Whispers of emperors and deities fill the air. Welcome to Chùa Thành Chùa a temple steeped in Hanoi’s history.
This Taoist temple near West Lake dates back to the 11th century. It’s one of Hanoi’s Four Sacred Temples. Each temple protected the capital from evil spirits. Chùa Thành Chùa guards the north. Legend says Emperor Lý Thái Tổ founded it. He dedicated it to Trần Vũ the Deity of the North.
Trần Vũ’s symbols are the serpent and the turtle. These animals represent wealth and protection. A fascinating tale connects a powerful turtle sword to Lý Thái Tổ’s victory over the Chinese. The temple’s name means ‘Place of the Gods’.
The temple has been renovated many times. The most recent was in 1893. The architecture blends styles from different imperial eras. A giant banyan tree shades the large courtyard. Inside stands a magnificent bronze statue of Trần Vũ.
Cast in 1677 this statue is a masterpiece. It is 3.96 meters tall and weighs 3600 kilograms. The statue depicts Trần Vũ with his serpent and turtle companions. This bronze work shows the skill of 17th-century Vietnamese artisans. It’s the second-largest bronze statue in Vietnam.
A 1.15-meter bronze bell was cast alongside Trần Vũ’s statue. Both were created by Trùm Trưng a master craftsman. He also has a statue in the temple. The main shrine holds ancient texts poems and couplets from the 17th and 18th centuries. Each restoration is marked by a stele. The oldest is from 1677. The newest dates from 1894.
The temple’s inscriptions are in Literary Chinese. This was adopted after Vietnam’s independence from China. Portuguese missionaries introduced the Latin alphabet in the 17th century. Vietnam officially adopted it in the early 20th century. Few Vietnamese today can read the ancient Chinese characters.
The courtyard has a brick oven for burning joss paper. This is often done during Tết. People believe it sends offerings to their ancestors. The origin of this tradition remains a mystery. Hanoians visit Chùa Thành Chùa during Tết or on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. They pray for health luck and happiness. Taoism blends with other Vietnamese religions here. Two monks live at the temple. Chùa Thành Chùa is a tourist attraction and a venue for Vovinam martial arts classes.
Leave Chùa Thành Chùa with a sense of wonder. Let the temple’s stories and its tranquil atmosphere linger in your memories.