These woodblocks contain inscriptions on nearly 250 red diospyros blocks recording contents of Buddhist scriptures, verses, notes and worshipping prose being held at Phuoc Lam pagoda (Hoi An, Quang Nam). 

For people of Hoi An, Phuoc Lam pagoda is not a strange place, because this is an ancient sacred temple built in eighteenth century and was classified as the national cultural and historical relic. However, people did not know about Phuoc Lam pagoda currently holding these precious woodblocks until recently. Instead of being carefully stored as somebody may think, these woodblocks are preserved in a glass case in the living room. Showing me the woodblocks, Venerable Thich Hanh Hoa, Abbot of Phuoc Lam pagoda said: "The woodblocks have been kept by the pagoda for nearly 300 years, and passed on through 14 abbots". 

Historically, Phuoc Lam pagoda is one of temples under the Chuc Thanh Rinzai sect in Hoi An, built nearly 300 years ago. It has many architectural and artistic values, including as horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, inscriptions, bronze bell ... However, the woodblocks meticulously carved and well-crafted is something making it special. The inscriptions carved upon red diospyros woodblocks with many sizes and different sizes of texts upon them, despite having undergone two millennia, are still clear. Texts on woodblocks were carved in both Han (old Chinese language) and Nom (old Vietnamese language) by the reverse engraving method. 

There are also woodblocks engraved, together with texts, with portraits of the Buddhas that looks lively, like sculptures of fine arts, representing talented artisans of ancient Vietnamese. Venerable Thich Hanh Hoa told that to serve the propagation of Dharma teachings, ancient people made inscriptions in these woodblocks of such Buddhist scriptures as Sam Buu, Buddha recitation for salvation,  the Lotus Sutra, Samantamukha (Pho Mon) ... and such mantras as Ten Mantras, Maha Karunika citta Dharani. In ancient times, this is a common way to store contents of Buddhist scriptures and Buddhist teachings. However, at present, there aren’t many temples still keeping this kind of woodblocks

"Woodblocks with carved Buddhist scriptures are still preserved in many places, but Phuoc Lam pagoda particularly still preserves woodblocks with carved prose regarding folk beliefs. Amongst 250 woodblocks, there are many woodblocks engraved with spell-related prose. These prose carved in woodblocks originate from the need of indigenous people because they were created from the interaction between Buddhism and part of Taoism used by magicians”, Abbot Thich Hanh Hoa explained. Because of special things in the scriptures carved in woodblocks held by Phuoc Lam pagoda, many people have come to the temple to make copies. "Before, there were magicians from the Ho Chi Minh City coming to the temple to revise and print the entire contents of proses in these woodblocks so as to make the application of them locally. Because there are many Buddhist texts and worshipping prose just kept in these woodblocks only", Venerable Thich Hanh Hoa added. 

Texts and amulets carved in the woodblocks

Because of these special values, Phuoc Lam Pagoda has kept these woodblocks very carefully for several hundreds of years, despite many disasters and the devastation of wars.   However, nearly 10% of 250 woodblocks engraved with Buddhist scriptures have been eaten by termites, making inscriptions’ content faded and unreadable.  

"In the past, these woodblocks were only placed like a wood-pile in a corner; for recently the woodblocks have been better preserved thanks to a glass case given by the Center for Hoi An heritage management", said Venerable Thich Hanh Hoa. 

Having so found, the woodblocks stored in Phuoc Lam pagoda have especially unique cultural, historical and artistic values. 

Hoang Anh (cadn.com.vn)