Thien Mu Pagoda is a symbol that has been associated with the poetic Hue for many generations. Located right by the gentle Huong River, with unique architectural works, Thien Mu Pagoda is the most prominent tourist destination and pilgrimage site of the ancient capital.
Anyone who has ever come to Hue without visiting Thien Mu Pagoda is not to feel all the beauty of this dreamland. The temple has undergone many changes, ups and downs of history and became one of the symbolic images of the city. Along with Hue Citadel, the peaceful Huong River crossing, the humming bell of Thien Mu Pagoda has entered into many poems and music of Hue people for generations.
The special location of Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue
Thien Mu Pagoda is an ancient temple located on the Perfume River in the west of Hue City. The temple is located on the hill of Ha Khe, located on the left bank of the Perfume River. From the city center only takes about 5km by motorbike or car, you will see the beauty of this famous temple.
Thien Mu Pagoda is home to many beautiful angles.
Thien Mu Pagoda has a history of over 400 years
Thien Mu Pagoda (also known as Linh Mu Pagoda) is located in An Ninh Thuong village, Kim Long ward, Hue City. This is a famous spiritual destination in the ancient capital, also a famous tourist destination.
Built in 1601 under the Nguyen Dynasty, Thien Mu Pagoda is the oldest temple in Hue today. The beauty of this ancient temple is created from a fusion of historical values, spiritual values and unique cultural and artistic values. Thien Mu pagoda was classified as "Than Nhi Nhi Canh Canh" by King Thieu Tri (20 landscapes of Neurological Land) with the poem 'Thien Mu chung thanh' composed by the king himself and carved into stone steles erected near the temple gate.
Legend has it that before the time of constructing Thien Mu pagoda , on Ha Khe hill, there was a pagoda named Thien Mo or Thien Mau. This is a Cham temple.
After that time, Lord Nguyen Hoang came to Thuan Hoa to become the chief of the whole region of Quang Nam, he personally went to examine the land here in preparation for the plan to expand the business later to build Giang Son. for the Nguyen family. In a horse hike along the Huong River bank upstream, he suddenly saw a small hill rising up along the meandering Huong river. This place is like a dragon turning its head to look back, this hill is now Ha Khe hill.
Locals said, this place is also known as Thien Mu Son because at night there is often an old woman in red pants appear on the hill and once told people: "Then there will be a god foot. came to the temple to gather spiritual energy, stabilize the vein, and make the Nam strong country ". Lord Nguyen Hoang, after hearing the story, agreed with the story of the people and was very happy. In 1601, he built a temple on the hill, overlooking the Perfume River and named it "Thien Mu".
Unique architecture of Thien Mu Pagoda
Thien Mu Pagoda is a religious building with many unique architectural features of the ancient capital of Hue. Seen from above, the pagoda as a whole is like a giant tortoise mirror reflecting on the Perfume River next to it. The temple is surrounded by rows of stone walls built in two firm rounds.
Triple gate
Tam Quan Gate is the main entrance to the pagoda with a 2-storey roof structure. There are 3 paths to pass through the gate, each with wooden plank doors, bundled with sturdy straps and copper nails. On both sides of the error, there is a guardian statue.
Phuoc Duyen Tower
Phuoc Duyen Tower is the most outstanding construction and an impressive point when visiting Thien Mu Pagoda . This tower is built of 21m high bricks, including 7 floors and was built in 1844. Each floor has Buddha statues. Inside the tower is a spiral staircase to lead to the top floor, where previously there was a golden Buddha image.
Dai Hung Palace
Dai Hung Palace is the main hall of Thien Mu Pagoda . Inside Maitreya Buddha has big ears to listen to all the sufferings of sentient beings, a big belly to cover the faults of people and a big mouth to keep the peace of mind, peace in the middle of the world miserable. Above is a diaphragm carved 4 words "Linhuu Cao Phong".
In addition, there is also a pretty big copper bell touching the rectangle. Past the place of worship of Di Lac Buddha is to the temple of Tam The Buddha, on the left and right are Van Man Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Going to the side of the palace to go around the garden is a car display house of the late Venerable Thich Quang Duc - a monk who burned himself to resist the Buddhist persecution. Behind is the tomb of the late monk Thich Don Hau, a monk who made a great contribution to the Buddhist revival.
Ksitigarbha Palace
The Ksitigarbha Palace is located behind Dai Hung Palace and is built on the foundation of Di Lac Palace, carved with many pictures with unique architecture.
Quan Yin Power
This is the temple located at the end of the temple, in the middle of the forest and is decorated quite simply, without patterns but evoking a special serious trrag atmosphere. In the main hall, there is a statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva made of black bronze with a gentle expression and sitting on a lotus, above it is a picture of Quan Yin. In front of the bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara, there is a stone statue in a glass case, with slender fingers, soft and flexible lines. The two sides worship the Red Emperor.
Beautiful sala trees within the temple grounds
In the Thien Mu pagoda area of Hue city, there is a flower blooming all year round that creates a beautiful scenery and meaningful, that is Sala flower. This flower brings peace and tranquility.
Sala tree is also known as the tree Superiority, Ham Rong or Ngoc Ky Lan. The flower is grown in many temples, temples and shrines originating from India and is associated with the legend of the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni. Legend has it that Buddha was born under a sala by Queen Maya. In the Great Nirvana Sutta also recounts that the Buddha passed away under two sala tree stumps. When He lay under the tree to rest, suddenly all the trees bloomed red, the petals falling around Him like rain.
Sala symbolizes the body of a woman in Indian culture, and in Buddhism, sala embodies the understanding and feeling of life with a pure, unsurpassed look.
To travel to Hue , especially on hot summer days, visitors remember to visit Thien Mu pagoda with an age of over 400 years. After visiting, admiring and learning the beauty of knowledge and stories associated with ups and downs of the most sacred temple in Hue, spend hours enjoying the fresh beauty of strange sala but familiar. The flowers that symbolize peace and tranquility will ease the sultry heat in the middle of summer.
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