Dụ Tiền Pagoda

Dụ Tiền Pagoda, located in Thanh Thùy commune, Thanh Oai district, Hà Nội, is a site associated with the Buddhist religion. Dụ Tiền Pagoda was established and has existed to meet the religious and spiritual needs of the people of Dụ Tiền village.

Dụ Tiền Pagoda is a pagoda that originated during the Trần dynasty. Over time and through the ups and downs of history, the original form of the ancient pagoda no longer remains. Currently, the pagoda's architecture consists of the following components: gate, Tiền đường (Front Hall), Thượng điện (Upper Hall), Nhà Tổ (Founders' Hall), Nhà Mẫu (Mother Goddess Hall), and Nhà Khách (Guest House).

In addition to worshipping the Buddha according to the Mahayana tradition, Dụ Tiền Pagoda also venerates Đức Thánh Tổ (the Holy Patriarch). The origin and deeds of Đức Thánh Tổ have been sanctified by the people of Dụ Tiền as follows: He was sent by King Thủy Tề (the Dragon King) to prepare vegetarian offerings for the king. He descended to the dragon palace from Đầm Lâu (now part of Thanh Văn, Thanh Oai), and suddenly two Ông Lốt (mythical creatures) parted the waters to lead him down. After he finished preparing the celebratory meal for King Thủy Tề, the king, in gratitude, bestowed upon him a tray of golden oranges. He declined and accepted only one, then returned to the surface at the area of Mục Xá (now part of Cao Dương, Thanh Oai). At the place where he emerged, King Thủy Tề had a stone pagoda built (currently, only the column bases remain, as the roof was blown away because when King Thủy Tề granted him a pagoda, he remarked, 'the pagoda is beautiful but low,' and immediately the roof flew off).

Afterwards, he returned to his homeland to do good deeds and help the common people. Before passing away, he had a statue of himself cast, then gathered firewood, placed his body upon it, and self-immolated. After his death, the people buried his body in the fields, and at his grave, a stele was erected, dated to the third year of Cảnh Trị.

His statue was brought by the people into the pagoda to be worshipped as a Holy Monk, creating a unique worship arrangement: Saint in front, Buddha behind (Tiền Thánh hậu Phật).

Through its existence over time, Dụ Tiền Pagoda has preserved valuable relics made from various materials:

- 4 parallel sentences (câu đối)

- 3 horizontal inscribed boards (hoành phi)

- 1 bell: inscribed 'Dụ Tiền Tự Chung', dated the ninth year of Thành Thái, eleventh month, twenty-fifth day.

- 9 hậu steles inscribed in the fourth year of Bảo Thái, 1 stele inscribed 'thắng nghiệp kỷ niệm bi chí', dated the seventh year of Bảo Đại. Notably, there is 1 stele dated the third year of Đại Trị, with Trần dynasty stone material and motifs, but the inscription was re-carved during the Lê dynasty. In addition, there are many other valuable relics.

Having undergone many vicissitudes and changes throughout history, the pagoda no longer retains its original appearance as when it was first built. However, with sincere gratitude to their ancestors and those who laid the foundations, the local people, under the guidance of the Thanh Thùy commune authorities, have gradually worked to make the pagoda more spacious and dignified.