Bat Trang pottery village is located along the Red River, in Gia Lam district, on the outskirts of Hanoi. Not only is it a famous traditional craft village, it also has a famous ceramic pagoda. The combination of ceramics of the craft village culture and spiritual architecture in Tieu Dao pagoda has brought unique beauty and preserved the soul of the traditional craft village.
The temple preserves the beauty of the pottery village
Tieu Dao Pagoda, Sino-Vietnamese name is Tieu Do Dao, this pagoda is located in Giang Cao village, Bat Trang commune, Gia Lam district, Hanoi, near the famous Bat Trang pottery village, about 10km southeast of Hanoi center. This location is not only convenient for tourists to travel and visit but also creates a harmonious combination between spiritual beauty and the unique features of traditional craft villages.
This is a unique ancient pagoda with restored ceramic architecture, demonstrating the cultural quintessence of Bat Trang ceramic village.
Bat Trang pottery village has two hamlets, Giang Cao and Bat Trang. This is the oldest and most famous pottery village in Vietnam. The ceramic pagoda - Tieu Dao Pagoda, was built on the land of Giang Cao hamlet. The pagoda has existed for a long time. Before 1945, Tieu Dao Pagoda was a place to hide documents and newspapers of the Party, and a place where many revolutionary cadres traveled. It was here that the late musician Van Cao traveled to do revolutionary activities and his song "Tien Quan Ca" was hidden and spread from here.
After many ups and downs and events, many of the pagoda's structures were no longer intact. In 2011, when monk Thich Bao Duc returned to preside over the pagoda, he and the Buddhists in the village restored the pagoda with the idea of incorporating the quintessence of the pottery village into the spiritual architecture, creating a unique cultural identity for the pagoda.
This is an ancient temple, restored with ceramics to create a unique ceramic work.
The impressive highlight is the system of worship statues at the Ancestral Temple, the Mother Temple, the Eighteen Arhats Temple and Son Trang Cave, all of which are made of ceramic. Up to now, Tieu Dao Pagoda is proud to own 78 “ceramicized” statues, proving the talent of Bat Trang artisans.
Many worship statues are made by the hands of artisans from Bat Trang pottery village.
Unique architecture attracts many visitors
From the outside, Tieu Dao Pagoda has a distinct impression when the three-entrance gate is covered with ceramic, the roof of the gate is made of red baked ceramic. The decorative details of the gate pillars are meticulously assembled from thousands of small ceramic pieces, especially the two reliefs of unicorns flying in the clouds. The name of the pagoda and the parallel sentences on the gate pillars are also assembled from indigo ceramic pieces. Especially, the two Tibetan prayer wheels placed on both sides of the main gate, are meticulously crafted from small pieces of yellow, orange, green ceramic and placed on a turntable that can rotate 180 degrees. The ceramic statues of monks stand interwoven with the rows of green trees leading to the temple yard.
Delicate decorative patterns, depicted with the quintessence of Vietnamese culture
Tieu Dao Pagoda is a masterpiece of traditional Vietnamese architecture, skillfully combined with the typical ceramic art of Bat Trang craft village. The entire temple grounds are designed in balance, bringing a sense of serenity, solemnity but no less artistic.
A feeling of peace and serenity pervades the temple.
Through the three-door gate, the main courtyard of the pagoda opens up to an impressive space with two shrines for 18 Arhats. Each Arhat statue is entirely crafted from ceramic, standing out against a ceramic painting that vividly depicts the scene of clouds and mountains. Decorative details such as pillars, dragon and cloud motifs and flowers and leaves are all made from ceramic, demonstrating the skillful craftsmanship and exquisite creativity of the artisans.
The artisans of Bat Trang pottery village have devoted all their efforts and talents to create unique ceramic products.
From the main courtyard of Tieu Dao Pagoda, you will see the entrance to the main hall of the Tam Bao building. Standing out right in front is a painting of Om Mani, a sacred mantra, made from colorful ceramic pieces. This unique work is 2x2m in size, placed on a green ceramic step, creating harmony and impression. Surrounding it is a system of reliefs, patterns and Buddha statues also made entirely of ceramic. Even the steps leading to Tam Bao are paved with ceramic with delicate and characteristic lotus motifs.
Stepping inside, you will encounter a system of Buddha statues and altars, all of which are exquisite ceramic works of art. The altar is made from ceramic pieces shaped like dragons, clouds and flowers, bringing a lively and meaningful beauty. In particular, the two 2.5m high Dharma Protector statues, crafted from a single piece of ceramic, are a unique highlight. These statues took more than a year to complete.
In particular, at Tieu Dao Pagoda, all the statues inside the Ancestor Temple, Mother Temple, Eighteen Arhat Temple and Son Trang Cave are also ceramicized by the hands of famous artisans.
Behind the main hall is the Ancestral Temple, where four ceramic dragon statues from the Le Dynasty are placed right in front of the door. Inside the temple is a solemn space with 9 ceramic statues, in which the statue of Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong stands out in the center. On the altar are also two ceramic vases of "hundred blessings", a special gift from the people of Bat Trang craft village, showing respect and filial piety.
In addition to the main structures, the space and landscape at Tieu Dao Pagoda are meticulously cared for, creating harmony and impression. The brick walls bring a rustic, close feeling, while the temple yard and garden are designed with unique miniature landscapes. These miniature landscapes not only contribute to spreading the meaning of Buddhism but also create a peaceful, relaxing space, ideal for Buddhists and visitors to stop and admire.
The temple yard is also meticulously cared for. Each miniature landscape is designed and presented in association with Buddhism and traditional pottery making.
In particular, at Tieu Dao Pagoda, all the statues inside the Ancestral Temple, the Mother Temple, the Eighteen Arhats Temple and Son Trang Cave are also ceramicized by the hands of famous artisans in the village. There are unique statues, creating a unique traditional culture in the only ceramic craft village in the North.
Tieu Dao Pagoda is considered the "museum of the craft village"
The temple grounds are also meticulously cared for. Each miniature landscape is designed and displayed in association with Buddhism and traditional pottery making, especially the daily life of enlightened masters. With such unique details, Tieu Dao Pagoda is considered a “craft village museum”, where people and tourists can feel the serene beauty of traditional crafts.
