Am Tiên Cave

Am Tiên Cave is a scenic site belonging to the special national relic complex of the ancient capital of Hoa Lư, Tây Hoa Lư ward, Ninh Bình province, Vietnam. The cave is located about 400 metres from the East Gate – Đinh Tiên Hoàng King Temple (20°17′08″N 105°54′12″E) in the direction of Tràng An. In the past, the location of Am Tiên Cave bordered the eastern citadel of the Hoa Lư capital. Most of the Am Tiên Cave area is a water-filled valley surrounded by rocky cliffs. To enter the cave, after passing through the gate, one descends a path on the left side, next to a crystal-clear lake with aquatic plants, lotuses, water lilies, and Tổng Trường perch, which locals believe commemorates the place where crocodiles were once kept to execute criminals. Previously, Am Tiên Cave was halfway up the mountain, requiring a climb of 205 stone steps along the cliff, but now there is a tunnel through the mountain leading into the cave. The cave is shaped like a dragon’s mouth and is also known as Dragon Cave. Many stalactites resemble rice plants, money trees, Buddha’s hand fruit, and drooping lotus buds with dripping water. Am Tiên Cave is dubbed the "Valley of Absolute Purity" (Tuyệt tịnh cốc) and is a tourist attraction within the Tràng An World Heritage complex.

During the Đinh dynasty, Am Tiên Cave was originally a place where tigers were kept to execute criminals. After ascending the throne, Đinh Tiên Hoàng assigned martial arts master Trương Ma Ni and his son, prince consort Trương Quán Sơn, to oversee the valley area adjacent to the Hoa Lư citadel. The father and son of the Trương family, who held the position of tăng lục (a Buddhist official), transformed this treacherous place into an execution ground to help the king govern the country. The Am Tiên Cave pagoda was like a separate world. There is an ancient stele from the Lý dynasty, but the inscriptions have faded and are unreadable. However, the stele erected during the reign of King Đồng Khánh still has clear writing, describing the restoration of the pagoda and cave. Am Tiên Cave is located halfway up the mountain and was once where King Đinh kept tigers and leopards to punish criminals, while at the foot of the Đìa mountain is Ao Giải (Turtle Pond), where the king kept crocodiles to throw criminals in for the crocodiles to eat. This was also where King Lê Đại Hành imprisoned the Song dynasty captives Quách Quân Biện and Triệu Phụng Huân, who invaded Đại Cồ Việt in 981, and only returned them to the envoy Lý Giác in 986. In addition, the area also has Salt Cave (hang Muối), Money Cave (hang Tiền), etc., which were places where the king stored food and the national treasury during the Đinh and Lê dynasties.

In her final years, Empress Dowager Dương Vân Nga also became a nun at Am Tiên Pagoda, taking the Dharma name Bảo quang Hoàng thái hậu. An orally transmitted poem carved on the pagoda wall summarises the life and career of Empress Dương Vân Nga:

"Carrying two kings on her shoulders,

Empress of two dynasties, she became a nun at Am Tiên Pagoda.

Following her husband, she fought the Song and pacified the Chiêm,

Meritorious to the nation, but ill-fated in life."

During the Lý dynasty, Zen master Nguyễn Minh Không stayed in the cave to chant sutras and preach the Dharma, building additional Buddha altars inside the cave. Later generations continued to expand the pagoda landscape for pilgrims from all directions to visit.

Currently, the main chamber of Am Tiên Cave serves as both a stone pagoda worshipping Buddha and Zen master Nguyễn Minh Không, and as a temple honouring notable figures from the Đinh era such as the father and son Trương Ma Ni and prince consort Trương Quán Sơn, Princess Phù Dung, and Empress Dowager Dương Vân Nga.

The Am Tiên Cave tourist area, associated with the love legend of prince consort Trương Quán Sơn and Princess Đinh Phù Dung since 2011, has quickly become an attractive destination, popularly called the Valley of Absolute Purity (Tuyệt tịnh cốc) by young people.

The Am Tiên Cave area has been renovated and restored at its original location, while a new pagoda complex has been built along the road leading to the ancient cave pagoda. This new pagoda is situated opposite Mã Yên Mountain across the Sào Khê River and has a shortcut leading to the ancient Am Tiên Cave area. The new Am Tiên Pagoda, in addition to worshipping Buddha, also venerates notable figures of the Hoa Lư capital such as Dương Vân Nga, Lý Quốc Sư, and the father and son tăng lục officials Trương Ma Ni and Trương Ma Sơn.

In addition, the Valley of Absolute Purity features mountain tunnels, lakes, green spaces, preserved mountain ranges, and auxiliary facilities such as car parks and reception areas for the ancient capital of Hoa Lư.