Whispers of war elephants linger here at Pho Giac Pagoda. This place is more than just a temple. It is a testament to Hanoi’s resilience. Let’s explore Pho Giac Pagoda.
Pho Giac Pagoda stands on Ngo Si Lien Street in Van Mieu Ward. People also call it Tau Tuong Pagoda or Tau Elephant Pagoda. Pho Giac has a history stretching back to the late 18th century.
Originally, Pho Giac Pagoda was in Phuc Co ward. This area now lies in the middle of Nguyen Du street. It was a gathering place for the Trinh army’s elephant ships. Duong Vo temple stood here. This temple honored those who trained war elephants.
French colonialists later occupied Hanoi. They seized the pagoda’s land to build government offices. The City People’s Committee headquarters stands there today. Pho Giac Pagoda moved to the Thai Medicine Institute’s garden. This was in Luong Su village. The pagoda kept its old name. People still called it Tau Pagoda. The Duong Vo stele moved with it.
Pho Giac Pagoda means popularizing Buddhism. It enlightens Buddhists and others. The temple worships Buddha and Mother Goddess. It also honors Phan Canh Diep. He was a skilled elephant trainer during the Le Trung Hung period.
Pho Giac Pagoda has seen many restorations. Steles from 1856-1876 document these repairs. Parallel sentences on the pylon describe work in 1886 and 1889. The pagoda was rebuilt in 1951 and 2014. On October 2, 1991, it became a national historical site.
The three-way gate is an old feature. It has arched stone under ancient trees. Carpentry stones create kneeling lions. These lions once faced the Trinh lord’s palace in Thang Long citadel. Wooden slats simulate bamboo. Some believe this symbolizes mountain sects. The Cao Dong Zen sect introduced this symbolism to Vietnam in the 17th century.
Visitors pass through the gate to the front yard. They then climb steps to the three treasures. The entrance hall has seven compartments. It features two-story doors and eight tiled roofs. The incense burner and upper hall connect to form a “Cong” shape. Outside, a porch surrounds stone pillars. Three steles and stone horses stand behind the harem. Semi-open-air altars dot the courtyard.
Statues of elephants and horses flank the three-way gate. The Mother Church is on the front yard’s right. It stands behind a tomb tower. Another tomb tower and a communal house are on the left. The communal house holds a Quan Am statue. The right side is for burning incense. The upper hall serves as a guesthouse. The Ancestral Church has five compartments. All buildings stand on high ground.
Pho Giac Pagoda houses 37 round statues. Twenty statues are in the Buddha hall. Eleven are in the Mother Church. Six are in the Tote Church. A portrait of Phan Canh Diep is also present. A genealogy book records his merits. A stele discusses medicine and the Y Mieu construction.
The pagoda holds many antiques. These include 13 stone steles and three bronze bells. You’ll also find stone horses and altars. The wooden parts display Buddhist stories. They also depict themes of the four spirits. Pho Giac Pagoda retains precious worshiping objects. These are made of bronze, wood, and ceramics.
As you leave Pho Giac Pagoda remember its long history. Consider the elephants and the people. They shaped this sacred space.