The pagoda is located in Thai Lac village, Lac Hong commune, Van Lam district. Apart from worshipping Buddhist, the pagoda also worships Phap Van (Cloud legend) so it is called Phap Van Tu, or Phap Van pagoda....
Built in Tran dynasty (1225-1400), the pagoda was renovated in 1609, 1612, 1630- 1636, 1691-1703. The contemporary architecture is square structure inside and I-shaped outside (Noi cong ngoai quoc) including Tien duong with 5 rooms, 3 rooms of Thuong dien, 2 corridors with 9 rooms in each side, the ancestor house with 7 rooms.
Thai Lac pagoda still kept the wooden king post in the middle room of Thuong dien with intact Tran dynasty’s architecture. This structure is rare in Vietnam. Apart from Thai Lac pagoda, it can be seen in Dau pagoda and Boi Khe pagoda. The king post set is structured with 4 rows of pillars. The kingpost is combined between architecture and decoration. There are big carvings on the pillars. There used to be 20 carvings in different themes, now there are 16. The plate is carved the Goddess with human head and bird body. The pillars are carved statues lifting the lotus pedestal. Joinery panels are decorated with goddess theme. Surroundings are goddesses riding the phoenix, playing the flute and two-stringed fiddle. In another place, the Goddesses are playing the flute and musical instruments. There is a Goddess of human head and bird body taking flowers. The unique thing is the carving of the orchestra playing the musical instrument. All are valuable artworks and materials that help us learn more about ancient music of our ancestors. These patterns represent Vietnamese society in Tran dynasty with Dong A spirit that helped the country defeat Nguyen Mong invaders three times. Carvings in Thai Lac pagoda in the eyes of people emerge as an aesthetic and complete masterpiece.
Thai Lac pagoda is one of four pagodas worshipping Tu Phap (Phap Van, Phap Vu, Phap Loi, Phap Dien) in Lac Hong commune. There now remains Tu Phap statues in these pagodas that are said to be made of red mulberry taken from Dau pagoda, Bac Ninh province. This is the system of Tu Phap statues represented natural forces such as cloud, rain, thunder, lightning that are typical materials in rice civilization. This is one of forms worshipping agricultural legends when the agricultural life depends totally on nature.
Among traditional wooden architecture in Vietnam, especially religious buildings such as communal temple, temple, pagoda, shrine, sculpture is one of the most important factors creating the beauty for the building. Perforation technique on the surface enables light provision from nature or light incense creating bright and dark zones. Wooden kingposts in Tran dynasty are in the moderate size, are connected by horizontal and vertical beams to form a solid frame to bear all physical forces from the roof. Especially on the first sentence, a gong rack is attached in the middle. Unlike former architecture, it is short, not hollow in the middle but attached with a wooden piece that is carved a sharp flame in the end. This piece has no role in the whole structure. It may be attached here for decoration purpose.
Thai Lac pagoda preserves Phap Van statue, three worship pedestal and three stone boards recording renovation history. All dated back in 16th and 17th century. In 1964, Thai Lac pagoda was recognized as the specially important art and architectural relic.
