Holy Temple Festival

Thanh Chua Pagoda (Cau Giay district) Thanh Chua Pagoda is the self-name of the relic and is also the common name of the pagoda. Previously, the pagoda was in Quan Hoa ward, now the pagoda is in Dich Vong Hau ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi. The pagoda was built on a high mound, previously overlooking the rice fields of 6 communes of Dich Vong, Mai Dich, My Dinh, Me Tri, Yen Hoa, Trung Hoa. Behind the pagoda, there are three large mounds called Tam Thai mounds. In front of the pagoda's door, there is a clay well shaped like a password and an exit to Thien Ly street, from Thang Long citadel to Doai Son Tay land. Based on written documents still preserved at the pagoda such as stele, bells, horizontal couplets and history books, it is said that the pagoda had its origins in the Ly Dynasty and became a famous scenic spot in the west of Thang Long capital. The book Dai Viet Complete History recorded: "In the year of Quy Mao (1063), King Ly Thanh Tong was 40 years old and had no son. He ordered his descendant, Nguyen Bong, to perform a prayer ceremony at Thanh Chua Pagoda. Later, Lady Y Lan gave birth to Crown Prince Can Duc, Ly Nhan Tong...". After giving birth to Crown Prince Can Duc, Nguyen Phi Y Lan provided money for major repairs to Thanh Chua Pagoda. Thanh Chua Pagoda Festival is held on January 25. The ceremony includes offering incense to commemorate Mrs. Nguyen Phi Y Lan; During the festival, there is a betel-inviting song composed and performed by the people of the two villages. This is a unique custom of the people of Mai Dich countryside, singing Quan Ho folk songs. Thanh Chua Pagoda has a large scale with many construction items such as: Tam Quan bell tower gate, Tam Bao tower, Ta - Huu vu house, the shrine of Mrs. Nguyen Phi Ỷ Lan, two Patriarch houses worshiping the temple's monks, one Patriarch's house of Dich Vong Hau villagers, one Patriarch's house of Mai Dich villagers. This is also a unique feature of a common pagoda of two communes. The Tam Bao Court has a "nail" style structure: the 7-compartment Tien Duong House is built on a foundation 60cm higher than the yard level, with gable walls, a tiled roof, the ridge is built in the style of a nail, and the trusses supporting the roof are made in the style of "gong rack, pile of beams". The Upper Palace is 70cm higher than the front hall, 4 compartments are built running along the back, one end meets the middle compartment of the Tien Duong house, the wall style is closed, the roof is tiled, the rafters supporting the roof are made in the style of "the price of a gong stacked on top of a second child". The phenomenon of an Upper Palace being built almost square to create a high foundation is a trace of a quite ancient pagoda that we think is a product of village pagodas from the Ly Dynasty to the 16th - 17th centuries. The pagoda faces southwest, which is a common direction in ancient Vietnamese pagoda architecture. The shrine of Mrs. Nguyen Phi Ỷ Lan consists of three compartments with gable walls, throne arms, and tiled roofs, located on the left in front of Tien Duong house. Currently, the relic still preserves many relics of historical and artistic value in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as: A set of 77 round statues, splendidly painted; Two bronze bells were cast in the Nguyen Dynasty. The bell body is engraved with the names of the villagers and visitors who donated money to cast the bell and repair the pagoda. The large bell was cast in the 9th year of Minh Menh (1828), composed by Nguyen Huy Trac. The bell text said: "... The ancient pagoda had a bell, but it was lost in any fire, so the pagoda encourages the contributions of the people and visitors from all over." Thanh Chua Pagoda was ranked by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a historical and architectural and artistic relic in 1989./.