Phúc Lâm Temple – Thượng Lâm

About

Phúc Lâm Temple in Nà Tông village stands amid the mountains and fields of Thượng Lâm. Modest in scale, it preserves architectural traces, devotional statues and the long-standing religious practices of upland communities.

Visitor information

Founded

Archaeological remains date to the Trần dynasty, in the 13th–14th centuries.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours may change with the temple’s practice schedule; please ask the temple before your visit.

Fees

No fee has been confirmed by the temple. Please check notices at the site; external services may be charged separately.

Address

Thôn Nà Tông, xã Thượng Lâm, tỉnh Tuyên Quang; khu vực Lâm Bình trước đây.

Highlights

• ✓Remains of a Trần-period temple
• ✓Plain wooden devotional statues
• ✓Old column bases and architectural materials
• ✓The landscape of Nà Tông village, Thượng Lâm

History and origins

Stone column bases, terracotta tower fragments and reliefs on the temple foundations enabled researchers to identify Trần-period remains from the 13th–14th centuries. The old buildings changed over time; residents rebuilt a place of worship on the former foundations to sustain religious practice.

Architecture & surroundings

The former temple foundations show a 丁-shaped plan comprising a front hall and upper sanctuary. Today’s small temple faces the Nà Tông fields, with mountains behind. Plain wooden statues and lotus-carved column bases are notable features, expressing the accessible visual character of upland art.

Cultural value

Alongside Buddhist worship, the site is connected with indigenous beliefs and community life in Thượng Lâm. Stories of the mountains and a flock of phoenixes belong to local legend; they are valued as cultural memory rather than used in place of evidence for historical dating.

Events & festivals

Around the full moon of the first lunar month, the Lồng Tông festival in Thượng Lâm is associated with local people visiting the temple to pray for peace and good harvests. Please consult the programme published locally for the time and place of each activity.