Sủi Pagoda

Sủi Pagoda, officially named Đại Dương Sùng Phúc Tự, is an ancient pagoda located in Phú Thị village, Gia Lâm commune, Hà Nội. During the Lý and Trần dynasties, the kings would often stay here overnight to await dreams, hoping for messages from the deities. Currently, the pagoda still preserves a stone khánh (a type of Buddhist gong) over a thousand years old. The current abbot is Venerable Thích Thanh Phương. The pagoda was recently restored in 2006 and is part of a complex of đình (communal house), pagoda, and temple (dedicated to Ỷ Lan Nguyên Phi).

Sủi Pagoda was built very early (the exact year is unknown). The pagoda was rebuilt in 1115.

The pagoda was constructed with the front shaped like the Vermilion Bird (Chu Tước), with a main road leading southwards; the rear is shaped like the Black Tortoise (Huyền Vũ), with a village of many houses guarding the outside; to the left is the shape of the Azure Dragon (rồng xanh) winding towards it, and outside to the right is the shape of the White Tiger (hổ) rolling in to pay homage.

The pagoda is built in the shape of the chữ Đinh (the Vietnamese character Đinh, resembling a T), consisting of a seven-bay front hall, a three-bay rear sanctuary, and two corridors (each with seven bays); at the ends of the corridors adjoining the front hall are two eight-roofed towers, each hanging a bronze bell and a stone khánh.

The pagoda houses a large number of statues, dating from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Among the 73 ancient statues, many possess high aesthetic value, representing the sculptural art of the Lê and Nguyễn dynasties. The sculpting style bears many folk characteristics, with the simple beauty of flourishing folk art in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The large stone khánh dates from the 21st year of Vĩnh Thịnh (1725), and the large bronze bell hanging in the western eight-roofed tower bears the era name Cảnh Thịnh (1800) of the Tây Sơn period.

The pagoda was restored in the years: 1633, 1636, 1701, and 1821, and was classified as an architectural and artistic heritage site on 21 January 1989.

Zen Master Đại Điên (during the reign of King Lý Thánh Tông)

Zen Master Huệ Không Nguyễn Văn Quế, Tiến Công lang Tăng, Tăng Thống Ty Tăng Lục (1641?)

Zen Master Huệ Lâm Trần Khánh Thuận (?1711?)

Patriarch Thiên Phúc, Zen Master Thích Thông Tiến (1889-1986) (Thích Thông Tập) (?-1960)

The late Great Elder Most Venerable, Deputy Dharma Master of the HDCM, Thích Thanh Bích (1913-2013) – chief steward (1940-1960)

Venerable Thích Thanh Phương (1973) – abbot (2002–present)

From the centre of Hà Nội, cross Chương Dương Bridge, then Chui Bridge, turn right onto National Highway 5, and after passing Trâu Quỳ, continue for 3 km. The pagoda was built together with Sủi Temple and Sủi Village đình (communal house) on a high, spacious plot, forming an architectural complex. The pagoda has two buildings parallel to the rear sanctuary of the đình, with the main Buddha hall (tam bảo) shaped like a pestle handle, a five-bay front hall, and a three-bay rear sanctuary.

The Sủi Pagoda festival, held in Phú Thị commune, Gia Lâm district, Hà Nội city, takes place annually on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. On this festival day, the entire Phú Thị village (Sủi village) also observes the custom of making floating rice cakes (bánh trôi, also called chông chênh).