Bảo tàng lịch sử Quốc gia

The 17^th century is very specific in Vietnam’s history characterized by the ending of the Southern and Northern dynasties’s conflict, followed by a hundred year old Trinh-Nguyen civil war. The national territory was expanding, villages and communes prospered. There was a boom of agriculture, handicraft and small trade, but public confidence was at rock bottom and Buddha’s religion was sought as an escape. This accounts for the contradictory characters of art at that time: it was solemn, sophisticated, full of humanity and at the same time despondent, gloomy and sad. Such was But Thap Buddhist art, it typically represented the Buddhist revival in Tonkin.

But Thap pagoda – the official name was Ninh Phuc Tu – belonged in accident days to Nhan Thap commune, Sieu Loai district, Kinh Bac Province, currently Dinh To commune, Thuan Thanh district, Ha Bac province. Since the pagoda tower evoked the image of a brush writing characters in the heaven, this Buddhist temple was named But Thap. The architecture, sculpture and decoration of the pagoda were exclusively confined to the 17 century, so ít was the best intact and typical example of Vietnam’s classical Buddhist art.

“But Thap - Buddhist art” introduce reader to But Thap art with other historical remains. The book consists of seven contents:

Chapter I. But Thap Buddhist art

Chapter II. Architecture

Chapter III. The “Cuu pham lien hoa” Rotery tower

Chapter IV. Stone engravings

Chapter V. The system of Buddha’s Statues

Chapter VI. Portrayal Statues

Chapter VII. A chro nological table of “ But Thap” pagoda (17 th century)

The library of Vietnam National Museum of History (25 Tong Dan - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi) would like to introduce all readers!

Trang Nhung