Carved in stone more than a millennium ago, the Buddhist scripture pillars of the Dinh dynasty preserve both sacred prayers and the remorse of a royal heir.
The repentance of the Nam Viet king
The Dinh dynasty Buddhist scripture pillar carved by Dinh Lien as a prayer for the deceased and an act of repentance.
The Buddhist scripture pillar of the Dinh dynasty, carved at the order of Prince Dinh Lien, eldest son of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, was erected both as a prayer for the deceased and as an act of repentance after he killed his younger brother Dinh Hang Lang.
Also known as the Dinh Khuong Lien pillar, the Hoa Lu stone column, Bao Trang or Kinh Trang, the scripture pillars date back to the 10th century in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, now in Ninh Binh province.
These pillars were commissioned by Nam Viet king Dinh Lien, also known as Dinh Khuong Lien, starting in 973 and completed between spring and the tenth month of the year Ky Mao 979.
The Ninh Binh Museum currently preserves a collection of 49 artifacts and 29 catalogued items, including 29 complete pillars and pillar components. Each pillar stands about 1.4 meters high, weighs nearly 120 kilograms and is entirely crafted from green stone. They consist of six parts: a foundation slab, base, octagonal shaft, cushion block, lotus pedestal and lotus bud.
The shaft of pillar no. 667 engraved with Buddhist texts and colophons in Chinese characters.
The octagonal shaft gradually tapers from bottom to top, measuring 50 to 69 centimeters in height, with a diameter of 15.5 to 17 centimeters at the top and 15 to 19 centimeters at the base. Each face of the pillar is engraved with Buddhist scriptures and dedicatory inscriptions in Chinese characters, totaling approximately 545 to 563 characters per pillar. Of these, 130 to 140 characters form the colophon, while 413 to 422 characters contain the sutra text. Over time, some characters have faded, leaving only portions legible today.
The scripture portion reproduces a mantra transliterated from Sanskrit in the Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra, also known as the Buddha’s Supreme Crown Dharani. The colophon provides the name and titles of the patron, the reason for erecting the pillar and the date of its creation.
One translated inscription reads in part: “The disciple Suy Thanh Thuan Hoa, Tinh Hai Quan Jiedushi, specially advanced, acting Grand Preceptor, with a fief of ten thousand households, Nam Viet king Dinh Khuong Lien, because the deceased younger brother, the great monk Dinh Noa Tang Noa, failed to fulfill loyalty and filial piety, did not serve his elder brother and father, harbored evil intent and opposed love and tolerance, the elder brother could not forgive and thus harmed the life of Dinh Noa Tang Noa… Now I vow to erect 100 scripture pillars to dedicate to the deceased younger brother… First, I pray that the Great Victorious Enlightened Emperor may forever guard the southern skies and firmly hold the throne; next, that I, Khuong Lien, may retain my rank and position.”
From these inscriptions, it is clear that the Nam Viet king commissioned the pillars to pray for Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, to dedicate merit to his slain brother Dinh Hang Lang and to express his own wish for longevity and repentance.
After more than 1,000 years, the pillars remain artifacts of exceptional historical and cultural value. They are the only surviving written historical sources created during the Dinh dynasty. The Chinese characters engraved on the stone not only record historical events but also reflect the development of writing in the 10th century.
All components of the scripture pillar are crafted from green stone.A model of the Buddhist scripture pillar collection displayed at the Ninh Binh Museum.
Original and unique artifacts
The Dinh dynasty Buddhist scripture pillar collection at the Ninh Binh Museum is a singular treasure. It is the only intact collection of Dinh-era scripture pillars in Vietnam and the only surviving set from the 100 pillars originally commissioned by the Nam Viet king.
These artifacts possess a distinctive form and artistic value, harmoniously combining geometric shapes and refined carving techniques. The components are joined through a mortise-and-tenon system without any adhesive materials. The aesthetic qualities and sculptural details testify to the skillful craftsmanship of ancient artisans.
A representative of the Ninh Binh Department of Culture and Sports said the museum currently preserves 29 pillars. They are unique in Vietnam for being made entirely of stone, inscribed with Chinese characters and assembled without binding substances, connected instead through stone joints.
The Dinh dynasty Buddhist scripture pillar collection was officially recognized as a national treasure in 2024.
The collection was first discovered in 1963. In June 1964, during earth excavation for dyke construction along the Hoang Long River in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, a second pillar was unearthed. By 1995, the Ninh Binh Museum recovered another pillar at the foot of Hang Quang mountain, in front of the Dinh temple, completing the collection.
Vietnamnet.vn
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