Tay Phuong pagoda - The unique sculpture art in Vietnamese pagodas

Pagoda is often called Tay Phuong pagoda, is located on the Tay Phuong hill, curved like hooks (former known as Cau Lau mount) about 50 m high, of Nguu Linh  Mount ( buffalo mountain ), Thach Xa Commune, Thach That district, belong Ha Tay province, Hanoi today. The pagoda distance center of Hanoi 40 km follow northwest, far from Son Tay town 18 km to the southeast.

 

From steep mountain path length of about 160, climb 238 steps by laterite to gate of pagoda. The place has three parallel-shaped "Tam" word (Chinese word), commonly known as the Thuong pagoda, Trung pagoda, Ha pagoda or Ho pagoda spirit name of the tow colossal statues guarding the main gate of a pagoda), a veranda floor separated by 1.6 m. Each house has two floors type matches roof, eight roof and 8 octagonal is the first knife rise curved with the flower, leaf, dragon, phoenix, lion. Roof cover two layers of tile: front tile layer on the snowbell leaf title, tile layer lining below the square, painted in color. Wall were built Bat Trang brick burning red and bare, with the window color circle meaning "Sac- Khong" (a Buddhism concept). The wooden pillars are listed on the blue stone carved lotus.

The pagoda was built a long time and has been renovated several times in the century XVI, XVII, XVIII. In 1554, the temple was rebuilt on the old. In 1632, the temple built a 3 upper house and harem same corridor 20 rooms. In 1660, Tay Do Vuong Trinh Tac rebuild the pagoda.

By 1794, under Tay Son dynasty and of the pagoda was rebuilt, named Tay Phuong.

In 1893, Ty Kheo Thich Thanh Ngoc - a nun - was renovated pagoda, sculpt statue goddess of mercy hundreds hand, Thien Tai, Long Nu, Bat Bo Kim Cang, La Han (name of the tow colossal statues guarding the main gate of a pagoda) ...

 Tuyet Son statue

The temple in all three houses are decorated style sanctuary. System of worship in the pagoda is quite full, mostly carved jack-fruit wooden such as the Three World Buddhist statues, the Di Da Tam Ton statues , Tuyet Son statue, the statue of Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Bodhisattva Manjushri, the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, the Ananda, the Kasyapa, the Bat Bo Kim Cuong ... Pagoda have  many statues are sculptural excellence of the nation in the century XVII, XVIII, XIX, such as: Statue of Tuyet Son, and Chuan De goddess of mercy (worship in Trung pagoda), Bat Bo Kim Cuong (worship in Ho pagoda), the 16th Patriarch (worship in Thuong pagoda). In 1960, Huy Can poets to visit the temple has been writing poetry alive through poem "Arhat in Tay Phuong pagoda".

Arhat in Tay Phuong

Record Book Centre of Vietnam has established a record date of 12-12-2007 of Arhat statues of contemporary artists are creating work honestly and with vivid lines Sculpture great technical virtuosity beauty is: Tay Phuong pagoda with statues of arhat typical sculpture of the eighteenth century Vietnam.

Bat Bo Kim Cuong statue

It was great renovation in 1991 and 1995. West is famous for its temple architecture and sculpture most in Vietnam. Every day, the temple received numerous Buddhist, domestic tourists, foreigners come to visit, worship.

The pagoda was recognized by the Ministry of Culture is historical - cultural country in 1962.