Handicraft Tours
The name Chu Dau literally means "wharf". Chu Dau village in the northern...
Bat Trang, a small village in the north of Vietnam, is about 13 kilometers...
Van Phuc Silk Village is situated on the banks of Nhue Thi River, Nguyen...
Dong Ky, a traditional wood carving...
Dong Ho village, formally called Mai village,...
Located 35 km from central Hanoi, the southwest, the village of Phu Vinh...
The traditional Ha Thai lacquer village lies on the old highway 1A, it is...
The One Pillar Pagoda, a 1,000-year-old pagoda, is only one of the unusual structures in Hanoi that are well-known. Visitors to the Vietnamese capital are unable to help but ogle its stunning edifice. In addition, the beauty of Vietnamese culture and history is also preserved in this historic pagoda. The One-Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) is now regarded as one of Hanoi's most attractive architectural ensembles, drawing both local and international travelers.
The One-Pillar Pagoda Myth
The elderly Emperor Ly Thai To of the Ly dynasty, who was childless, would visit pagodas to ask Buddha for a son. The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who was seated on a large lotus blossom in a lotus pond that was square in shape on the western side of Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, delivered the King a baby boy in a dream one night. A few months later, when the Queen gave birth to a boy, the Emperor gave the order to build a pagoda in honor of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara that resembled the lotus seat from his dream and was supported by just one pillar. One legend holds that the pagoda was constructed to resemble a lotus flower emerging from the water.
The One Pillar Pagoda's Story
In the past, the Ly Dynasty's One-Pillar Pagoda was situated in Thanh Bao Village, Quang Duc District, west of Thang Long Citadel. The pagoda was constructed in the winter of 1049 during the reign of King Ly Thai Tong, who dreamed of seeing the Goddess of Mercy sitting on a lotus throne and escorting him there, according to Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu (A Complete History of Great Vietnam). The king told his mandarins about his dream when he awoke, and one of them believed it was a bad omen. He was urged by monk Thien Tue to construct a pagoda and a tower in the shape of a lotus, much like in his dream. Monks walked around the newly-erected pagoda and recited Buddhist verses as they prayed for the king's long life. This is why the pagoda is also known as Dien Huu (long-lasting happiness and good luck).
The pagoda served as the location for an annual ritual commemorating Buddha Day, or Vesak, under the Ly dynasty. In addition, the king and people went to the pagoda to take part in Buddha-bathing and release rites on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.
The pagoda had been restored numerous times before the French colonists demolished it in 1954. The government renovated the pagoda in 1955. The current wood pagoda has a curving top and is shaped like a square with three meters on each side. It was positioned atop a large stone pillar with two blocks that were expertly joined together to simulate a lotus flower growing up out of the square pond. This stone pillar is around 1.2m in diameter and 4m high (the underground portion excluded). A system of wood beams gives the pagoda's construction its strength and elegance, combining in a pleasing way imaginative design and original architecture.
On April 28, 1962, the One-Pillar Pagoda was designated as a historical relic due to its architectural and historical significance. It was listed as Vietnam's most distinctive architectural pagoda in the Vietnamese Guinness Book on May 4, 2006.
One-Pillar Pagoda is currently one of Hanoi's most charming architectural complexes, drawing both local and international visitors in great numbers. The pagoda opens every day at 08:00 to 17:00. It's free to enter.
The Binh Thuy historical house is located on Bui Huu Nghia Street in Binh Thuy ward, Can Tho city, and is an excellent spot to learn about the region's history. It is one...
There are 4 night markets in Nha Trang now: Nha Trang Walking Street ( across 2-4 Square ) , Nha Trang market ( on Tran Quang Khai Street ) , Yasaka 9...
The 2,000th Ramsar site in the world, Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta, is a wetland site classified as of international importance under the Ramsar Convention....
When visiting Sapa, tourists have many lovely spots to choose from, including the Golden Stream – Love Waterfall. Going to the end of the beautiful...
Suoi Tien Theme Park has been dubbed "Vietnam's Disneyland" in Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon ) . The amusement park has the traditional rides, restaurants, and...
Saigon River is known as the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. It has been traveling with the Saigonese through all of the city's ups and downs. Learning about the Saigon...
Sa Dec is home to a variety of flowers and is one of South Vietnam's floral centers. The best time to visit Sa Dec village is in the spring, when all of the flowers are...
From Ngu Binh Mountain, people may see all of Hue Imperial City's features, including exquisite palaces, antique pagoda roofs, and the blue and limpid Perfume River...
In 1896, the French constructed Hoa Lo Prison on the site of Phu Khanh Hamlet, Vinh Xuong, Tho Xuong District in Ha Noi, which was a well-known pottery village ( now is...
Seven centuries of taking shape and developing, undoubtedly Bat Trang is one of the top traditional ceramic/ pottery and porcelain villages in Hanoi and Vietnam.
From: Contact
