Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam presents Certificate of Special National Monuments of Thang Long Tu Tran - Voi Phuc Temple and Quan Thanh Temple. (Photo: Vietnamplus)
On the morning of May 29, Ba Dinh district of Hanoi capital held a solemn ceremony to receive the Certificate of Special National Monument of “Thang Long Tu Tran” - Voi Phuc Temple, Quan Thanh Temple.
"Thang Long Tu Tran", or the Four Sacred Temples of Hanoi, are associated with the birth of the capital Thang Long under the Ly Dynasty. The temple was the site to worship the four gods, who guard the four directions of the capital round the clock.
They include Bach Ma Temple in the east, Voi Phuc Temple in the west, Kim Lien Temple in the south, and Quan Thanh Temple in the north. These temples were erected to worship the gods Long Do, Linh Lang Dai Vuong, Cao Son Dai Vuong and Huyen Thien Tran Vu, respectively.
On January 18, 2022, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 93/QD-TTg on the recognition of special national monument status for 5 monuments nationwide, including Thang Long Tu Tran for its values of history and culture.
Possessing an ancient and majestic beauty, Voi Phuc Temple, one component of the "Thang Long Tu Tran", is a place to worship Linh Lang - a historical figure who helped King Ly Thanh Tong to defeat the Song invaders.
The temple has three main chambers and two small auxiliary compartments. The temple's inner sanctum consists of three compartments, with altar statues made of wood and bronze. The harem is also the place to worship the mother of Linh Lang and the Holy Mother.
Voi Phuc Temple is one of the most revered spiritual places in Vietnam. In 1994, people in Thu Le area donated to recast the 93-cm high bell with a body divided into four quarters and embossed with the words "Superior Western Temple."
Quan Thanh Temple, located in Quan Thanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, was built on Hoi Long Mound northeast of West Lake in the early years when King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long.
Quan Thanh Temple is the place to worship Huyen Thien Tran Vu - a god who guards the north direction of Thang Long Citadel.
Quan Thanh Temple, a famous spiritual place in Hanoi, is one of the Four Sacred Temples of the ancient Thang Long citadel. (Photo: Vietnamplus)
According to a Vietnamese legend, Tran Vu is a god of the Sai mountain (now in Thuy Loi village, Dong Anh district). The god helped An Duong Vuong to exorcise evil spirits that disturbed the construction of Co Loa citadel. He used to travel to West Lake and expel the spirits of a nine-tailed fox lurking in the mountains near the lake.
As a temple with quite unique architecture, Quan Thanh Temple attracts a large number of people every year. The bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu was cast in 1677 and placed in the temple.
The bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu is 3.96 m high and weighs 4 tons. The statue has a round head, a hat, big ears, a full face with wide eyes, and long beard. The statue looks majestic and full of strength, but it is very delicate in its contours and its distinct appearance.
The temple was first recognized as a National Historic-Cultural relic in 1962. Huyen Thien Tran Vu statue was recognized as the national treasure of Vietnam by the Vietnamese Prime Minister in 2016, further affirming the precious historical value of the temple.
At the ceremony to receive the certificate as a Special National Monument, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Dinh district Ta Nam Chien affirmed that the special National Monument Certificate is the recognition and honor of great history, culture and the architecture and art of "Thang Long Tu Tran" enduring with time, contributing to create the unique features of Thang Long-Hanoi.
Also at the ceremony, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Chu Ngoc Anh shared his joy with the Party Committee, authorities and people of Ba Dinh district, and suggested that Ba Dinh district pay attention to preserving and promoting the value of historical sites in the area./.
