Where is Thay Pagoda?
Also known as Ca Pagoda, Thay Pagoda is about 25km southwest of Hanoi city center. The pagoda was built in the Ly Nhan Tong Dynasty (1072-1127) and is the place to keep the spiritual practice of a high monk of the Ly Dynasty – Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh.
Address: Foothills of Sai Son mountain, Sai Son commune, Quoc Oai district, Hanoi city.
Directions to Thay Quoc Oai Temple in Hanoi
If using a motorbike, you just need to ride along Thang Long Boulevard for about 16km. When you reach the Saigon overpass, you turn right, continue for about 1km to reach Thay Pagoda.
If you choose to take the bus, you just need to go to My Dinh bus station to take bus route 73 to get to the temple. On average, buses run a day from 6 to 10 trips, every 10-20 minutes.
Ticket price to visit Thay pagoda
Ticket price to enter the temple is 10,000 VND / ticket, parking service 10,000 VND / motorbike and 30,000 VND / car
History of Thay Pagoda
Thay Pagoda was built during the Ly Dynasty, associated with the life anecdote of Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh. At first, the pagoda was just a small temple called Huong Hai am. Then, King Ly Nhan Tong rebuilt it, including 2 clusters of pagodas: the High Pagoda on the mountain (Ding Son Tu) and the Lower pagoda (Thien Phuc Tu).
Thay Pagoda is the place of practice of Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh – who made great contributions to the people and the ancestor of water puppetry.
In 1997, Vietnam Post issued a set of stamps “Vietnam’s Thang Canh” consisting of 3 samples, of which the model (3-1) face value 400 dong showing the image “Scenery of Chua Thay” designed by artist Tran The Vinh. The design (see photos), and the postcard of this charming landscape, is a beautiful stamp that a collector of stamps on the subject of “culture and art” cannot do without.
Explanation about Thay Quoc Oai Temple
About Thay Pagoda
As soon as they arrive at the temple, visitors will be impressed with the scenery here surrounded by majestic mountains. Thay Pagoda in Sai Son Quoc Oai was built according to the architecture of the Ly Dynasty, with the way of building the letter Tam consisting of three parallel pagodas built on a high foundation of bunches of green stone.
The outer court is the place of worship of the monks and nuns and the place of teaching and preaching of the monks called the pre-sacred house or the Ha pagoda. The middle court is the place to worship the Tam Bao, the middle hall or the Trung pagoda. And the innermost court is where three reincarnated statues of Zen master Tu Dao Hanh are located, with a massive and magnificent palace called the Upper Palace or the Upper Temple. There are also temples and steeples interspersed on the way up the mountain.
Architecture of Thay pagoda
Located at the foot of Sai Son mountain, Quoc Oai, former Ha Tay province, now Sai Son commune, Quoc Oai district, Hanoi, Thay Pagoda is where Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh abbot. King Ly Nhan Tong rebuilt two groups of pagodas:
- Cao Pagoda (Son Tu Peak) on the mountain.
- Lower Pagoda (ie Ca pagoda, the word name is Thien Phuc Tu).
At the beginning of the 17th century, Dinh Cong and the royal family took care of the restoration and construction of the Buddha’s and the Holy’s palaces; then the back house, the stele house, the bell tower.
According to feng shui theory, the pagoda was built on the earth in the shape of a dragon. In front of the pagoda, on the left is Long Dau mountain, the back of the pagoda and the right side leans on Sai Son mountain.
The pagoda faces south, in front of the pagoda, located between Sai Son and Long Dau is a large lake named Long Chieu or Long Tri (dragon pond). The yard has dragon jaws.
The main part of Thay pagoda consists of three parallel buildings called Ha pagoda, Trung pagoda and Thuong pagoda. Between Ha Pagoda and Trung Pagoda, there is a pipe connected to each other, forming the most superior position.
- Ha Pagoda is the house of sacrifices, displaying statues of Duc Ong and Saints. The tube for the Eight sets of Diamonds.
- Trung Pagoda has an altar to worship Buddha, on both sides there are two statues of the Dharma protector and the statue of Thien Vuong.
- The Upper Pagoda or the upper pagoda is completely separate, in the highest position, the signboard reads Dai Hung Bao Dien, which is also the Holy House, for the statue of Di Da Tam Ton, the statue of Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh, and the statue of Tu Dao’s parents. Hanh.
Around the pagoda, there are two corridors, behind the bell tower and the drum floor.
In front of the pagoda is a large yard overlooking Long Chieu Lake, forming a dragon’s jaw before planting two rice trees, but now two rice trees have died, replaced by banyan trees.
From this yard, there are two bridges, Nhat Tien Kieu and Nguyet Tien Kieu, connecting to the two sides, forming two dragon beards. These two bridges were built by Phung Khac Khoan in 1602.
- Nhat Tien Bridge connects to a small island, on the island there is a temple of Tam Phu.
- Nguyet Tien Bridge connects to the road to the mountain.
There is also a Cao Pagoda on the mountain, it is said that Phat Tich cave behind the temple is the place where Tu Dao Hanh escaped from his body to be reincarnated as King Ly Than Tong, so it is also called Thanh Hoa cave.
Going uphill is to the Upper Temple. Near Thuong temple is the Butt Moc cave with many stones that have been worn down by time, looking like a Buddha image. Next is the Bo cave with the murky entrance. A short distance is to Wind Cave with winds blowing through both ends.
Thuy Dinh of Thay Pagoda
In front of Thay pagoda yard, Thuy Dinh building emerges like a lotus on the water surface with curved roofs, making the scenery here more ancient. Especially on the days of March, the ancient rice tree in front of the temple yard blooms red flowers in a corner of the sky, making pilgrims enjoy the scenery.
People here believe that when the rice flowers fall, it is the festival season, the charming scene of Thay Son Thuy pagoda combined with the red rice flower color is very lucky. Come to Thay Pagoda to visit with a comfortable mentality, then start going out to relax and enjoy the scenery, take pictures under the shade of rice flowers, feel like a good luck, bring visitors a lot of fun.
Visiting Thay Pagoda in Hanoi, which places to explore?
Coc Co Cave, Thay Quoc Oai Temple
Coc Co Cave is a natural cave likened to a miniature Son Doong near Hanoi. This cave is extremely sacred and mysterious, not only has a unique landscape but also contains many mysterious spiritual values.
To fully explore Cac Co cave, visitors will have to climb through a road with sharp, bumpy rocks, the cave is very deep and dark. However, when conquering all the caves, you will feel completely worthy of the unique and wonderful experiences and landscapes.
Hanoi Master Pagoda Festival
Normally, the traditional festival of Thay Pagoda is held from the 5th to the 8th of March (lunar calendar), the main festival is on March 7 every year. The Thay Pagoda Festival, like many other great temples, consists of two parts, the ritual part and the folk performances. At present, the pagoda still preserves the main rituals such as: the ritual of carpentry, the ceremony of worshiping the tablet – the ceremony of worshiping the seat, the sacrifice ceremony and the procession.
During the festival days, locals and visitors can participate in performances and fun activities including: wrestling, water puppetry, spring climbing festival and many unique and exciting folk games.
Notes when coming to Thay Pagoda
- The temple is a sacred place, so when you come here, you should not dress too colorful and offensive to lose the inherent solemnity of the temple.
- Exploring Thay Pagoda will have many quite slippery climbing roads, you should wear sports shoes with good grip or you should bring a pair of honeycomb sandals.
- You should be careful not to let people explain the history of the temple with you. Because if you listen and continue to talk, you will inevitably have to pay 100,000 VND – 300,000 VND more
- Going to the temple, you should sincerely pray for peace and enjoy the peaceful and sacred beauty instead of taking pictures.
- Do not arbitrarily touch, touch or take any objects in the temple without the permission of the temple.
- Do not step on trees, flowers or chairs in the temple. Dispose of garbage in the right place to avoid polluting the environment.
- You should ask permission in advance with the temple management to get consent if you want to film or take pictures.
Source: Collected internet.