TL;DR: The Grand Memorial Ceremony for King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông's Parinirvana is held on the 1st day of the 11th lunar month each year, falling on December 20, 2025 (1/11 of the Ất Tỵ year) for the 717th commemoration. In 2025, the Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the Quảng Ninh provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Board held the Grand Ceremony at Cung Trúc Lâm, Yên Tử Monuments and Scenic Landscape, Yên Tử Ward, Quảng Ninh Province; one day earlier, on December 19 (30/10 lunar), the Quảng Ninh provincial Buddhist Sangha held a ceremony at Ngọa Vân Pagoda, An Sinh Ward. Rituals include incense offering, Buddha and Patriarch veneration, and stupa circumambulation at Hoa Yên Pagoda and Huệ Quang Kim Stupa. The ceremony is tied to Yên Tử because it is where He practiced, preached, and guided monks, while Ngọa Vân is where He passed away on 1/11 of the Mậu Thân year (1308), at age 51.
Memorial Great Ceremony for King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông's Entry into Nirvana (the 1st day of the eleventh lunar month): where is it held, what rituals does it include, and why is it tied to Yên Tử and Ngọa Vân?
What is the Memorial Great Ceremony for Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông's Entry into Nirvana?
The Memorial Great Ceremony for King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông's Entry into Nirvana is an annual memorial ceremony held exactly on the 1st day of the eleventh lunar month, the day the third king of the Tran dynasty passed away at Ngọa Vân hermitage. In 2025, the ceremony falls on 20 December on the solar calendar (that is, 1/11 of the lunar year Ất Tỵ) and is held at Cung Trúc Lâm, the Yên Tử Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex, Yên Tử ward, Quảng Ninh province, solemnly conducted by the Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in coordination with the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quảng Ninh province[1]. This is the 717th memorial, marking the span from 1308 to 2025 since the day He entered nirvana[1].
On the 1st day of the 11th month of the Mậu Thân year (1308), Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông passed away at Ngọa Vân hermitage, on Bảo Đài mountain, at the age of 51[3]. His relics were afterwards distributed for veneration at several sites, among them Ngọa Vân hermitage, Quỳnh Lâm pagoda (An Sinh ward) and Huệ Quang stupa (Yên Tử ward)[1].
Why is the ceremony tied to Yên Tử and Ngọa Vân?
The two places, Yên Tử and Ngọa Vân, correspond to two different stages in the Buddha Emperor's path of practice. Yên Tử is where He practiced, preached the Dharma and guided monks; Ngọa Vân is where He passed away, completing the whole process of practice and realization[1][3].
In the path of practice and entry into nirvana of King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông, Yên Tử is where He practiced, preached the Dharma and guided monks[1]. Ngọa Vân hermitage and pagoda is where He passed away, completing the whole process of practice and realization and becoming a Buddha on the 1st day of the 11th lunar month of 1308[1].
From the throne, He abdicated in favour of his son, left home to practice, unified the Zen lineages, and founded the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen school, a purely Vietnamese Zen lineage with an engaged outlook, joining the Way with life, turning Yên Tử into the Buddhist capital of the state of Đại Việt[1][2]. The founding of the Trúc Lâm Zen school here is mentioned only as a fact tied to the place, and is outside the scope of this article.
Where is the 2025 Great Ceremony held and what rituals does it include?
In 2025, the Great Ceremony is held at two main sites: Cung Trúc Lâm in the Yên Tử Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex (Yên Tử ward) on 20 December (that is, 1/11 lunar), and Ngọa Vân pagoda (An Sinh ward) on 19 December (that is, 30/10 lunar)[1].
On the morning of 20 December 2025 (that is, 1/11 lunar), at Cung Trúc Lâm, the Yên Tử Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex (Yên Tử ward), the Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in coordination with the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quảng Ninh province solemnly held the Great Ceremony commemorating 717 years since King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông entered Nirvana (1308-2025)[1]. Before that, on 19 December (that is, 30/10 lunar), at Ngọa Vân pagoda (An Sinh ward), the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quảng Ninh province held the Great Ceremony commemorating 717 years since King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông entered Nirvana[1].
As for the rituals, according to Nhân Dân newspaper's record of the 2023 ceremony, before the main day, the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quảng Ninh province solemnly held an incense-offering ceremony commemorating 715 years since King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông entered nirvana, together with rituals of offering to the Buddhas, offering to the Patriarchs, and a procession around the Buddha Emperor's stupa at Hoa Yên pagoda and Huệ Quang Kim stupa, part of the Ngọa Vân historical and cultural monument site, the Tran dynasty Special National Monument, Bình Khê commune, Đông Triều town[2]. These are rituals carried over through the years, conducted by the same presiding body.
At the 2025 Great Ceremony, the venerable clergy, monks, nuns and lay Buddhists reverently offered incense in memorial, expressing gratitude for the merits of King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông towards the Dharma and the nation; at the same time they prayed for national peace and public wellbeing, and to promote the spirit of national solidarity, religious harmony, and the preservation of the tradition of self-reliance and self-strengthening[1].
Table of ceremony sites according to the 2025 sources
| Ceremony site | Lunar date | Organising body | Rituals recorded in the source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cung Trúc Lâm, Yên Tử Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex, Yên Tử ward, Quảng Ninh province | 1/11 lunar (20 December 2025) | Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in coordination with the Executive Board of Quảng Ninh province | Incense offering in memorial, gratitude for merits, prayer for national peace and public wellbeing[1] |
| Ngọa Vân pagoda, An Sinh ward, Quảng Ninh province | 30/10 lunar (19 December 2025) | Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quảng Ninh province | Great memorial ceremony[1] |
| Hoa Yên pagoda and Huệ Quang Kim stupa (recorded at the 2023 ceremony, same presiding body) | Before the main day | Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quảng Ninh province | Incense offering in memorial, offerings to the Buddhas, offerings to the Patriarchs, procession around the Buddha Emperor's stupa[2] |
It should be noted that the table above combines two different ceremonies: the first two rows are facts from 2025[1], the third row is a fact from 2023[2]. Readers consulting it should check the correct year of the source, and not assume it extends to every year.
What heritage event is the 2025 ceremony tied to?
The 2025 Great Ceremony is held in a special context, tied to the event receiving the Certificate recognising the Yên Tử, Vĩnh Nghiêm, Côn Sơn, Kiếp Bạc Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex as a World Cultural Heritage, which takes place on the evening of 20 December at Minh Tâm square, Yên Tử ward, Quảng Ninh province[1][3].
The Yên Tử, Vĩnh Nghiêm, Côn Sơn, Kiếp Bạc Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex (including Yên Tử in Quảng Ninh, Vĩnh Nghiêm in Bắc Ninh, Côn Sơn and Kiếp Bạc in Hải Phòng) was officially recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage on 12 July 2025 at its 47th session[3]. This is Vietnam's 9th world heritage site, according to Tiền Phong newspaper[3].
The fact that the monument complex has just been inscribed by UNESCO continues to affirm the historical and cultural value and the enduring vitality of Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Buddhism in contemporary life, and also helps spread the image of Vietnam's land, people and cultural heritage to international friends[1].
What role does Cung Trúc Lâm play in the Great Ceremony?
Cung Trúc Lâm is a building inaugurated in connection with the 2023 Great Ceremony, and afterwards became the venue for the Great Ceremony in following years, including 2025[2][1].
The 2023 Great Ceremony for 715 years since King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông entered nirvana was tied to the inauguration of Cung Trúc Lâm Yên Tử, built at the old Giải Oan bus station in Thượng Yên Công commune, Uông Bí city (place names according to the 2023 source)[2]. According to this source, this is a cultural and spiritual building of great value, with a total construction area in phase I of more than 6,000m2 and a capacity of 5,000 people; the worship and interior sections are of lacquered and gilded wood in keeping with national cultural identity, in harmony with the Trúc Lâm Cultural and Festival Centre complex and the Yên Tử Monuments and Scenic Landscape complex[2]. The building is a place honouring the values of Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Buddhism, and a venue for memorial events, festivals, seminars and Buddhist cultural activities[2]. Funding for the construction came entirely from socialised sources mobilised by the Executive Board of the Buddhist Sangha of Quảng Ninh province and from donations by lay Buddhists, about 250 billion dong[2].
A distinction is needed: the figures for area, capacity and funding given above are data from the 2023 source, tied to phase I of the building, not updated figures for 2025.
Who attends and how do the rituals unfold?
Those attending the 2025 Great Ceremony include representatives of central and provincial leadership, the venerable Buddhist clergy, representatives of departments and sectors, a large number of monks, nuns and lay Buddhists, and pilgrims from everywhere[1].
Attending the Great Ceremony were Lại Xuân Môn, member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Head of the Central Commission for Propaganda and Mass Mobilisation; Nguyễn Thị Hạnh, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Quảng Ninh Provincial People's Committee, together with the venerable Buddhist clergy, representatives of departments and sectors, a large number of monks, nuns and lay Buddhists, and pilgrims from everywhere[1]. Most Venerable Thích Thanh Quyết, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Central Buddhist Education Board, Rector of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, delivered an address recalling the life and career of King and Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông and honouring his merits[1].
Also on 20 December 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Văn Chính and a government delegation climbed Yên Tử mountain to pay homage to the Buddha Emperor on the 717th anniversary of the day He entered nirvana[3]. At Huệ Quang Kim stupa, the Deputy Prime Minister struck the bell and offered incense to commemorate the merits of Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông in the cause of defending the Fatherland and founding the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen school[3].
During 20 December 2025, a very large number of monks, nuns, lay Buddhists, followers, local people and tourists from everywhere came to Yên Tử to pay homage to Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông[3]. Among them were many foreign visitors from China and South Korea[3]. According to this source, each year Yên Tử receives 1.5 to 2 million visitors, the largest numbers during the three festival months[3].
Why is the 1st day of the eleventh lunar month chosen as the day of the ceremony?
The day of the ceremony was not fixed later by any council, but is tied directly to the date of passing recorded in the historical sources: the 1st day of the 11th month of the Mậu Thân year (1308)[3].
By calendrical reckoning, the 1st day of the eleventh lunar month is a fixed point in the Vietnamese lunar calendar, while the corresponding solar date changes from year to year. In 2025, the 1st day of the eleventh lunar month falls on 20 December on the solar calendar, and the 30th day of the tenth lunar month falls on 19 December[1][3]. The number of memorials is calculated as the difference between the year of the ceremony and the year of entry into nirvana: 1308 to 2025 is 717 years[1]. This figure is correct only for the year the source records; other years must be recalculated by the same principle.
Legends and historical records around the entry into Nirvana
There are two layers of material to distinguish when studying the day of the ceremony. The first layer is historical records and accounts by agencies and researchers about the life and career of the Buddha Emperor. The second layer is the folk legends around the Yên Tử and Ngọa Vân area, which are retold on occasions such as the ceremony but have no value as historical proof.
National history records Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông as a wise ruler, national hero, cultural figure, great thinker and an enlightened practitioner, the founder of Trúc Lâm Buddhism, a Buddhist lineage deeply imbued with Vietnamese identity[1]. He is revered and honoured by generations of the people as the Buddha King of Vietnam[1]. He led the army and people of the Tran dynasty to defeat the invading Mongol Yuan forces twice, in 1285 and 1288, firmly protecting the land of Đại Việt[1][2].
In folk tradition, the legends around the peak of Ngọa Vân, Bảo Đài mountain and the hermitages and pagodas on the way up Yên Tử are often retold on pilgrimage occasions, tied to traces said to be linked to His steps in practice. These legends belong to the oral layer, and the historical sources do not use them as grounds for confirming events.
What do pilgrims seek at Yên Tử on the day of the ceremony?
Besides the official rituals conducted by the Sangha, the day of the ceremony is also an occasion for people and visitors to carry out personal practices: offering incense, worshipping the Buddhas, venerating the relics at Huệ Quang Kim stupa, and learning about the life of the Buddha Emperor[1][3].
According to Tiền Phong newspaper, people coming to Yên Tử not only express religious faith but also seek the core idea of "Buddha in the mind", that each person has Buddha nature within[3]. Huệ Quang Kim stupa on Yên Tử mountain is where the sacred relics of Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông are kept[3].
The idea of "Buddha in the mind" and the engaged spirit of "joining the Way with life" are the core content that the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử tradition claims to pursue[1][2]. This is how the Zen lineage itself and the sources introducing it understand matters, not an independent research conclusion about the effectiveness of practice.
Nhật Nguyệt's suggestions
Nhật Nguyệt's suggestions: if you want to attend the Great Ceremony in coming years, first determine the date of the 1st day of the eleventh lunar month of that year using a printed calendar or an independent date conversion table, because the corresponding solar date changes each year. Plan for two sites: the main ceremony at Cung Trúc Lâm, the Yên Tử Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex, and the ceremony at Ngọa Vân pagoda, because by the custom of 2025 these two sites hold their ceremonies one day apart, with Ngọa Vân before the main day[1]. On the day of the ceremony, the number of people coming to Yên Tử is very large, so arrange travel and accommodation early. If you have only one day, give priority to the main ceremony at Cung Trúc Lâm and to paying homage at Huệ Quang Kim stupa, where the Buddha Emperor's relics are kept[1][3].
Frequently asked questions
On what day is the Memorial Great Ceremony for Buddha Emperor Trần Nhân Tông's Entry into Nirvana held?
By the lunar calendar, the ceremony is held on the 1st day of the eleventh lunar month each year. In 2025, this day falls on 20 December on the solar calendar, and the ceremony at Ngọa Vân pagoda is held one day earlier, that is, 19 December[1].
Why is the ceremony tied to both Yên Tử and Ngọa Vân?
Because the two places correspond to two stages in the Buddha Emperor's path: Yên Tử is where He practiced, preached the Dharma and guided monks; Ngọa Vân is where He passed away on the 1st day of the 11th month of 1308[1][3].
Which memorial number is 2025?
2025 is the 717th memorial, counted from the entry into nirvana in 1308[1].
