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The Hùng Temple Attractions - admin - 15-08-2024
The Hùng Temple Historical Site (Hùng Temple), located in Việt Trì City, spans 1,030 hectares. It features four main attractions: the Temple of Lạc Long Quân on Mount Sim, the Temple of Âu Cơ on Mount Vặn, the Hùng Vương Museum, and the Temple of the Hùng Kings on Mount Nghĩa Lĩnh (Hùng Mountain).
The Temple of the Hùng Kings on Mount Nghĩa Lĩnh is situated at an altitude of 175 meters. Legend has it that Mount Nghĩa Lĩnh resembles a dragon's head facing south, with its body extending in curves to form Mount Vặn and Mount Trọc. Mount Vặn is 170 meters high, and Mount Trọc, situated in between, is 145 meters high. According to legend, these three peaks are known as the "Three Sacred Peaks," considered sacred by the local people.
Temple Gate
Before ascending to the temple, visitors must pass through the gate, which marks the beginning of a pilgrimage to the sacred land of the ancestors, the origin of the Vietnamese nation.
The gate is designed in an arched architectural style, adorned with patterns of two dragons facing the moon. It consists of two levels, standing 8.5 meters tall and 4.5 meters wide. At the top center of the gate is a large inscription with four Chinese characters: "Cao sơn cảnh hành" (High Mountains, Grand Roads).
Lower Temple (Đền Hạ)
Built from the 17th to 18th centuries and renovated several times (most recently in 2011), the Lower Temple has retained its original architecture. The temple comprises two sections: the front section for ceremonial purposes and the rear section as the inner sanctuary. The inner sanctuary houses altars for the mountain gods, the Hùng Kings, and the princesses Tiên Dung and Ngọc Hoa.
Legend has it that the Lower Temple is where Âu Cơ gave birth to the hundred eggs, which later hatched into a hundred sons. Associated with the legend of Âu Cơ, visitors to the Lower Temple often pray for good fortune and well-being for their children and family, believing that the Mother is the guardian of safe childbirth.
At the foot of the Lower Temple is the Stone Stele House, a hexagonal structure with six roofs. Inside, there is a stone stele inscribed with the words of President Hồ Chí Minh from his visit on September 19, 1945: "The Hùng Kings laid the foundation for our country. We must all work together to preserve it."
Ancient Well
Directly behind the Lower Temple is the Ancient Well (Dragon Well). According to legend, this is where Âu Cơ collected water to bathe her children.
Thiên Quang Pagoda
Thiên Quang Pagoda, meaning "Light from Heaven," is named for the beam of light said to have shone down from the sky when Âu Cơ gave birth to the hundred eggs. The pagoda was built during the 18th-19th centuries, in the Trần Dynasty period. Thiên Quang Pagoda follows the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and houses 32 wooden Buddha statues, painted and gilded.
In front of the pagoda stands a 3-headed pine tree about 800 years old, symbolizing the three regions: North, Central, and South. On September 19, 1954, President Hồ Chí Minh sat at the base of this tree to receive reports from Thanh Quảng, Chief of the General Staff of the Central Military Commission, and Song Hà, Political Commissar of the Vanguard Army Division, regarding the situation and plans for taking over Hanoi.
Central Temple (Đền Trung)
After climbing 159 stone steps, visitors reach the Central Temple, located halfway up the mountain. The Central Temple, known as "Hùng Vương Tổ Miếu" (Temple of the Hùng Kings), is believed to be where the Hùng Kings met with their lạc hầu and lạc tướng (military commanders) to discuss state affairs.
During the reign of the 6th Hùng King, a competition was held to find a talented person to rule the country. The youngest prince, Lang Liêu, won by creating the bánh chưng and bánh giày, which symbolized the round sky and square earth. The Hùng King praised the taste and the idea, and thus Lang Liêu was crowned the 7th Hùng King.
Upper Temple (Đền Thượng)
From the Central Temple, climbing about 100 more steps leads to the Upper Temple, situated at the highest point on the mountain. The Upper Temple is known as "Kính Thiên Lĩnh Điện," meaning "Temple to the Heavens on Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain." Legend says this is where the Hùng Kings performed rituals to pray for national peace and prosperity. It is also the main site for the most important rituals on the death anniversary of the Hùng Kings.
Oath Stone Column
Located to the left of the Upper Temple is the Oath Stone Column. Over time, the column became buried and was later restored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to help descendants understand the oath of their ancestors. Legend has it that during the 18th Hùng King’s reign, without an heir, the Hùng King followed the advice of his son-in-law Tản Viên and passed the throne to his cousin, Thục Phán. Thục Phán erected the stone column, pointing to the sky, swearing that the land of Vietnam would endure and the Hùng Kings' temple would remain. Thục Phán later took the title An Dương Vương, established the state of Âu Lạc, and moved the capital to Cổ Loa.
Hùng Vương Mausoleum
The mausoleum is said to be the tomb of the 6th Hùng King, with the instruction: "When I die, bury me on the peak of Mount Cả so that I may oversee the borders for my descendants." The mausoleum, built in a style of being placed on a mountain's peak and overlooking the Bạch Hạc junction, has undergone several renovations but maintains its original architecture. It is located against the Hùng Mountain slope and overlooks the Bạch Hạc junction.
The mausoleum’s walls are adorned with tiger and qilin motifs, and the main entrance features couplets in Nôm script expressing the descendants' reverence: "The tomb has been here since ancient times, the Tản Mountain and Đà River still return to the sacred land. - The civilization of the new era, the descendants of the Hồng and Lạc still remember the ancestors' graves."
Well Temple (Đền Giếng)
Descending about 600 steps southeast leads to the Well Temple, which honors the two princesses Tiên Dung and Ngọc Hoa. The love story between Princess Tiên Dung and Chử Đồng Tử reflects the desire for romantic freedom and marriage freedom. Ngọc Hoa - Sơn Tinh represents the fight against floods and the Vietnamese custom of bride price.
The temple, located at the foot of the mountain, features a roof decorated with the four sacred creatures: dragon, unicorn, turtle, and phoenix. The main hall displays three large inscriptions: "Ẩm Thủy Tư Nguyên" (Drink Water, Remember the Source), "Nam Quốc Anh Hoàng" (Southern Land's Resplendent), and "Sơn Thủy Kim Ngọc" (Mountains and Rivers as Precious as Gold and Jade).