Vietnam Pagodas

Thiên Tôn Cave

Ninh Bình(Động Thiên Tôn)

Thiên Tôn Cave

Overview & history

Thiên Tôn Cave is a cave located in the north of Hoa Lư ward, Ninh Bình province, Vietnam. The cave lies at the foot of Voi Mountain, about 1 km from the Thiên Tôn junction (20°17′59″N 105°57′09″E) on National Highway 1. The cave is a historical and cultural relic within the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital relic complex. While Bái Đính Pagoda Mountain worships the deity Cao Sơn, the mountain god guarding the western gateway to the Tây Citadel; and Tràng An cave worships the deity Quý Minh, the water god guarding the southern gateway to the Nam Citadel; Thiên Tôn Pagoda Cave is a relic worshipping the deity Thiên Tôn, the celestial god guarding the eastern gateway to the Đông Citadel of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital relic area.

Thiên Tôn Cave worships the deity Thiên Tôn, a legendary god in the Hoa Lư capital in the 10th century. According to legend, before leading his army to quell the rebellion of the Twelve Warlords, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh brought offerings to the cave to pray for the god's help in defeating the other warlords. After ascending the throne, Emperor Đinh Tiên Hoàng established his capital at Hoa Lư, where he had the Tiền Tế House and Kính Thiên Đài built as places to receive foreign envoys before entering the capital.

The archaeological site at Thiên Tôn Cave was discovered in 1981. Artefacts include floor tiles decorated with phoenixes and lotuses, fragments of model stupas, fragments of three-crested water waves of various sizes, two small duck statues resembling those from the Lý dynasty, one dragon head statue from the Trần dynasty, many pieces of lotus pedestal of various sizes glazed in green and yellow, and many terracotta fragments with decorations – inside the cave there is a rectangular stone relic carved with a dragon motif.

Thiên Tôn Cave, together with the Trương Family Ancestral Church complex, which worships the Jade Emperor (Ngọc Hoàng Thượng đế) and notable Trương family figures in Vietnamese history, are attractive tourist destinations in the north of Hoa Lư ward, Ninh Bình province.

The Deity Thiên Tôn

According to the thần tích (sacred genealogy) of Bích Đào village đình (communal house), Đại Phong village, Ninh Bình, the deity Thiên Tôn is a celestial god, originally a prince, born after the queen dreamed of swallowing the sun, became pregnant, and gave birth to him on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month in the 25th year of the Khai Hoàng era (year 625), named Huyền Nguyên. As he grew up, the prince was exceptionally brave, travelled the world, and entered Dũng Dương Mountain (Hoa Lư) to practise asceticism for 42 years. Upon attaining enlightenment, he could fly, transform, and eradicate demons and evil spirits. The Jade Emperor bestowed upon him the Tam Thai Thất Tinh sword and appointed him as the Great General Trấn Vũ of the North. Later, he cast his sword at the foot of Cánh Diều Mountain (Ninh Bình) and ascended. In 938, Grand Preceptor Cao Đô Đường built a temple at the entrance of Thiên Tôn Cave, sculpted a statue with one hand resting on a precious sword, one foot on a turtle and a snake, and conferred the title Trấn Vũ An Quốc Đại Vương (Great King Trấn Vũ, Pacifier of the Nation)... When Đinh Tiên Hoàng launched his uprising at Hoa Lư Cave, he was aided by the Turtle and Snake generals of the deity, and was thus granted the title An Quốc Hoàng Đế (Emperor Pacifier of the Nation). In the east of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital, there are seven places worshipping the deity, namely Bích Đào, Đại Phong, Yên Cư of Yên Khánh district, Lực Giá and Phú Gia of Ninh Bình.

Thus, the deity Thiên Tôn, the deity Quý Minh, and the deity Cao Sơn are gods originating from the Hoa Lư cultural region. They all represent supernatural powers of heaven, earth, and mountains, worshipped at the four gateways of Hoa Lư to protect the capital according to ancient beliefs. The overall landscape of the Thiên Tôn cave-pagoda area features ancient architecture amidst a spacious garden with many fruit trees and large old trees. Thiên Tôn Cave consists of two chambers: the Outer Chamber and the Inner Chamber. Right at the entrance to the Inner Chamber is a Long Đĩnh (dragon pedestal) made entirely of stone, with dragons and clouds carved in relief all around. Inside the Long Đĩnh stands a single bronze statue of the deity Thiên Tôn, standing on the back of a turtle. The statue is decorated in vibrant colours. Both hands are held in front of the chest, gripping the hilt of the divine sword, with the tip of the sword resting on the turtle's back. For this reason, the cave is called Thiên Tôn Cave.

In honour of the deity Thiên Tôn, the central township of the former Hoa Lư district is named Thiên Tôn township.

Photos

📷 Contribute photos

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: 20.29917, 105.94278

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

References

Other pagodas in Ninh Bình

🏯
Chùa Bà Đanh
Bà Đanh Pagoda is a pagoda located in Đanh village, Kim Bảng ward, Ninh Bình province, covering an area of about 10 hectares. The pagoda faces south towards the Đáy River. On the outermost side, adjacent to the road and near the riverbank, is the pagoda's tam quan (three-entrance gate). This structure is built on an elevated foundation, raised above five steps, with both ends constructed as solid walls. The tam quan has three compartments and is built with two storeys. The upper storey has two layers of roofs covered with southern-style tiles, and around the wooden floor is a balustrade with decorative balusters. This upper floor is used as a bell tower, while the three compartments below have a system of doors made from ironwood.
🏯
Chùa Đồng Vũ
Đồng Vũ Pagoda is located in Đồng Vũ hamlet, Đạo Lý commune, Lý Nhân district. According to the inscription carved on the 'Sùng Khánh tự bia' stele, dated to the 4th year of the Nguyên Thống era (1525), the pagoda was built in the early Lê Sơ period, on a raised plot of land, isolated to the south of the village. In the 13th year of Bảo Đại (1937), the village relocated the pagoda to a plot of land to the left of the đình (communal house), facilitating the religious activities of the villagers. At present, the pagoda still preserves many ancient and rare worship objects and valuable works of art, among which the stone khánh (a type of lithophone gong) is particularly notable.
🏯
Chùa Thanh Am
Thanh Am Pagoda, also known as Thanh Am Tự or Vật Pagoda, is an ancient pagoda located in Tiền hamlet, Hư Tả commune, Nam Chân district, Trấn Sơn nam hạ, now situated in Đoài Đông hamlet, Vị Khê ward, Ninh Bình province. Thanh Am Pagoda still preserves many high-value artistic carvings from the Lê Trung Hưng period. The pagoda festival is held on the 14th and 15th days of the second lunar month. In addition to the procession of sacred texts, ritual offerings, and recitation of Buddhist verses, there are also children's wrestling matches, and wrestlers from the region come to perform for the deities and compete for prizes.
🏯
Chùa Tràn
Tràn Pagoda, also known as Phúc Lâm Tự, is an ancient pagoda. In the past, it was located in Tràn village, hence its name; today, it is situated in Khang Giang hamlet, Yên Đồng commune, Ninh Bình province. The pagoda was built during the Lý dynasty (late 11th century). Initially, it was constructed with earthen walls and thatched roofs; up to now, the pagoda has undergone three major restorations. On the bell tower of the pagoda, there remains a parallel sentence composed by Phạm Văn Nghị, a Nguyễn dynasty doctoral laureate.
🏯
Chùa Tự Lạc
Tự Lạc Pagoda, with the formal name Thái An tự, is located in Hamlet 11, Xuân Hưng Commune, Ninh Bình Province. During the period of revolution and resistance against the French, the pagoda served as a place to shelter communist cadres and print documents. At the pagoda, the monk Thích Thanh Điến actively mobilised Buddhists to support the revolutionary movement and the resistance movement against French colonialism. The pagoda was the site where the first Communist Party cell of the three districts of Xuân Trường, Hải Hậu, and Giao Thủy was established. The festival of Tự Lạc Pagoda and Temple is held annually on the death anniversary of Đức Triệu Việt Vương, which falls on the 13th day of the eighth lunar month. On 26 February 2003, Tự Lạc Pagoda was recognised as a Historical and Cultural Site.
Chùa Bà Ngô (Ninh Bình)
Chùa Bà Ngô (Ninh Bình)
Bà Ngô Pagoda is an ancient pagoda belonging to the special national relic complex of the former capital Hoa Lư. The pagoda was built during the Đinh dynasty, right beside the right bank of the Hoàng Long River dyke and adjacent to the outer area of the old Hoa Lư citadel. Bà Ngô Pagoda was founded by Lady Ngô, the empress of Đinh Tiên Hoàng and mother of one of the Twelve Warlords, Ngô Nhật Khánh.