the Master, two round ponds are considered the “eyes of the dragon” (formerly planted with lotus flowers by the Three Masters), symbolizing the “Ancestor’s Tomb in the Dragon’s Mouth,” signifying peace and prosperity for the Vietnamese nation.
After leaving the Huệ Quang Stupa Garden, visitors will ascend over 100 stone steps to Hoa Yên Pagoda, where Phật Hoàng Trần Nhân Tông and the successive Zen masters of the Yên Tử lineage, which later became the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen School, practiced.
