TUONG THUAN TEMPL

Tuong Thuan Temple is located at No. 2, Den Tuong Thuan alley, Kham Thien ward, Dong Da district, Hanoi city. In 19th Century, this site belonged to Tien Nghiem sub-district, Tho Xuong district, Hoai Duc sub-province, Hanoi province.

The temple is the place for worshipping Saint Tran Hung Dao and General Pham Ngu Lao, those who had the merits in the resistance war against the Mongol – Yuan invaders in 13th Century to bring back the peace for the country.

Besides a military genius, Tran Hung Dao was a big personality who bequeathed his reputation to the next generations. When the country was in dangerous situation, he was willing to discard the personal hatred to resolve the national problems. Although he made extraordinary triumph, it was his loyalty that was admired by the people. He was the symbol of loyalty and faithfulness, devotion towards the country, and was the extraordinary stamp of a man of honor. Before he was dead, he did not forget to advise kings of Tran Dynasty: “We have to release the burden on the people’s shoulder to develop sustainably from the root” for the long-term career of the country. He was also the author of the “Hich tuong si” article (a proclamation to raise the spirit of the generals and soldiers before coming to the battle field) which is still preserved until now. After his death, he was bestowed with the title Hung Dao Dai Vuong. The people established temples for worshipping him all over the country.

Pham Ngu Lao originated from Phu Ung village, Duong Hao district, Hai Duong (now An Thi district, Hung Yen province). According to the book Tong pha ky yeu tan bien (a book about the origin of the Vietnam people and some outstanding families in Vietnam) by Pham Con Son referring to the Pham family annals, he was the 8th generation of General Pham Hap of Dinh Dynasty. When he was still young, the boy Ngu Lao showed his uncommon and brave character. One time, Mr. Bui Cong Tien in the village gained the degree of feudal Doctor and gave a party to celebrate; all the villagers came to attend, except Pham Ngu Lao. When asked by his mother, he said: A man has to have position and fame over the country; now I am nowhere equal to him, it is a disgrace to me to come and congratulate him. In about the same time, Hung Dao Vuong had a trip through the Phu Ung area. Pham Ngu Lao was sitting in the street making the bamboo basket and thinking about the warfare book when the troops arrived. A soldier would like to clear the way, kept shouting at him but the man sit still. The soldier stabbed to his thigh with his spear; even that, the man who was making bamboo basket did not give any reaction. Seeing that, Tran Quoc Tuan reached and had a talk with the man. After his knowledgeable replies, Quoc Tuan ordered the juniors to cure his wound and invited him to the Court.

Back to the capital, Tran Quoc Tuan recommended Pham Ngu Lao to the court as the imperial guard manager. Knowing that he used to be a farmer, the guards did not feel admire and asked for permission from the court to compete with him. Pham Ngu Lao agreed, but ask for 3-month leave to his hometown before the competition. Back to his hometown, every day he came to a hillock in the field and jumped on it with one try. He kept practicing to jump on it until the hillock was worn to half. On the deadline, he came back to the citadel and competed with the guards. The guards saw that he moved forward and backward as quickly as flying, kicked and punched as a lighting as if he could resist several tens of people, they bowed in admiration to him.

After that, he followed Tran Quoc Tuan to fight against the Mongol – Yuan enemy and gained many triumphs. Later, he also had the merits for quelling the ancient Laos invaders and therefore was appointed as Điện Tiền Thượng Tướng Quân (a high-ranking General). After his death, he was bestowed with the title Thuong Dang Phuc Than (meaning First Good Genius). Since he was a general under Tran Hung Dao, the temples for worshiping Tran Hung Dao are for worshiping Pham Ngu Lao too.

It is not clear now when Tuong Thuan temple was built. Based on 02 remaining edicts of conferring dated to 12th year of Minh Menh reign (1831) and 8th year of Thieu Tri (1848) to Tran Hung Dao and Pham Ngu Lao, we can consider that: The Temple have been existing here no later than 19th Century and been developed continuously until now.

In the night of 26th day of December 1972, the US enemy sent B52 airplanes bombing to demolish the Kham Thien quarter, Tuong Thuan Temple was destroyed. Later, with the kind heart and assets contribution by the people, the temple was restored. The current architecture was resulted from the restoration in the end of 20th Century.

Tuong Thuan Temple was built in Southwest direction in Đinh (丁) character layout, consisting of the Front Hall and the Back Palace. Besides, in the precinct of the temple there is an area for worshiping Buddha which have just been built in recent years.

The entrance gate is in form of 4 pillars; on top of the two main pillars, there embarked stylized Cape jasmine fruits; the two side pillars have a pair of embarked flanking “Nghê” (lion-like creature). Under the side edges of the main pillars, there are curving ornamental sabre tips; on top of the roof centerline, there are ornamental dragons flanking to the sun; the pillar bodies are embarked with parallel sentences in Chinese characters.

The Front Hall consists of 3 main compartments and 2 side compartments, in form of two storeys, two roofs with one overlaying the other and 8 roof sides altogether covered with traditional tiles. The frame set consists of 4 wooded frames connected with one another in form of “Gong hanging frame and overlaid beams in upper and sculptured wooden boards in lower” on 4 column rows; the front doors are wooden and in form of “Railings in upper, plate in lower”. The storey-linking part is in form of balusters, making the inside airy. The floor is paved with enameled tiles.

The Back Palace is the place for worshiping Saint Tran Hung Dao, Pham Ngu Lao and his trusted servants. The statue of the Saint Tran is sitting inside a wooden worshiping cubicle, in an imposing composition of a military general; he is wearing a mandarin’s bonnet, has a hale and hearty face, long beard, and is wearing a tunic and mandarin’s boots. This is quite a beautiful statue and is in artistic style of 19th Century.

The temple also has an area for worshiping Buddha with 4 compartment and two storeys: The lower storey has concrete ceiling and the upper one is of wooden, covered with traditional tiles. The three outer compartments are for worshiping the Buddha, Anathapindika and Ānanda; the inner compartment is for worshiping the Patriarch.

Throughout historic ups and downs and variations, Tuong Thuan Temple still preserves a system of relics with high historical and cultural values, which contribute to enriching the treasure of cultural heritages of Thang Long – Hanoi; the notable ones include: 02 edicts of conferring dated to 12th year of Minh Menh (1831) and 8th year of Thieu Tri (1848), 01 bronze bell dated to 7th year of Khai Dinh (1922), statue of Saint Tran, statue of Pham Ngu Lao, and many horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, door paintings in fresco, thurible, aloes wood burner, etc. which makes the temple more sublime and ancient.

Tuong Thuan Temple was classified as National Vestige in 1993.