Dau Pagoda and the imprint of the two Vu family Zen masters in the flow of national history and culture.

Dau Pagoda, located in Gia Phuc village, Nguyen Trai commune, Thuong Tin district, Hanoi, is a famous and historically significant temple in Son Nam province. Throughout the Tran, Le, Mac, and especially the Le Trung Hung dynasties, Dau Pagoda has become closely associated with the Le royal family and the Trinh lord's residence in Thang Long (Hanoi).
Therefore, the temple not only possesses traditional Vietnamese architecture and sculptural art, but also served as a place of practice for two Zen masters of the Vu family, Khac Minh (Dao Chan) and Khac Truong (Dao Tam). After the two Zen masters passed away, they left behind their "physical bodies," also known as "complete relics"—a particularly important mark in their spiritual practice and enlightenment.
With the aim of contributing to clarifying the position and role of Dau Pagoda in the historical and cultural flow of Vietnamese Buddhism in particular, and of the Vietnamese nation in general, as an important religious and spiritual center; and to gain a more complete understanding of the lives and deeds of the two Zen masters who attained enlightenment and left behind a great legacy in the form of two mummified statues - National Treasures of Vietnam, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in collaboration with Dau Pagoda (Thanh Dao Temple), is organizing the Scientific Conference: “Dau Pagoda (Thanh Dao Temple) and the imprint of the two Zen masters of the Vu family in the historical and cultural flow of the nation”.

Professor Lai Quoc Khanh, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, delivered the opening remarks at the conference. Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem, PhD - Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Hanoi, and Member of Parliament, delivered a speech at the conference. The Buddhist delegation presented a flower basket to congratulate the conference.

The conference brought together many scholars and leading experts in the fields of History, Buddhism, Archaeology, Fine Arts, Cultural Studies, and Heritage Preservation… In addition, the conference also received in-depth opinions and research papers from leading monks and venerable abbots in the Vietnamese Buddhist Church.
The conference organizers received 37 papers from Venerable monks, clergy, and religious practitioners of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; as well as scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities; the Vietnam Studies and Development Science Institute; the Tran Nhan Tong Institute; the Institute of Archaeology; the Institute of Han Nom Studies; the Institute of Ethnology and Religion; the Institute of History; the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center, Hanoi; Hanoi University of Culture; Hanoi University; the Culture and Information Department of Thuong Tin District; the Bac Ninh Department of Culture; the Vietnam Archaeological Society; the Vietnam Culture Research Group (Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities)...
The presentations focused on the following four topics: An overview of the Dau Pagoda relic; Domestic and international sources of information on the phenomenon of the preserved bodies of high-ranking Buddhist monks; The era, birthplace, and life stories of the two Zen masters Vu Khac Minh and Vu Khac Truong; and the cultural heritage of Dau Pagoda in the contemporary context.
Held in the sacred space of Dau Pagoda, the workshop also provided an opportunity for the academic community, Buddhists, and the public to reflect on the immense value of Dau Pagoda's heritage, thereby proposing appropriate solutions for preservation and promotion in the era of promoting sustainable cultural and tourism development.