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Đại Cồ Việt Quốc 大瞿越國 (1009–1054) Đại Việt Quốc 大越國 (1054–1225) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1009–1225 | |||||||||
Territories of Đại Việt and expansion period | |||||||||
Administrative division of Đại Việt in 1085 | |||||||||
| Status | Internal imperial system withinSongtributary[1][2] | ||||||||
| Capital | Hoa Lư (1009–1010) Thăng Long (1010–1225) | ||||||||
| Emperor | |||||||||
• 1009–1028 | Lý Thái Tổ (first) | ||||||||
• 1054–1072 | Lý Thánh Tông | ||||||||
• 1072–1128 | Lý Nhân Tông | ||||||||
• 1224–1225 | Lý Chiêu Hoàng (last) | ||||||||
| Chancellor | |||||||||
• 1058 | Lý Thường Kiệt | ||||||||
• 1069–1073 | Lý Đạo Thành | ||||||||
• 1140–1158 | Đỗ Anh Vũ | ||||||||
• 1158–1179 | Tô Hiến Thành | ||||||||
• 1208–1211 | Tô Trung Từ | ||||||||
• 1225 | Trần Thủ Độ (last) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval Asia | ||||||||
• Coronation ofLý Công Uẩn | 21 November 1009 | ||||||||
• War withDali kingdom | 1014 | ||||||||
• Lý Thánh Tông changes the state name from Đại Cồ Việt to Đại Việt | 1054 | ||||||||
| 1075–1077 | |||||||||
• Lý Chiêu Hoàng abdicates, cedes throne toTrần Cảnh | 1225 | ||||||||
| Currency | Copper-alloy cash coins | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Lý | |
|---|---|
| Country | Kingdom ofĐại Việt (Vietnam) |
| Founded | 10th century |
| Founder | Lý Công Uẩn |
| Final ruler | Lý Chiêu Hoàng |
| Titles |
|
| Traditions | Mahayana Buddhism |
| Estate | Thăng Long |
| Deposition | 1225 |
TheLý dynasty (Vietnamese:Nhà Lý,Vietnamese pronunciation:[ɲâːlǐ],chữ Nôm: 茹李,chữ Hán: 朝李,Vietnamese:triều Lý), officiallyĐại Cồ Việt (chữ Hán: 大瞿越) from 1009 to 1054 andĐại Việt (chữ Hán: 大越) from 1054 to 1225, was aVietnamese dynasty that existed from 1009 to 1225. It was established byLý Công Uẩn when he overthrew theAnterior Lê dynasty. The dynasty ended when empress regnantLý Chiêu Hoàng (then 8 years old) was pressured to abdicate the throne in favor of her husband,Trần Cảnh in 1225, the dynasty lasted for 216 years. DuringLý Thánh Tông's reign, the official name of the state was changed from Đại Cồ Việt to Đại Việt, a name that would remain Vietnam's official name until the onset of the 19th century.
Domestically, while the Lý emperors were devout in their adherence toBuddhism, the influence ofConfucianism from China was on the rise, with the opening of theTemple of Literature in 1070, built for the veneration of the Confucius and his disciples. Six years later in 1076, the Quốc Tử Giám (Guozijian) was established within the same complex; Initially the education was limited to the children of the emperor, the imperial family as well as mandarin and nobility, serving as Vietnam's first university institution. The first imperial examination was held in 1075 andLê Văn Thịnh became the first Trạng Nguyên (Zhuangyuan) of Vietnam.
Politically, the dynasty established an administration system based on the rule of law rather than on autocratic principles. They chose the Đại La Citadel as the capital (later renamed Thăng Long and subsequentlyHanoi). Ly Dynasty held onto power in part due to their economic strength, stability and general popularity among the population rather than by military means like previous dynasties. This set off a historical precedent for following dynasties, as prior to the Ly Dynasty, most Vietnamese dynasties lasted very briefly, often fall to the state of decline following the respective dynasty founder's death.
Noblemen scholars such asLê Văn Thịnh,Bùi Quốc Khái,Doãn Tử Tư,Đoàn Văn Khâm,Lý Đạo Thành, andTô Hiến Thành made vast contributions culturally and politically, allowing the dynasty to flourish for 216 years.
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The last emperor of theAnterior Lê dynasty, the unpopularLê Long Đĩnh, died in 1009. His crown prince son was still very young and could not take over power from his own father. Members of the imperial court, including the officialĐào Cam Mộc and the Buddhist monkVạn Hạnh, decided to install generalLý Công Uẩn to become the new emperor ofĐại Cồ Việt.[3]
The first ruler of the Lý dynasty,Lý Công Uẩn, was ofMin Chinese ancestry (fromMin kingdom, today'sFujian province).[4][5][6][7] The identity of his birth-father is unknown; likewise, little is known about his maternal side except that his mother was surnamed Phạm.[8] Very few direct details about his parents (unknown birth-father, mother, and adoptive father Lý Khánh Văn) are known,[9] however, the ethnic Chinese background of Lý Công Uẩn, at least on his paternal side, had been accepted by Vietnamese historianTrần Quốc Vượng.[10] The Lý clan of Lý Công Uẩn's adoptive father Lý Khánh Văn was a VieticTao-hua clan that originated from the highland regions in Feng district.[citation needed]
Công Uẩn himself was born in 974 CE in Cổ Pháp region, Bắc Giang circuit (now inTừ Sơn,Bắc Ninh Province, Vietnam). When he was three years old, Công Uẩn was adopted by a monk of Cổ Pháp pagoda named Lý Khánh Văn, whose surname Công Uẩn inherited.[11] The good-looking and intelligent Công Uẩn was noted as an extraordinary child by Buddhist Zen masterVạn Hạnh. When mature, he joined the palace guard and rose through the ranks to commandership.[3] In 1009, Công Uẩn succeededLê Long Đĩnh of theLê family, thereby founding the Lý dynasty.[12]

After a year of enthronement, in 1010,Lý Thái Tổ started to move the capital fromHoa Lư (Ninh Bình) toĐại La (Hà Nội), and renamed it Thang Long. He wrote theEdict on the Transfer of the Capital to announce his plan to move to the new place.
This decision had a marked influence on Vietnam, which opening the flourishing era of the dynasty. Following dynasties such asTrần,Lê andMạc continued to use Hà Nội as their capital, as does the Socialist Republic of Vietnam today.
In 1028,Lý Thái Tổ died at the age 55 with Posthumous name Thần Vũ hoàng đế (神武皇帝), he was buried at Thọ Lăng imperial tomb.
In his funeral, most of his mandarins expected crown princeLý Phật Mã (Prince Khai Thiên) to assume the throne. However, three of his brothers: Prince Đông Chinh (Đông Chinh vương), Prince Dực Thánh (Dực Thánh vương) and Prince Vũ Đức (Vũ Đức vương) rejected the decision and attacked the imperial palace with their own armies to take Prince Khai Thiên's throne.[13]
Lý Phật Mã discovered the plot, he ordered all the gates of palace to be closed and arranged guards for protection. However his eunuchLý Nhân Nghĩa advised him to engage with betrayers.Lý Phật Mã decide to letLý Nhân Nghĩa to lead the imperial army to fight against his brothers.Lý Nhân Nghĩa succeeded in his campaign and caught Vũ Đức Vương, while the two other princes escaped. Lý Phật Mã then enthroned and take the temple nameLý Thái Tông. He grant mercy to all those who tried to opposed him and pardoned his two brothers Đông Chinh vương and Dực Thánh vương, letting them return to their former positions.[14] The emperor issued a rule requiring government officials to make an annual pledge of loyalty, with heavy punishments for those who avoided.[15]
From the reign ofLý Thái Tổ with the other emperors, the Lý dynasty began to focus on solving some major and minor situations:
One of the big events of the Lý dynasty is changing the name of the country from Đại Cồ Việt (大瞿越) to Đại Việt (大越) in 1054 under the reign of Lý Thánh Tông.[16]During the Lý dynasty, the Vietnamese began their long march to the south (Nam tiến) at the expense of the Chams.In 1069, Champa Kingdom gained support from theSong dynasty and stopped paying tribute toĐại Việt. As the result, the emperorLý Thánh Tông ordered an expedition againstChampa and successfully captured KingRudravarman III of Champa. Rudravarman III had to sign a treaty with Lý Thánh Tông to cede three territories Địa Lí, Ma Linh and Bố Chính (modernQuảng Trị andQuảng Bình) toĐại Việt in exchange for his release.[17] Champa also had to restore the tributary system to Lý dynasty.
The Lý Emperors supported the improvement of Vietnam's agricultural system by constructing and repairing dikes and canals and by allowing soldiers to return to their villages to work for six months of each year. As their territory and population expanded, the Lý Emperors looked to China as a model for organizing a strong, centrally administered state.
In 1070, Lý Thánh Tông ordered the construction of theImperial Academy (Quốc Tử Giám) and the confucianVăn Miếu Temple to boost education. Minor officials were chosen by examination for the first time in 1075, and a civil service training institute was set up in 1076. In 1089 a fixed hierarchy of state officials was established, with nine degrees of civil and military scholar officials. Examinations for public office were made compulsory, and literary competitions were held to determine the grades of officials.[18]
Emperor Lý Thánh Tông died in 1072, the crown prince Càn Đức was enthroned at 7 as emperorLý Nhân Tông. Empress Dowager Dương became regent, but was toppled the next year by a plot by Lý Nhân Tông's mother, ConcubineỶ Lan. She ordered the former Empress to be buried alive in the emperor's mausoleum along with over 70 servants.[19] Ỷ Lan then became regency with help of ChancellorLý Thường Kiệt.
In the 1050s, tensions between Đại Việt and theSong dynasty became high. In 1075, Wang Anshi, the chancellor of the Song dynasty, told Emperor Shenzong that Đại Việt was destroyed by Champa, with less than ten thousand soldiers surviving, so it would be a good occasion to annex the country. The Song emperor then mobilized his troops, this prompted the Emperor Lý Nhân Tông to authorize a preemptive invasion into Song territory. Lý Thường Kiệt lead an army to capture Qinzhou, Lianzhou and laid siege to Yongzhou (present dayNanning). Yongzhou fell in 1076, its populace of 58,000 were massacred. The Song sent a great army to invade Đại Việt but Lý Thường Kiệt managed to stop them at the Battle of Như Nguyệt (1077). The Song and Dai Viet would then make a peace treaty. The Song returned its conquered lands to Đại Việt and recognized Lý Nhân Tông as King of Nam Bình.[20]
EmperorLý Nhân Tông was the longest reigned ruler in the history of Vietnam. As he was childless, his nephewLý Dương Hoán (李陽煥), who he adopted, was chosen to be the crown prince. Lý Nhân Tông died in 1128. Lý Dương Hoán was enthroned at age 11 and took temple name Lý Thần Tông. The death ofLý Nhân Tông had marked the transition of succession from the main line to the cadet line. Lý Thần Tông would die young after ruling for 10 years. Crown prince Lý Thiên Tộ then enthroned as EmperorLý Anh Tông at 3 year old.

Thần Tông's Empress Cảm Thánh became regency. Her lover Commandant Đỗ Anh Vũ (杜英武) would rise into power in the court. This was met with opposition from other mandarins and imperial members, who staged to arrest Đỗ Anh Vũ. However, by the empress's intervention, he was not killed but instead banished as a peasant. The empress dowager used her influence to restore the position for Anh Vũ, he was subsequently pardoned and took revenge on the people who tried to arrest him. The emperor unwillingly had to approve it and Anh Vũ's enemies were impeached then executed. Đỗ Anh Vũ died in 1158.Tô Hiến Thành (蘇憲誠), a relative of Anh Vũ, later become the chancellor. Different from his brother in law, Tô Hiến Thành was loyal to the Lý court, his skills and talents were proven in organizing successful military campaigns against the Thân Lợi and Ngưu Hống rebellions.[21]
In 1174, Lý Anh Tông's crown prince Lý Long Xưởng was involved in debauchery with a concubine of the emperor, he was made retired from the titled and replaced by Lý Long Cán. In 1175, emperor Anh Tông died at aged 40, the youngLý Cao Tông was enthroned with Tô Hiến Thành again holding the regency.[22]
Lý Cao Tông became the emperor at three. His mother, Concubine Đỗ became Chiêu Thiên Chí Lý Empress dowager. Her younger brother Đỗ An Di becameConsort kin and Tô Hiến Thành was still a regent and teacher to teach the emperor. Empress Chiêu Linh, mother of the deposed Prince Lý Long Xưởng tried to take the throne back for his son but failed because of Tô Hiến Thành's determination.
In 1179, Chancellor Tô Hiến Thành died when emperor Cao Tông was only six and Đỗ An Di replaced him as regent. In 1188, Đỗ An Di died and Ngô Lý Tín replaced him until his death in 1190. Then, Đàm Dĩ Mông (譚以蒙), the younger brother of Empress An Toàn, became regent.
Emperor Lý Cao Tông pursued a corrupted policy in which rich people could buy themselves to become high rank officials, which led the nation into crisis. He enjoyed the luxury life and exploit his people to build him palaces, resulting in the hatred of people being cumulated and revolts happened.
The Quách Bốc rebellion was the main reason of weakening the dynasty. In 1207, the Governor Đoàn Thượng (段尚) of Hồng Châu (now Hải Dương and Hải Phòng provinces) began the revolt against the court. The emperor ordered generals Phạm Bỉnh Di (范秉異), Phạm Du (范兪), Đàm Dĩ Mông and the others to lead army to suppress the revolt. Nevertheless, Đoàn Thượng corrupted Phạm Du to retreat his infantry and persuade emperor to retreat all soldiers.
Phạm Du was then sent to train the military in Nghệ An but he started to recruit criminals for his own agenda. Emperor Cao Tông dispatched Phạm Bỉnh Di to capture Phạm Du, Du lost the battle and fled to Hồng province.In 1209, Phạm Bỉnh Di had victory over the Đoàn Thượng rebels. The emperor then summoned Du back to Thăng Long but Du slandered Phạm Bỉnh Di to prove himself innocent. Cao Tông trusted Du's accusation and ordered to capture Phạm Bỉnh Di and his son (Phạm Phụ). Upon the capture of his lord, Quách Bốc (郭卜), a general of Bỉnh Di, decided to assault the imperial palace to rescue his master. Emperor Cao Tông had Bỉnh Di and his son killed and they both fled to Phú Thọ. Quách Bốc captured the imperial palace and installed Prince Lý Thầm to be the new emperor.
Prince Lý Hạo Sảm (李日旵) fled to Hải Ấp with his mother Empress An Toàn, where they met the leader of Trần clan,Trần Lý (陳李) and generalTô Trung Từ, both support Lý Hạo Sảm as the emperor. Lý Hạo Sảm was then married to the daughter of Trần Lý, Trần Thị Dung (陳氏庸). Emperor Lý Cao Tông put a fight against Sảm but failing to reclaim the throne. Finally, Trần Lý led the army against Quách Bốc and ended the rebellion.[23] However the Đại Việt kingdom was already in partition by many warlords.
In 1210, Lý Cao Tông died. Lý Hạo Sảm was enthroned as EmperorLý Huệ Tông. General Tô Trung Từ gained too much power that he was killed by other officials. His nephew Trần Tự Khánh, amassed an army and threatened the capital. Emperor Huệ Tông then turned to warlord Đoàn Thượng who rebelled earlier for help, but they were defeated by Tự Khánh. The emperor had to escape to Lạng Sơn.
In 1214, Tự Khánh installed the EmperorLý Nguyên Hoàng as a puppet ruler. At the same time,Nguyễn Nộn, a warlord attacked the capital and burnt all the palaces, forcing Tự Khánh and Emperor Nguyên Hoàng to move toHà Nam. The country is again divided by multiple warlords, the major ones being Nguyễn Nộn, Tự Khánh and Đoàn Thượng.
In late 1214, Trần Tự Khánh forces retook the capital and gradually managed to conquered the warlords. In 1217, Đoàn Thượng surrendered to the court, he was pardoned and granted title of Prince of Hồng. By the end of 1220, all the minor warlords excepts Nguyễn Nộn, were subdued. Nguyễn Nộn himself later died of illness in 1229.
In winter 1216, Trần Thị Dung was granted the title Empress. People of Trần clan were then promoted to several important positions in the court: Trần Tự Khánh became chancellor, his brotherTrần Thừa was titled Marquis, Trần Thừa's sonTrần Liễu was titled Prince of Phụng Cần.
In 1217, Emperor Lý Huệ Tông suffered a serious illness and became mentally ill. He occasionally called himself the Heaven General and would dance all day long holding his sword and shield. By this time, most of the court matters are managed by chancellor Trần Tự Khánh and not by the emperor anymore, the court power base gradually switched to the Trần clan. In 1223, the chancellor Trần Tự Khánh died, Trần Thừa replaced his position and was given even more privileges from the Emperor.
Emperor Huệ Tông did not have a son as heir. Captain Trần Thủ Độ (Trần Thừa's cousin) then decided the emperor's second daughter Princess Chiêu Thánh will be crowned as Queen of Đại Việt. In 1224, Huệ Tông abdicated and gave the throne to the crowned princess. Lý Chiêu Hoàng, at 6 years old, became the first reigning queen of Vietnam.
Trần Thủ Độ took on his hand all the daily handling of the Lý court. He brought his nephew Trần Cảnh (the second son of Trần Thừa) to become the confidant of young Queen. Both of them then had blossom closed relationship. In aim to overthrow the rule of Lý dynasty, Trần Thủ Độ arranged their marriage in the next year. Trần Cảnh later became the Consort of Lý dynasty. In 1226, Trần Thủ Độ forced Lý Chiêu Hoàng to give the throne toTrần Cảnh,Trần Thừa became theRegent Retired Emperor. The rule of Lý was formally transferred to Trần. The former emperor Huệ Tông was forced to commit suicide at Chân Giáo Temple. The Lý aristocrats were then massacred in 1232 by Thủ Độ. The Lý dynasty ceased to exist andTrần dynasty was officially established.[24]
After the Lý dynasty was toppled, some imperial members of the clan escaped to Korea and became generals ofGoryeo dynasty.

At the central level, under the king were theThái positions:Tam thái for the three literary mandarins (Thái sư,Thái bảo andThái phó), andThái úy for the martial mandarin. Under theTháis were theThiếu positions likeThiếu sư,Thiếu bảo,Thiếu phó, andThiếu úy.
In 1010, Lý Thái Tổ changed the 10đạo subdivisions into 24lộ.[13] Thelộ was possibly subdivided intochâu (in mountainous areas) orphủ (in the lowlands). Thechâu andphủ were further subdivided intohuyện andgiáp, and under themhương andấp. He imposed on these divisions taxes on land, salt, ivory and mountain specialties.[13]
During the Lý dynasty, laws in Đại Việt were primarily based on imperial proclamations, although a body of law composing of civil laws, criminal laws, litigation laws, and laws dealing with marriage existed. However, because the Lý rulers were devout Buddhists, the punishments during this era were not very severe.
The Lý dynasty has maintained trade relationships with China, theDali Kingdom, and other Southeast Asian kingdoms.[25]


In foreign relations with theSong dynasty,Vietnam acted as a vassal state, although at its zenith it had sent troops into Chinese territory to fight the Song during theLý–Song War.[1][2]
In 1016, Lý Công Uẩn was appointed asJinghai Junjie Dushi (Military Commissioner of Jinghai) and was crownedGiao Chi Quan Vuong (King ofGiao Chi) by the Song emperor.[2] For the first time in the Song dynasty's relations with Vietnam, the Song dynasty reciprocated Lý tributes in 1028 as recognition of the political power of the Lý.[2] The Song dynasty also deployed officers to attend the funeral of a deceased Vietnamese king for the first time during the Lý dynasty.[2]
Tensions between the Lý and Song increased during the reign of Lý Nhân Tông (1072–1128), whose military seized Qinzhou, Lianzhou, and Yongzhou along the Lý-Song border after his attack on Champa.[2] In 1075, Song prime ministerWang Anshi informed the Song emperor of the decline in the Lý's power following its defeat by the Champa, prompting theLý-Song War during which the Song launched a failed invasion.[2] The conflict ended after Lý Nhân Tông sought reconciliation following Lý military successes.[2]
During the era of Lý Anh Tông (1138–1175), the Song dynasty changed its name for Vietnam fromJiaozhi (Giao Chi) toAnnan (Annam).[2]

In 1168,Jin EmperorShizong sent an envoy to Thăng Long to establish relationship. Both Jin and Song ambassadors visited Lý court in the same time, but emperporLý Anh Tông ordered do not let them face together to avoid tension.[26][citation needed]
In 1013, administration in mountain prefecture Vị Long (now in southeastYunnan) was Hà Trắc Tuấn allied withDali kingdom started rebelling against the Lý government. Dali forces and Tuấn with tribal supports invaded Đại Cồ Việt in spring 1014. According toAn Nam chí lược by 14th-century historianLê Tắc, Dali and rebel forces numbered about 30,000 troops.[27] They occupied Bình Nguyên province (southeast Yunnan andHà Giang province), stationed there and waited for the Lý reinforcement were coming. Lý Thái Tổ sent an army and crushed the rebels. Dali generalYang Zhanghe was captured. Peace was restore in mountainous border next few years.[citation needed]
The Lý had trade relationships withChampa and fought them in 2 battles in 1044 and 1069 ofCham-Vietnamese wars.[2]

The main religion of the Lý dynasty wasBuddhism.[28] The first Ly emperor was a Buddhist monk, and was patroned by Buddhist leaders. Ly emperors were fundraisers and sponsors of the BuddhistSangha. Buddhism became thestate religion as members of the imperial family and the nobility made pilgrimages, supported the building ofpagodas, sometimes even enteredmonastic life, and otherwise took an active part in Buddhist practices. The kingdom was governed according to Buddhist ideas and laws.[29] Emperors built pagodas to commemorate military victories, such as whenLý Thường Kiệt had defeated theSong, the Bao An pagoda was built to show gratitude for the Buddha.[28]
Along with Buddhism, the emperors also participated in other religious ceremonies involving local spirits, gods of Indra and Brahma. Shrines were built dedicating to theTrung sisters and the king-of-kingPhung Hung.[29]Monastic members became a privileged landed class, exempt from taxes and military duty. A stone inscription dated 1209 from Bao An Temple retells the emperor donated 126 acres of land to the clergy, three to pagoda keepers and spiritual festivals.[30] Other inscriptions and runic stones also describe the important role of Buddhism in the monarchy and Vietnamese society.[30]
Emperor Lý Thánh Tông ordered theTemple of Literature to be built, and commissioned the statues of theDuke of Zhou andConfucius.[17]
The Emperor wore a golden robe, purple trousers and wore his hair in a bun fastened with a golden brooch. The court officials and aristocrats wore a dark tunic having four flaps, closely buttoned collar, dark trousers, and wore a bun with an iron brooch. On their heads they wore a black gauze chuddar and peaked cap. They also wore leather sandals and carried fans of stork feathers. The military uniforms were “dau mau” cap covering the ears, knee-length tunic, neatly sewn sleeves tightly fitted around the wrist. The whole of the frock was covered with small pieces of armor plate full of spiral designs, or patterns of multiple large petalled flowers at the chest. In addition, there were patterns of parallel curved brims or spiral designs below which hung small bells, drooping fringes, and finally a line of bells. For some other kinds of frocks, the shoulder straps were adorned with bells, and the two shoulder bands and waistband decorated with tiger-face designs. The surface of the frock was decorated with prominent small multi-petalled flowers. The fabric had a tiled or scaled pattern, which might have been embroidered or woven into the fabric. A waistband made of cloth was tied with the ends dropping to the front. If a leather waistband was worn, it would be tightly fastened around the belly to reveal the body muscles. The boots reached up to the knee and were simply decorated.
Female dancers had a “skyward” bun, a decorative fringe of hair on the forehead, with flowers adorning the hair. They wore bracelets, strings of beads, as well as multi-pleated short skirts. The musician's costumes were quite original. A cap fully covered the hair, with a high and zigzag-fringed top. The inner shirt was with long sleeves, tight at the wrist. Added to that, there was a short-sleeved shirt, with vân kiên shards. They wore wide embroidered and fringed strips of cloth around the waist. On their calves were leggings, and covering the feet were pointed-toe canvas shoes.
Tattooing remained a custom during this period, a common practice for the King and his soldiers as well. The Imperial Guards tattooed distinctive marks on their chest and legs, as well as dragon patterns. Similar to the Anterior Lê Dynasty, they would brand the three words Thiên tử quân on the forehead. The armor of military leaders was also decorated with attached bells, which signaled that they were highly grateful to their benefactors. This was done in a spirit of national pride and the continuing development of traditional customs. There is a special statue from this period which shows a very refined dress style. The Buddha Amitabha statue, sometimes known as Buddhalokanatha statue, in Phật Tích Pagoda is a breathtakingly beautiful stone sculpture with sophisticated costuming. The ritual robe has curved, straight, zigzag or drooping fringes which make it full of movement. The robe's pleats rise like the veins of a lotus leaf, closely fitted to the body, and drop either vertically as a spring stream, or pliantly like waves in the ocean, even expanding horizontally in a gentle way. Although the statue is made of stone, the above features show that the robe was broad and made of smooth and delicate fabrics. The inner garment, a kind of tunic has a broad collar with crossed edges. The sleeves are very wide. The waistband, worn outside the tunic is tied into the shape of a horizontal Figure 8, with dropping straps.
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