Bảo tàng lịch sử Quốc gia

Linh Xung stele, stone, erected in the 7^th year of Thien Phu Due Vu reign (1126), Linh Xung pagoda, Ha Trung district, Thanh Hoa province

This is a precious stele from the Ly dynasty. The stele is 134cm high and 70cm wide. The upper part is a semicircle and carved with Chinese inscriptions that read “Nguong Son Linh Xung tu bi ky” (Stele of Linh Xung Pagoda at Nguong mountain). The stele stands on a tortoise which reflects the belief that these merits would be passed down to future generations. The main part of the stele is engraved with inscriptions in Chinese characters, which talk about the introduction and development of Buddhism and the making of Buddhist statues and building of pagodas and stupas in the country. The inscriptions also describe the making of the Linh Xung pagoda as well as people’s contribution to its construction process. Especially, the stele praises Thai Uy Ly Thuong Kiet for his searching for the land to build Linh Xung pagoda, and at the same time acknowledges Ly Thuong Kiet’s merit in the battle against the Champa in 1069 and against the Song Chinese in 1075-1077. The Linh Xung stele not only reflects the development of Buddism during the Ly dynasty but also provides better understandings of the National Hero Ly Thuong Kiet in the history of Vietnamese people.