Top Temple in Vietnam

8/3/2019 Top Temple in Vietnam

1/6

Top temple in Vietnam

Temple of Literature Hanoi

Temple of Literature (Vietnamese: Vn Miu is a temple of Confucius in Vietnam. Although

several Vn Miu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that

situated in the city of Hanoi, which also functioned as Vietnam's first university. It is featured on

the back of the one hundred thousand Vietnamese ng bank notes

The landmark was founded in 1070 as a Confucian temple. Only parts of the Vn Miu complex

date back to the earliest period, although much of the architecture dates to the L (1010 1225)

and Trn (1225 1400) Dynasties.

In 1076 Vietnam's first university, the Quc T Gim or Imperial Academy, was established

within the temple to educate Vietnam's bureaucrats, nobles, royalty and other members of theelite. The university functioned for more than 700 years, from 1076 to 1779. Given the extreme

difficulty of the doctor laureate tests, few students passed final examinations. The list of names

engraved on the stone stele every year during this period is very small. The stele records 2,313

students graduating as doctor laureates.

Emperor L Thnh Tng established the tradition, dating back to 1484, of carving the names of

the laureates of the university on stone steles that were placed on top of stone tortoises. Of the

116 steals corresponding to the examinations held between 1142 and 1778, only 82 remain.

According to the book the Complete History of the Great Viet, "In the autumn of the year Canh

Tuat, the second year of Than Vu (1070), in the 8th lunar month, during the reign of King Ly

Thanh Tong, the Temple of Literature was built. The statues of Confucius, his four best

disciples: Yan Hui (Nhan Uyn), Zengzi (Tng Sm), Zisi (T T), and Mencius (Mnh T), as

well as the Duke of Zhou (Chu Cng), were carved and 72 other statues of Confucian scholars

were painted. Ceremonies were dedicated to them in each of the four seasons. The Crown

Princess studied here."

This ancient Confucian sanctuary is now considered one of Hanoi's finest historical sites. The

temple is based on Confucius' birthplace at Qufu in the Chinese province of Shandong. It


2/6

consists of five courtyards lined out in order, entrance to the first, via the impressive twin-tiered

Vn Miu gate, leads to three pathways that run the length of the complex.

The centre path was reserved for the king, the one to its left for administrative Mandarins and the

one to its right for military Mandarins. The first two courtyards are peaceful havens of ancient

trees and well-trimmed lawns where scholars could relax away from the bustle of the city outside

the thick stone walls.

Entrance to the third courtyard is through the dominating Khu Vn Cc (constellation of

literature), a large pavilion built in 1802. Central to this courtyard is the Thien Quang Tinh

("Well Of Heavenly Clarity"), either side of which stand two great halls which house the true

treasures of the temple. These are 82 stones steles. Another 34 are believed to have been lostover the years. They sit upon stone turtles and are inscribed with the names and birth places of

1306 men who were awarded doctorates from the triennial examinations held here at the Quc

T Gim ("Imperial Academy") between 1484 and 1780, after which the capital was moved to

Hu.

The fourth courtyard is bordered on either side by great pavilions which once contained altars of

72 of Confucius' greatest students but now contain offices, a gift shop and a small museum

displaying ink wells, pens, books and personal artifacts belonging to some of the students that

studied here through the years. At the far end of the courtyard is the altar with statues of

Confucius and his four closest disciples. The fifth courtyard contained the Quc T Gim,

Vietnam's first university, founded in 1076 by King Ly Can Duc, but this was destroyed by

French bombing in 1947.

The complex has undergone much restoration work, most recently in 1920 and again in 1954, but

remains one of the few remaining examples of later L Dynasty (1009-1225) architecture within

easy walking distance of Ba Dinh square.

One Pillar Pagoda - Chua Mot Cot


3/6

Close-by the impressive presidential palace is a treasure and a landmark of Ha Noi. It appears

somewhat bizarre, but is a small and fine gem: the Mt Ct Pagoda (One-Pillar Pagoda). The

name is immediately evident; its second name is Pagoda of the goddess Quan m. Quan m is

the goddess of the mercy. According to the legend the goddess Quan m appear to King L Thi

Tng (1000 - 1054) in a dream. The king was already old and still childless and sought a

successor. In the dream Quan m handed him a son while seated on a lotus flower. The king

then took a farmer girl as concubine and had a son by her, who is the long desired successor to

the throne forecasted by the goddess. Deeply gratefully L Thi Tng built in the year 1049 the

Mt Ct Pagoda in honors of the goddess of mercy. As the name suggests the pagoda stands on

one pillar in the middle of an artificial square lake. In the season, the lake is covered by lotus

flowers. The pagoda itself is wooden and about 3 x 3 meters. Inside resides a statue of Quan m.

In the course of its 1000 year history this pagoda was destroyed and rebuilt - many times. TheFrench occupation army last destroyed it shortly before quitting Viet Nam. In 1955 it was

again reconstructed, this time unfortunately! - with a concrete pillar instead of the original

wooden pillar. Unfortunately? It could be seen as the pragmatic Vietnamese attempt to connect

the tradition with the modernity. Whether concrete or wood, the Bodhisattva Quan m will

continue to be admired here as child-bringing goddess. This delicate pagoda is worth a visit

anyway.

Do Temple

Location: Located in Dinh Bang Village, Tu Son Town, Bac Ninh Province, 15km from Hanoi.

Characteristics: Do Temple worship the eight Kings of Ly Dynasty and is famous for its unique

architecture.

Formerly, the Do Temple was famous for its architecture, highly praised through the verses:

"The architecture of the Do Temple is marvelous,

Worthy to the thousand-year-old history of Thang Long"

Do Temple was built during the Le Dynasty and has been altered several times since. The major

reconstruction took place under the reign of Le Trung Hung, in the 17th century.


4/6

In front of the Temple lies a semi-circular lake, with clear and full water all the year round. The

lake is connected with two ponds at both ends of the village, with the Tieu Tuong River in front

of the village. In the center of the lake stands a square house reserved for water puppetry

performances with two beautiful tiered roofs. To the south of the lake, there is a huge pavilion to

preserve stone slabs inscribed with the merits of the eight kings of Ly Dynasty, and to the north

of the lake, a 5-compartment floating house for visitors to take a rest.

The Temple's gate includes five doors made of hard wooden plates assembled together and

carved on top images of dragons waiting upon the moon. When the door opens, its two leaves are

wide apart, and the two dragons on top of the doors seem to be soaring. On day, the dragons'

eyes when catching the light shine like gemstones. Along the three-step staircase, are carved two

stone dragons with clouds around, on a green stone floor, symbolizing the Thang Long (SoaringDragon) Capital.

Passing the gate and a large yard, a green stone paved road leads visitors to a square house, with

eight tiered roofs and three compartments, 70m2 in area. Then there is a 7-compartment front

worship house, 220m2 in area, whose front walls are hung with two big posters displaying

capital letters: "Eight Kings together brightening" and "Co Phap Commune - a foundation of the

Ly Dynasty".

Then a three-compartment house, 80m2 in area, with eight tiered roofs. These three

compartments are spacious and ventilated and on the axis leading to the Co Phap ancient back

pavilion, 180m2 in area, and with the floor space in the shape of a Cong letter...

Different parts of the Do Temple are being restored one after another by skilful craftsmen. A

rolling of drumbeats was suddenly heard, signaling the start of a procession to bring the tablet of

King Ly Thai To from the Do Temple to the Ung Tam Pagoda where the King's mother was

worshipped for a reunion of the King and his mother. The procession was attended by a thousand

of people, who expressed the spirit of the Vietnamese, i.e. "when drinking the water, think of its

source".


5/6

Thien Mu Pagoda

Location: Thien Mu Pagoda is situated on Ha Khe Hill, on the left bank of the Perfume River, in

Huong Long Village, 5km from center of Hue City.

Characteristic: It was built in 1601, and then Lord Nguyen Phuc Tan had it renovated in 1665. In

1710, Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu had a great bell cast (2.5m high; 3,285kg) and in 1715, he had a

stele (2.58m high) erected on the back of a marble tortoise.

The name of the pagoda comes from a legend: a long ago, an old woman appeared on the hill

where the pagoda stands today. She told local people that a Lord would come and build a

Buddhist pagoda for the country's prosperity. Lord Nguyen Hoang, on hearing that, ordered the

construction of the pagoda of the "Heavenly Lady".

Several kings of the Nguyen Dynasty such as Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri and Thanh Thai,

all had the pagoda restored. Phuoc Duyen Tower (at first called Tu Nhan Tower) was erected in

1884 by King Thieu Tri. This octagonal tower has seven storeys (21m high). Dai Hung shrine,

the main-hall, presents a magnificent architecture. As well as bronze cast statues, it shelters some

precious antiques: the bronze gong cast in 1677, the wooden gilded board with Lord Nguyen

Phuc Chu's inscriptions (1714). On both sides of the pagoda are a room for the bonzes and a

guest-room for visitors.

The pagoda is surrounded by flowers and ornamental plants. At the far end of the garden

stretches a calm and romantic pine-tree forest. The pagoda was heavily damaged in 1943. Bonze

Thich Don Hau hence organized a great renovation of the pagoda that lasted for more than 30

years.

Thien Hau Temple in Hochiminh city

Cha B Thin Hu (The Pagoda of the Lady Thien Hau) is a Chinese style temple located on

Nguyen Trai Street in the Cho Lon (Chinatown) district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is

dedicated to Thin Hu, the Lady of the Sea ("Tian Hou" as transcribed from the Chinese), who

is also known as "Mazu".

Contents


6/6

Thin Hu is a deity of traditional Chinese religion, who is revered in the southern maritime

provinces of China and in overseas Chinese communities. Thin Hu is worshipped in the

seafaring Chinese communities of Fukien, Canton, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. She is not

specifically a deity of Taoism or of Buddhism, though she has been brought into connection with

figures and themes from Taoism and Buddhism. For example, at Quan Am Pagoda, also in Cho

Lon, Ho Chi Minh City, the two major altars are dedicated respectively to Thin Hu and to

Quan m (the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara).

The temple is located right on busy Nguyen Trai Street. It can be accessed by entering through

an iron gate and crossing a small courtyard. The roof is decorated with small delicately fashioned

porcelain figurines expressing themes from Chinese religion and legends. Lanterns and woodenmodels of Chinese theaters hang over the entrance.

The interior of the temple is actually a partially covered courtyard, at the end of which is the altar

to Thin Hu. The exposed portions of the courtyard contain incense burners, and open the view

to the remarkable porcelain dioramas that decorate the roof. The dioramas show scenes from a

19th century Chinese city, and include such colorful figures as actors, demons, animals, and

Persian and European sailors and traders. In one scene, actors depict a duel on horseback battle

between the revered halberd-wielding general Guan Yu of the novel Three Kingdoms and

another fighter. Another scene depicts the three Taoist sages representing longevity, fecundity

and prosperity.

The altar to Thin Hu is dominated by the three statues of the goddess. The faces are bronze in

color, and the clothes and crowns are multi-colored. Incense burners are all about.

This article written by Lanh Nguyen from Vietnam Heritage Travel

For original article, please visit:

http://vietnamheritagetravel.com/news/1393-top-temple-in-vietnam.html

Vietnam Package Tour

Documents

Top Temple in Vietnam