The Art of Honoring the Second Patriarch Phap Loa and the Third Patriarch of Truc Lam

The merits of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam and the contributions of the Second Patriarch Phap Loa to the Dharma and the nation, recreated through the art of Cai Luong (reformed opera), poetry... in the Cultural Exchange event, touched the audience's hearts and left behind many profound emotions.

On the evening of March 29, 2025, at the Special National Historical Relic Site of Ngoa Van Hermitage - Pagoda (Dong Trieu City, Quang Ninh Province), the Cultural Exchange program in gratitude to the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam took place. The event was co-organized by the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Quang Ninh Province, Ngoa Van Yen Tu Cultural Tourism Joint Stock Company, and the "Ngoi truong cuoc song sac mau tu nhien" (School of Life - Natural Colors) Club, on the occasion of the 695th anniversary of the Second Patriarch Phap Loa's passing.

The program attracted a large number of people who love the Truc Lam Zen Sect, poets, writers, painters, artisans, artists, and Buddhists from all over the country. This is an opportunity to honor and spread the cultural and spiritual values left behind by the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam.

At the event, Venerable Thich Dao Hien, Standing Deputy Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Quang Ninh Province, shared about the merits of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam and the contributions of the Second Patriarch Phap Loa to the Dharma and the nation. 

Accordingly, Zen Master Phap Loa (1284-1330) was the successor of Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, holding the role of the Second Patriarch of the Truc Lam Zen Sect from 1308, when He was only 25 years old. During more than 20 years of practicing the Way, He led the Buddhist Sangha with 15,000 monks and nuns, having thousands of practitioners attaining enlightenment, built many large monasteries such as Quynh Lam Pagoda and Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, and organized important Buddhist affairs such as casting statues, printing the Tripitaka, and strongly developing Buddhism during the Tran Dynasty.

The image of Venerable Thich Dao Hien sharing about the life and merits of the Second Patriarch, Venerable Phap Loa 

At the event, the audience enjoyed a special excerpt performance from the Cai Luong play about the Second Patriarch, Venerable Phap Loa, scripted by Dr. Bui Huu Duoc and performed by artists of the Hanoi Cai Luong Theater. The play recreated the important milestones in the religious life of Zen Master Phap Loa, from being a young man respectfully prostrating to request to follow the Buddhist Emperor, to becoming the outstanding successor of the Truc Lam Zen Sect.

Attending the program, Professor Le Manh That emphasized: "The traditional art of Cai Luong does not merely recount a historical story but also fully conveys the emotions about the Second Patriarch Phap Loa and the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam. This has contributed to engraving the merits and ideology of Truc Lam Buddhism into the minds and hearts of today's generation."

The Cultural Exchange event in gratitude to the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam is not only an occasion to commemorate the Second Patriarch Phap Loa but also contributes to preserving and promoting the cultural, historical, and spiritual values of Truc Lam Buddhism in modern life.

The image of Zen Practitioner - Painter Thai Tinh and poet Hoang Anh performing the poetic works of the Truc Lam Zen Sect