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Decoding the historical origins of Thang Nghiem Pagoda
According to the Complete Annals of Dai Viet, Thang Nghiem Pagoda was built during the reign of King Ly Thai To. After moving the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La (now Hanoi), King Ly Thai To ordered the construction of many Buddhist structures, including Thang Nghiem Pagoda.
Legend has it that before the construction of Thang Nghiem Pagoda, King Ly Thai To was sightseeing on the Nhue Giang River and saw an ancient temple hidden from view. After entering to worship Buddha, the king was impressed by the solemn scenery and the beautiful landscape resembling a flying dragon and dancing phoenix, so he named the place Trang Khuc Thuy and ordered the construction of Thang Nghiem Pagoda.
According to the Complete Annals of Dai Viet, Thang Nghiem Pagoda was built during the reign of King Ly Thai To.
According to folk legend, Thang Nghiem Pagoda was built very early, around 200 AD, by two Indian missionaries, Venerable Kim Quoc and Venerable Kim Trang, to spread Buddhism.
Throughout history, Thang Nghiem Pagoda has had many different names, such as: But Pagoda, Phap Vuong Pagoda (during the Dinh Dynasty), Thang Nghiem Pagoda (during the Ly Dynasty), Tri Long Pagoda, Tri Bong Pagoda (during the Tran Dynasty), Lien Tri Pagoda (during the Le Dynasty), and Phuc Dong Pagoda (during the Nguyen Dynasty). Today, locals often call it Khuc Thuy Pagoda because it is located in Khuc Thuy village.
A serene space and profound spiritual and cultural values.
During the two wars of resistance against France and the United States, Thang Nghiem Pagoda suffered severe damage. Most of the pagoda's architecture, artifacts, and documents were lost.
In 2010, Thang Nghiem Pagoda was rebuilt with a new, spacious, and modern appearance. The pagoda's exquisite architecture attracts a large number of tourists who come to visit and admire the scenery.
In 2010, Thang Nghiem Pagoda was rebuilt with a new, spacious, and modern appearance.
A place of peace for the soul
The temple impresses visitors with its dominant yellow color scheme, accented with brown and red details, creating a harmonious and solemn overall appearance. With its unique architectural beauty, tranquil atmosphere, and profound spiritual and cultural values, Thang Nghiem Temple has become a popular destination for tourists from all over.
Upon entering the temple gate, visitors will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the Three Treasures Hall. This is the main place of worship, featuring exquisitely crafted Buddha statues carved from jackfruit wood and gilded with gold leaf. Bearing the distinctive mark of Northern Vietnamese Buddhist architecture from the Ly Dynasty, the Three Treasures Hall houses Buddha statues representing various religious philosophies. Surrounding the Three Treasures Hall are 100 smaller Buddha statues, also painted in bright gold, symbolizing the enlightenment and wisdom of the Buddha. Particularly noteworthy is the 5-meter-tall, 10-ton statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, seated on a 3-meter-high lotus pedestal in the middle of a fish pond, a striking focal point that attracts all eyes.
The temple impresses visitors with its dominant yellow color scheme, accented with brown and red details, creating a harmonious and solemn overall appearance.
Upon entering the temple grounds, visitors will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the Three Jewels.
The Three Jewels (Tam Bảo) is a place that houses Buddha statues representing different religious philosophies.
Behind the main hall, the temple built an assembly hall where Buddhist lectures, sermons, and rituals take place. With a capacity of hundreds of people, the hall is the venue for major temple ceremonies such as Buddha's Birthday and the Vu Lan Festival.
Upon arriving at Thang Nghiem Pagoda, visitors can stroll around and enjoy the fresh, tranquil atmosphere. The pagoda is surrounded by lush green trees, creating a peaceful and serene space. One of the highlights of the pagoda is the lotus pond where visitors can immerse themselves in the peaceful and tranquil scenery. Gazing at the lotus flowers blooming in the clear blue water, visitors will feel a sense of serenity and peace in their souls.
100 small Buddha statues painted in a bright yellow color.
The statue of Buddha Shakyamuni
The lotus pond is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in a peaceful and tranquil setting.
A Tantric gem in the heart of Hanoi.
Thang Nghiem Pagoda was built in a style that blends Tantric Buddhism with traditional Vietnamese Buddhist architecture. It is one of the few Tantric Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam. Here, visitors can not only admire Buddhist teachings but also find inner peace and discover the cultural beauty of Tantric Buddhism.
Tantric Buddhism is known to be a unique branch of Mahayana Buddhism, shrouded in mystery and attracting the curiosity of many. Famous for its solemn rituals and unique ritual objects, Tantric Buddhism offers a spiritual world full of color and profound meaning.
The unique architectural beauty of Thang Nghiem Pagoda
As one of the most popular ritual objects in Tantric Buddhism, the Vajra, also known as the Vajra, symbolizes victory over obstacles and afflictions. The image of the three-edged vajra placed in a cross shape represents the wisdom and power of the Buddhas. During practice, a Vajra is placed at each of the four corners of the large altar, signifying the eradication of the twelve links of dependent origination and leading to enlightenment.
Walking around the temple grounds, visitors will encounter the Prayer Wheel, also known as the prayer wheel, a simple yet profoundly meaningful ritual object. The wheel is carved with scriptures, mantras, and sacred images. When the wheel is spun, the scriptures are chanted, generating positive energy that purifies the soul, cleanses negative karma, and brings peace to people.
The prayer wheel, also known as the prayer wheel, is a simple ritual object but carries immense significance.
The colorful Lungta flags fluttering in the wind are a characteristic image of Tantric Buddhism, appearing in every corner of Thang Nghiem Temple. In Tibetan, Lungta means "wind horse," symbolizing the transformation of evil into good, and misfortune into auspiciousness. The colors of the Lungta flags also carry their own meanings, symbolizing the five wisdoms of the Buddha.
Upon her first visit to Thang Nghiem National Pagoda, Nguyen Hong Hanh (Dong Da district, Hanoi) shared: "Enjoying the scenery within the Thang Nghiem Pagoda grounds, I feel truly relaxed and peaceful thanks to the lush green trees, fragrant lotus pond, and unique Buddhist atmosphere."
Furthermore, when visiting Thang Nghiem Pagoda, tourists also have the opportunity to participate in the Tantric Buddhist rituals held at the pagoda. These are special rituals, deeply rooted in the culture and spirituality of Tantric Buddhism. Exploring Thang Nghiem Pagoda not only helps visitors understand more about the teachings but also provides new and profound spiritual experiences.
The colorful Lungta flags fluttering in the wind are a characteristic image of Tantric Buddhism, appearing in every corner of Thang Nghiem Temple.
In Tibetan, Lungta means "wind horse".
Thang Nghiem Pagoda has become a popular destination attracting tourists from all over.
