Pagoda's woodblocks to receive World Heritage certificate

Vietnam's collection of woodblocks was listed as world heritage

A collection of 3,000 woodblocks carved by Buddist Sutras in the 14th century at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in the northern province of Bac Gang will be given a UNESCO certificate and Word Heritage status at a ceremony in Yen Dung District on October 7.

The district's People's Committee will host the ceremony at the site of the 700-year-old pagoda. The recognition of the collection of valuable woodblocks was announced at UNESCO's fifth plenary meeting in Bangkok in May.

The blocks, which were made in the early 14th century, tell a history of woodblock carving in Viet Nam and provide insights into the skilled work of the pagoda's eminent monks, as well as a wide range of information on the formation, development and ideology of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, founded by King Tran Nhan Tong in the 11th century.

In October, Bac Giang Province will also host a ceremony to receive a certificate declaring the historical site of the Yen The movement a special national relic.