Buzz
Right in the heart of Hanoi, there are over 100 temples, large and small, interspersed throughout the bustling streets and neighborhoods. Despite this, the temples still retain their original charm.
Below are some typical temples in Hanoi.
Quan Su Pagoda
Quan Su Pagoda is located at 73 Quan Su Street, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District. Previously, this area belonged to Yen Tap village, Tho Xuong district, Phung Thien prefecture. The pagoda worships Buddha and the national teacher of the Ly dynasty, Nguyen Minh Khong.
In 1943, the Northern Buddhist Association established its headquarters at Quan Su Pagoda. In 1942, the pagoda was rebuilt in its current architectural style and interior decoration. The pagoda has a large architectural scale, with a three-tiered roof entrance, and a bell tower in the middle.
Passing through the triple gate to a spacious brick-paved courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard stands a tall square main hall, surrounded by corridors. On both sides and behind are rows of buildings used as libraries, lecture halls, guesthouses, and monk quarters. Quan Su Pagoda is now the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Lang Pagoda (Chieu Thien Tu)
Lang Pagoda was built during the reign of King Ly Than Tong (1128-1138) to worship Tu Dao Hanh, a highly accomplished monk, famous during the Ly dynasty. The pagoda was established on the old land of Tu Dao Hanh's parents, Tu Vinh and Nguyen Thi Loan, in the area of Yen Lang village, also known as Lang village hence named Lang Pagoda.
According to tradition, when the monk Tu Dao Hanh attained enlightenment, he reincarnated and resided at Sai Son Pagoda (now known as Thay Pagoda) in Quoc Oai district. He was then reborn as Sung Hien, a servant of Duke Duong Hoan, the younger brother of King Ly Nhan Tong. Since King Ly Nhan Tong had no sons, he appointed Sung Hien's son, Duong Hoan, as the Crown Prince. Later, this son became the king, known as Ly Than Tong. Due to this legend, both Lang Pagoda and Thay Pagoda worship Tu Dao Hanh and King Ly Than Tong.
Lang Pagoda is built on a spacious land plot with many ancient trees, long considered the foremost monastic complex of the capital city Thang Long. From the Ly dynasty to the present day, the pagoda has undergone many renovations but still retains its ancient charm.
Inside the pagoda, there are many ancient worship objects, numerous Buddha statues, including a statue of King Ly Than Tong, and notably a statue of Tu Dao Hanh made not from wood or stone but woven from bamboo and painted on the outside. Previously, the pagoda also preserved a bronze scripture book, believed to be used by King Ly Nhan Tong for chanting during his reign.
Dong Bridge Pagoda
The pagoda, originally named 'Dong Hoa Mon Tu,' stretches across the To River to the east of the ancient Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Today, the pagoda is located at 38B Hang Duong Street, Hang Dao Ward, in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. This street, 180 meters long, belongs to the territories of two ancient villages. The upper section belongs to Vinh Thai Village, while the lower section belongs to Dong Hoa Mon Village.
Dong Bridge Pagoda was constructed during the Le dynasty (17th century). In the sixth year of Vinh To reign (1624), the pagoda underwent renovations and expansions. It was further renovated in 1639, 1711, and 1816.
The pagoda maintains its ancient architectural style. The triple gate features a high loft for the bell tower. The main pagoda is in the shape of a nail, adorned with tiger carvings, dragons swirling amidst clouds, and floral patterns in the 17th-century sculptural style.
The pagoda houses 60 ancient statues, with the most notable being the Tuyet Son (Snow Mountain), Di Lac (Laughing Buddha), and the set of Tam The (Three Deities), all of which are highly valued artifacts. Additionally, there are four stone steles dated 1624, 1639, 1711, and 1816. The 1624 stele, titled Dong Mon Tu Monument (an inscription about Dong Mon Pagoda), erected by the monk Nguyen Van Hiep, recounts his efforts to purchase additional land to expand the temple grounds and extend the pagoda.
Furthermore, the pagoda houses an ancient bronze bell from the Tay Son period in 1800, bearing the reign title Canh Thinh the Eighth. The bell's inscription begins with the words: 'An Nam country, Phung Thien prefecture, Tho Xuong district, Dong Hoa Mon Interior Pagoda,' and indicates: 'This ancient temple is called Dong Bridge, located by the riverbank, with the To River to the left and the Hoa River to the right.'
This note accurately corresponds to the current location of the pagoda. (Hoa Gate, also known as Dong Hoa Gate, is located near the intersection of Hang Vai and Bat Su streets). Inside the pagoda, to the left of the rear hall, there are altars dedicated to the Tran Thu Do and his wife. Thus, this place is unique in Hanoi for worshiping the founding figures of the Tran dynasty. Dong Bridge Pagoda has become part of a folk verse:
'Dong Bridge echoes the temple bell's sound,
Moonlight shines on the candlelight, while the breeze carries the scent of incense.
Outside, there's Hang Duong Street...'
In 1989, the pagoda was recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a historical and cultural relic.
Ngu Xa Pagoda
Ngu Xa Pagoda, also known as Thanh Quang Pagoda, was constructed during the late 18th century of the Later Lê dynasty (1428-1788). In the past, the pagoda was situated in the Ngu Xa village, a peninsula by Truc Bach Lake, renowned for its bronze casting craft belonging to Thuan Thanh district, Vinh Thuan province, within Thang Long citadel. Today, it's located at 44 Ngu Xa Street, Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
Besides worshipping Buddha, Ngu Xa Pagoda also honors the monk Nguyen Minh Khong, traditionally known as the ancestor of the bronze casting profession. Here, there's only one large statue of Amitabha Buddha, cast in 1952.
The construction of the pagoda's foundation began on Buddha's Birthday (8th day of the 4th lunar month) in 1949. It was inaugurated on the same day in 1952. The statue stands nearly 4 meters tall, with a circumference measuring up to 11.6 meters. The entire statue weighs 10 tons of bronze. Additionally, the lotus pedestal, consisting of 76 petals, also utilized 1.6 tons of bronze. The Amitabha Buddha statue at Ngu Xa Pagoda is a masterpiece of handmade bronze casting in Hanoi.
Ngu Xa Pagoda is one of three temples in Hanoi reconstructed during the 1940s and 1950s using modern materials (cement, steel), yet it still retains the classic Vietnamese temple architecture (the other two temples are Quan Su Pagoda, rebuilt in 1942, and Hung Ky Pagoda, constructed in 1933).
The pagoda was recognized as a historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information on May 11, 1993.
Hoe Nhai Pagoda
Hoè Nhai Pagoda, also known as Hong Phuc Pagoda, is now located at 19 Hang Than Street, Nguyen Trung Truc Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. This is an ancient temple, believed to have originated from the Ly dynasty, undergoing major renovations in 1687, 1899, and 1952.
The front part houses the main hall, while the rear part comprises the ancestral hall and monk quarters, surrounded by corridors. Within the temple, there are several ancient stone steles, the oldest of which dates back to the 24th year of Chinh Hoa (1703), indicating the temple's location in Hoe Nhai ward, at Dong Bo Dau, also known as Ben Dong. It is this stele that modern historians use to pinpoint the site of the victorious battle on January 29, 1258, where the Tran dynasty's army repelled the invaders, liberating the capital near the present-day Hoe Nhai Pagoda.
Nguyên, giải phóng kinh thành có vị trí ở khu vực gần chùa Hoè Nhai ngày nay.
The temple houses 36 ancient statues, with the oldest being the Nine Dragons (Buddha's birth) statue and the most remarkable being a Buddha statue sitting on the back of a prostrated king.
Hoè Nhai Pagoda is the 'ancestral home' of the Tào Động sect, one of the two major sects of Zen Buddhism in Northern Vietnam.
In 1962, the Hanoi Buddhist Association erected the Quang Seal Tower here to commemorate Venerable Thich Quang Duc, who meditated at the Quang Seal Pagoda in Saigon and self-immolated on June 11, 1963, in protest against the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem in the South.
The temple was recognized as a historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture on January 21, 1989.
Kim Lien Pagoda
The pagoda is situated on the land of Nghi Tam village, on the shores of West Lake, now part of Nghi Tam ward, Tay Ho district. According to tradition, the site of the pagoda was the former grounds of Tu Hoa Palace dating back to the Ly dynasty. Princess Tu Hoa, daughter of King Ly Than Tong (1128-1138), brought palace maids here to plant mulberries, raise silkworms, and establish the Tam Tang camp (silkworm mulberry camp). This camp later became known as Nghi Tam ward.
The pagoda dates back to the 17th century. According to the inscription still present in the pagoda, it was originally named Dai Bi and was built in 1631. Seven years later, the people contributed to expand the temple grounds further. In 1771, Lord Trinh dismantled Bao Lam Pagoda in the western part of the capital to renovate this temple and renamed it Kim Lien Pagoda.
The name Kim Lien dates back to then, but the appearance of the pagoda as it is today is from its renovation in 1792, featuring a 'tam' shape with three tiers, each tier with two curved rafters, giving it a soft and graceful look.
Within the pagoda lies a precious statue that historians are deeply interested in: a middle-aged figure with a three-part beard, wearing a cassock, holding a container, and wearing a hat reserved for noble officials. Some claim it is a statue of Lord Trinh, while others believe it represents a caretaker monk of the temple, originally a resident monk within the Trinh Lord's palace.
Apart from this statue (which dates back more than two hundred years), in the middle chamber of the temple, there is a horizontal lacquered board named 'Hoang Uan' (meaning: Profound and extensive doctrine) made in 1870. Another horizontal board named 'Lien Hoa Hai Hoi' (meaning: Picturesque and harmonious scene of Buddha's water) was made in 1930.
In the book 'Vietnamese Culture Compilation 1989-1995' published by the Central Cultural and Artistic Committee, Kim Lien Pagoda was evaluated as one of the ten most outstanding ancient architectural relics in Vietnam.
Lien Phai Pagoda
In the heart of Hanoi's inner city, there is an alley named Lien Phai Pagoda Alley. This leads to the ancient and venerable Lien Phai Pagoda. On either side of the gate are two large ponds. Right at the temple gate stands a 10-story Dieu Quang tower. Next is a house of inscriptions with a stone tablet recounting the legend of the pagoda.
Beyond the spacious courtyard is the main hall, followed by the rear hall. A flower garden separates the rear hall from the ancestral hall. The pagoda houses 15 statues. What makes Lien Phai Pagoda a historical landmark is the garden of stupas behind the temple.
There, on a high mound, are 9 towers arranged in 3 rows: the first row has two towers, the middle row has five towers, and the rear row has two towers. The tallest tower in the middle row is the Cuu Sinh stupa made of stone, which is where the remains of the first patriarch, and the founder of Lien Phai Pagoda, Monk Trinh Thap, are enshrined.
The legend of the patriarch Trinh Thap goes as follows: Trinh Thap (or Hop, born in 1696, died in 1733) was a nobleman of the Trinh family who established his own mansion in Hong Mai Ward (now Bach Mai). Once, while digging the soil on a high hill behind his house to build a reservoir, Trinh Thap discovered a stone resembling a lotus bud in the earth. He interpreted it as a sign of Buddha and believed he had a connection with this religion.
Later, Trinh Thap converted his mansion into the Lien Tong Pagoda, shaved his head to become a monk, and became the first patriarch of this pagoda. He passed away at the age of 37, and his remains were interred in the tower built in the middle of the hill, where the lotus stone was found - this is the Cuu Sinh tower. According to an inscription still present in the pagoda dating back to 1857, the pagoda was built in 1726.
In the 19th century, Lien Tong Pagoda was renamed Lien Phai.
Thus, the pagoda has been standing for over 250 years, and the Cuu Sinh tower is just as old. This ancient tower has the clearest historical records and is currently located in the inner city of Hanoi.
The pagoda was recognized as a historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture on April 28, 1962.
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Source: Travel guide by Mytour – Author: Vietnamplus.
MytourJune 27, 2013
