One pillar pagoda – a cultural highlight of Hanoi

One pillar pagoda – a cultural highlight of Hanoi

One Pillar Pagoda is located in the heart of Hanoi capital. Near Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda along with "Khue van cac" is one of the oldest cultural and historical relics, a symbol of the capital of Hanoi for thousands of years.

One Pillar Pagoda has another name of Dien Huu Tu or Lien Hoa Dai which possesses a unique architectural structure with a square structure on a stone pillar. It is a special architectural point for the temple to become one of the attractive tourist spots in Hanoi.


Beautiful One Pillar Pagoda in early sunshine - Photo: Khoi Tran Duc

The pagoda floating on the lake is thanks to a system of wooden bars forming a solid support structure, which looks like a lotus flower growing up from the lake.


Close to One Pillar Pagoda - Photo: T. Le Thang

Dien Huu Pagoda began construction in October (lunar calendar), in 1049 under King Ly Thai Tong. In 1105, Ly Nhan Tong king renovated and expanded the pagoda to become a large architectural complex for Linh Chieu Lake and added a gold-plated lotus on the top of the column. Inside the lotus building is a purple temple with the image of a god bird at the roof. There is a gilded statue of Buddha Avalokitesvara inside.


Over the years, One Pillar Pagoda has been renovated and restored many times through the dynasties of Tran, Post Le and Nguyen. The current One Pillar Pagoda is only a part of the ancient architectural complex of Dien Huu Pagoda.


Once upon a time, the One Pillar Pagoda - Photo: Collectibles

Please visit our website for more information about One Pillar Pagoda visit during a full day Hanoi city tour: https://orientskylinetravel.net/tours/visite-de-hanoi/

 

One Pillar Pagoda in 1896 - Photo: Firmin André Salles

The pagoda still retains a structure of Lien Hoa wooden square, each side is 3 meters long, four roofs are covered, and there are two dragons.


Roof of the One Pillar Pagoda - Photo: Steve Chasey Photography

The pillars include two blocks connected with a diameter of 1.2 m and a height of 4 m (not including the submerged soil). The entrance to the temple is a small staircase made of bricks. On the pillars consists of a system of wooden bars forming a solid structure supporting the pagoda, which looks like a lotus flower rising straight from the lake. This architecture is a unique feature of the One Pillar Pagoda.


One Pillar Pagoda becomes a symbol in many paintings, coins to souvenirs such as wood, stone, embroidery. - Photos: Collectibles

Inside the temple, the statue of Guan Yin sits on a wooden lotus painted in yellow card, in the highest position. On the statue of Buddha is a monumental "Lotus Flower" reminiscent of King Li's dreams leading to the construction of the temple.


Main hall of One Pillar Pagoda - Photo: Tomiiks

From the courtyard to the temple floor, visitors will pass through 13 steps, on both sides of the brick wall with stone steles introducing the history of the temple.



The steps to the temple - Photo: Le Monde1


The One Pillar Pagoda is built in the middle of the lotus pond with a length of 20m on each side and a low wall surrounded.


In the temple garden there is a Bodhi tree donated by President Rajendra Prasad on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to India in 1958. - Photo: John Mac 2011 UK

Although the size of the temple is not large, it has a unique beauty. Built with only one pillar, the temple can stand firm through the time of trial. Guests who have the opportunity to participate in the Hanoi tour to the temple will surely be amazed at its unique architecture.

One Pillar Pagoda is associated with the history of Hanoi capital, and for a long time the One Pillar Pagoda is also a symbol of Thang Long thousand years of literary land. The complex of monuments of One-Pillar Pagoda is located in the complex of Ho Chi Minh President's mausoleum, which attracts many near and far tourists, this is also a favorable condition for more people to know the special temple. this.


Thang Long Citadel - the thousand-year capital of Vietnam. - Photo: Tran Duc Khoi


Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - Photo: Hanoi's Panorama & Skyline Gallery

In addition, the Temple is also a symbol of wisdom, longevity, and salvation through full intellectual awareness. Unlike any Buddhist stupa, the One Pillar Pagoda carries a profound human philosophy with outer squares representing yin, and circular columns representing Jang. Its beauty not only looks majestic, but it also hides the elegant and gentle style of the Buddha realm.


Visitors cross to worship at One Pillar Pagoda - Photo: John Mac 2011 UK


One Pillar Pagoda deserves to be a symbol of Hanoi, contributing to promoting Hanoi tourism to international friends. The next generation needs to preserve cultural relics of historical significance because this is not merely a retention of ancient architecture but also a reference to the cultural history of an entire nation.