BA NGO PAGODA (NGOC HO TEMPLE)

The pagoda has the pen name of "Ngọc Hồ tự" (Ngoc Ho Temple), in addition, the pagoda is also known by its common name of "Ba Ngo pagoda" (in recognition of the merit of the woman who helped build the pagoda). Currently, the pagoda is located at 128 Nguyen Khuyen Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi City.

It is not clear when the pagoda was built. According to the book "Thăng Long Cổ Tích Khảo" (Ancient Relics of Thang Long), Ngoc Ho pagoda was built during the reign of King Ly Than Tong, in 1128. This book says: Originally, before the Three-Door Gate of the pagoda, there was a mound in the shape of a wine jar, under the mound, there was the water well with very pure and cool water, therefore, the pagoda was called “Ngọc Hồ”. While according to the stele named "Ngọc Hồ tự công đức bi” built in the 10th Bao Dai year (1935), this pagoda was built in the Le Thanh Tong period (1460-1497), then there was a woman named "Bà Ngô" (Mrs. Ngo) who contributed money to build the temple. In memory of her gratitude, the local people used her name "Bà Ngô" to name the pagoda.

In the story named "Bích Câu kỳ ngộ" by Doan Thi Diem, Ba Ngo pagoda was also associated with the thrilling story of King Le Thanh Tong (1460-1497) who met the fairy here. Legend has it that once when the king visited the Quoc Tu Giam (Imperial Academy), when he passed the temple, he heard the voice of a nun reciting Buddhist scriptures. Upon returning, the king visited the temple and met the nun. The king and the nun together commented poems, composed and recited poem extempore etc. King Thanh Tong highly appreciated and invited the girl to the palace. But by the gate, the nun immediately disappeared. The King thought that she was a fairy and the king ordered to build a tower which was called Lầu Vọng Tiên (it means Waiting for Fairy Tower) in the front of Dai Hung Gate. Later, when King Gia Long rebuilt Thang Long citadel, this tower was removed and moved to the territory of Bac Ha village, later changed to a temple (i.e. Vong Tien temple located at 12b Hang Bong street, Hoan Kiem district today).

To record the visit and meeting with the Fairy of King Le Thanh Tong, a temple worshipping Le Thanh Tong was constructed right next to the pagoda, in the same architecture. It can be said that this is an ancient temple in the imperial capital showing quite a special aspect of our country's Buddhism, that is the thought of liberating all the troubles of Buddhism combined with the salvation direction of the Tien Religion (a variant of Taoism) to lead an ethereal life, avoiding all mundane fame and fortune in the world.

Experiencing many ups and downs of history, Ngoc Ho pagoda was restored and repaired in the years of 1863, 1864, 1865 etc. During the Bao Dai period, the pagoda was overhauled. Two parallel sentences at the pagoda recorded this restoration time:

"Bất ký Ngô bà tu lý nguyệt

Đản tri Bảo Đại khánh thành niên".

Temporarily translated:

Don’t remember when Mrs. Ngo ordered to repair the Pagoda

Just remember the pagoda was inaugurated in the Bao Dai year.

Ba Ngo Pagoda is adjacent to Nguyen Khuyen street, a few dozen meters from Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature -Imperial Academy) and Ba Nanh pagoda. The current architectural items include: Three-Door Gate, Front Hall, Main Hall, Patriarch house, Mother Goddess House, the temple worshipping King Le Thanh Tong and other auxiliary works.

The Three-Door Gate of the pagoda is a very massive architecture, in the form of half Alter-Curtain, half Three-Door Gate with 3 gates built with arches in form of a stack of matchboxes on two floors with 8 curved roofs. The main gate is tiled with traditional roofs, the upper floor is left empty on 4 sides, the inside has a bronze bell casted in the 2nd Thanh Thai year (1887) with the words "Ngọc Hồ tự chung" (Bell of Ngoc Ho Temple). Two auxiliary gates are covered with fake tile roofs, carved with Chinese characters below of Ngọc Hồ tự" and "Ngọc Hồ từ" (Ngoc Ho Temple). Two sides of the three-door gate are two pillars which are constructed much higher with the top decorated with the patterns of stylized cape-jasmin and middle decorated with parallel sentences in Chinese language.

The main architecture of the pagoda is structured in the form of "丁" shape, including Front Hall and Main Hall.

The Front Hall consists of 5 compartments and 2 lean-tos built with gable walls and traditional tiled roof. The middle is covered with 3 Chinese characters "Ngọc Hồ Tự" (Ngoc Ho Temple). Close to the two sides, there are 2 high pillars decorated with two young lions facing together. The below is decorated with lantern decorated with parallel sentences in Chinese language.

Unlike many other ancient pagodas, Ngoc Ho pagoda has a porch in form of a dome to expand the space through a crab shell-shaped beam. This type of architecture is very rare in the North Vietnam and is in the style of a pavilion with a shell-shaped roof. This architecture is mainly found in Hoi An. The set of beams supporting the inner roof is in the style of “Thượng giá chiêng hạ kẻ ngồi” which is combined with beams and boards carved with the patterns of tiger, leaves to create the architectural elegance.

The Main Hall has 4 compartments in the back. Structure of the beam sets is made in the style of "Thượng giá chiêng, hạ kẻ ngồi" on the ground with two rows of columns. Next to the back wall, there built the brick platforms as a place to decorate the Buddha statues. Along the two sides of the Buddha chamber, there is the set of Ten rulers of the underworld statues.

The Patriarch house consisted of 7 compartments and 2 lean-tos, built with gable walls and traditional tiled roof. The frame structure is in the style of “Overhanging beam and crossing column”. This is the place to worship Buddha Bodhidharma and the deceased head monks.

The Mother Goddess House and Le Thanh Tong temple are located in parallel to form a “二" shaped structure and each house consists of 3 compartments. The outer house is the temple worshipping King Le Thanh Tong and Jade Emperor, Duc Thanh Tran Hung Dao, Yet Kieu and Da Tuong. The interior house worships Three Holy Mothers, the Holy Mother Lieu Hanh and the gods in the religion of Mother Goddess worshiping.

Ngoc Ho Pagoda also preserves a diverse and abundant system of objects including: 35 round statues, 03 bronze bells, 16 stone steles and many horizontal lacquered boards, doors painting in fresco, Y môn (paintings), parallel sentences etc. with the art dating from the nineteenth-twentieth century with content praising the beautiful scenery of the temple, praising Buddhism and recording the restoration, embellishment process etc. as well as many different aspects of contemporary social life.

Located in an area with many ​​historical - cultural relics, such as: Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature -Imperial Academy), Tien Phuc Pagoda, Pho Giac Pagoda, Thang Long Medicine Temple, Bich Cau Dao Quan, Song Son Temple, etc., Ngoc Ho Pagoda has become an attractive destination for tourists who want to learn about the land of Confucianism - Buddhism - Taoism as well as the variety of religious and belief relics in contemporary social life.

Ngoc Ho Pagoda was classified as a national relic in 1993.