Kim Lien Temple

Kim Lien communal house known as one of the “Four Sacred Temples of Thang Long” - Southern border gate of Thang Long citadel. This monument is also known as Kim Lien temple, or Cao Son temple.

The current documents saved in the communal house such as Conferment, epitaph, horizontal lacquered board, and distich all affirm about the genie named Cao Son Dai Vuong, a genie in national construction and defense legendary, who has been worshiped in many residence locations of the ancient Vietnamese people.

At the beginning of the Le Trung Hung period, Cao Son was especially appreciated for his merit in helping the King Le regain the throne. After taking the throne, King Le Tuong Duc rebuilt the temple and Cao Son god was specially respected by the Le Dynasty. With the grateful to the god for helping the rebellion in Dong Do, in 1509, the king rebuilt the more beautiful temple in Kim Hoa ward near Thang Long citadel (now Phuong Lien ward).

The main gate of Kim Lien communal house consists of 4 huge bronze pillars. Behind the gate is a fairly large square yard, two outbuildings on two sides, with 3 compartments, built with bricks, roofed with local tiles, horizontal truss structure on each side. This project was inaugurated on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi.

Go through the brick yard, through 9 high steps built with special “Vo” bricks (a brick from the Le Trung Hung dynasty) and a pair of stone alligators facing the gate. The main architecture is located on the top of the mound, including Nghi Mon and the main Temple.

The main temple is structured in the form of "Dinh" word, including Bai Duong and Hau Cung buildings. Bai Duong was embellished on the occasion of the 990th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi, in the traditional architectural style, including 3 compartments, 2 wings, including 4 roofs with curved soaring blades.

Hau Cung building is the remaining original structure of the old Kim Lien "temple". The outer compartment places the incense of gold-painted lacquer, embossing four holy animals and four noble trees. The second pavilion built a high brick pedestal to place two sets of Throne and the Ancestral tablet. The innermost place to place Long Ngai, the tablet of Cao Son Dai Vuong and the two Goddesses to be enjoyed is "Thuy Tinh De Tam Ton Nu Dong Ho Trung Vuong Mau" and "Hue Minh Lady" (originally transferred from other places).

Kim Lien communal house (temple) has become a special icon of the ancient Hanoi, both creating a marking of the boundary of the southern border of Thang Long citadel, also symbolizing the guarding and protecting the imperial city. Kim Lien communal house with Bach Ma temple (eastern location), Quan Thanh temple (northern location), and Voi Phuc temple (western location) form a special and unique "four sacred temples of Thang Long " the unique of only Thang Long citadel.

Kim Lien Communal House (Temple) was ranked National Historic - Architectural art in 1990.