Hidden beauty of Am Tien Pagoda in Ninh Binh

Hidden beauty of Am Tien Pagoda in Ninh Binh

Am Tien Cave is located in Hoa Lu ancient imperial complex, which was once the place where King Dinh Tien Hoang built an arina to punish the guilty, and at the same time this place later was the temple that Queen Duong Van Nga practiced Buddhism at the end of her life. The road to here is quite dangerous because most of Am Tien cave area is a flooded valley surrounded by rocky cliffs. With special terrain, Am Tien is an isolated world with many historical colors that attract any visitor.



Am Tien cave is located in Hoa Lu ancient imperial complex, in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province, about 10 km from the city center. - Photo: collectibles



Road to Am Tien cave - Photo: collectibles

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Nhat (former Director of the Institute of History), Am Tien cave temple is an isolated world, once this was the place where King Dinh confines tigers to punish those who are guilty, even at the feet Mount Dam is Ao Giai, where the king raises to throw sinners into the pond for punishment. This is also the place where King Le Dai Hanh locked Quach Quan Buoc prisoners, Trieu Phung Huan of the Song Dynasty to invade Dai Co Viet in 981, until 986 only to be returned to the Chinese messenger.



After taking the throne, Dinh Tien Hoang enthroned Truong Ma Ni as the Luc Dao Master. After that, Zhang Ma Ni and his son Zhang Ma Son renovated this isolated place into a school of trial to help the king rule the country (according to Viet history target - Ngo Thi Si) - Photo: collectibles

Am Tien cave in the middle of the mountain, the geographical position is quite dangerous, it must climb through 205 stone steps through the cliff. From afar, the cave is shaped like a dragon's mouth so it is also called a dragon's cave. Many stalactites have a picture of a grain of rice, a buddha fruit, a lotus flower bud, and drops of water. In addition, in the area, there is a salt cave and Tien cave ... where the king kept food, the national treasury during the Dinh Le period.



Four surfaces are mountains, forming a separate world - Photo: collectibles


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Am Tien pagoda is surrounded by four mountains, so the space here is almost isolated from the outside world. The majestic Am Tien landscape, poetic, but renders a sad and mysterious color as it is still reminiscent of the remnants of the old execution ground.



The water in the pond is especially clear and can see through the bottom. The species of algae and water creatures flourish, making the scene more mysterious and romantic - Photo: collectibles

Reversing the old history, in Dai Viet history signed the whole letter, saying: "The king (Dinh Tien Hoang) wants to use authority to overpower the people, then put a large cauldron on the court yard, feed the tiger tiger in the kennel, lower the order that everyone left you must bear the crime of abandoning the cauldron, feeding the tiger. ”

The bottom of the lake has strong growth of algae - Photo: collectibles
Most of the area in Am Tien cave is flooded valley, the terrain is especially when surrounded by rocky cliffs, so King Dinh chose to act as a place for arrest and trial. Legend has it that the Emperor Dinh raised wild and violent animals here, then let those who were executed. Those who escaped will be set free.



To enter the cave, after crossing the gate, you have to go down a walkway on the left hand side, next to the large lake that is stocked with lotus, guns, Total School perch and turtles. The country is very clear, can be seen at the bottom. Legend has it that this was the pond that King Dinh had raised in ancient times - Photo: collectibles



Am Tien cave is located in the middle of the mountain, to reach here, visitors must climb through 205 stone steps through the cliff. The cave is shaped like a dragon's mouth so it is also called a dragon cave - Photo: collectibles



In the last years of his life, Empress Duong Van Nga also ordained a monk at Am Tien Pagoda. An oral poem carved on the temple wall summarizes somewhat the life and career of Queen Duong Van Nga:

By the Ly dynasty, monk Nguyen Minh Khong was in a dharma chanting, built more Buddhist altars in the cave, the next one continued to expand the pagoda scene so that pilgrims could walk there.



On the mountain there is Am Tien Pagoda. This is also the place in the last years of life, Queen Duong Van Nga renounced her Buddhsim practice. - Photo: collectibles



With the rugged terrain in the area where the painting and the few people passed by, the Am Tien pagoda still contains many mysteries. - Photo: collectibles