Vietnam Pagodas

Khai Nguyên Pagoda

Hà Nội(Chùa Khai Nguyên)

Overview & history

Khai Nguyên Pagoda, also known as Xuân La Pagoda, is located at Group 39, Cluster 5A, Xuân La Ward, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi City. The grand annual memorial day is held on the 24th day of the 2nd lunar month.

History

Khai Nguyên Pagoda is often referred to as Quán La Pagoda. The pagoda is also known as Hang Pagoda, because there is an ancient cave here.

Within the pagoda, there is still a plaque inscribed with 'Khai Nguyên tự'. The pagoda bell is also named 'Khai Nguyên tự chung' (Khai Nguyên Pagoda Bell).

According to the book 'Việt điện u linh' by Lý Tế Xuyên, the pagoda (quán) was built during the Tang dynasty, in the Khai Nguyên era (715). At that time, it was a place of practice for many Daoist priests and attracted many visitors. In the Thiên Long era of the Trần dynasty (Trần Dụ Tông 1341–1369), Zen master Văn Thao had the quán restored, then rebuilt it as a pagoda to worship the Buddha, naming it An Dưỡng Tự. Afterwards, the monk left to practise elsewhere, so the pagoda became abandoned. It was not until the Lê dynasty that the pagoda was rebuilt with the architecture seen today.

The pagoda has a Tam bảo (Triple Gem Hall), a Mẫu House (Mother Goddess shrine), and a stele house. The Tam bảo building is shaped like a pestle handle, with a front hall (tiền đường) and an upper hall (thượng điện). The front hall consists of five bays, built with gable-end walls. The upper hall consists of three bays. The pagoda still preserves fragments of ancient carvings dating to the 19th century.

The arrangement within the pagoda is similar to other pagodas, except that there is an additional statue which villagers insist is a statue of Đường Minh Hoàng (Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty, China). The statue depicts a middle-aged man, wearing a dragon robe and the usual headgear of Tang emperors.

A noteworthy and difficult-to-explain feature is a merit stele dated to the 11th year of Thái Đức (1788). Thái Đức was the era name of Nguyễn Nhạc. However, in 1788, Lê Chiêu Thống was still reigning in Thăng Long.

The pagoda was recognised as an architectural and artistic heritage site by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) on 31 January 1992.

Photos

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Visiting tips

  • Dress modestly; remove hats and keep quiet inside the main hall.
  • Incense, flowers and offerings are usually sold right outside the gate; light an odd number of sticks (1 or 3).
  • Most pagodas open from early morning to evening and are free to enter (some major sites charge a small scenic fee).
  • Full-moon days, the 1st of the lunar month and Tet are very crowded; visit on weekday mornings for a quiet experience.
  • Ask permission before photographing inside shrines; do not touch statues or altar objects.

Read more & references

Useful links to learn more before your visit:

Location

Coordinates: 21.07041, 105.80552

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

References

Other pagodas in Hà Nội

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