Hà Nội - Quán Thánh temple

Quán Thánh Temple, named as Trấn Vũ Quán in Sino-Vietnamese, dating from the reign of King Lý Thái Tổ (1010-1028), was established to worship one of the four principal deities guarding four gateways of Thăng Long in the past (Four Sacred Temples).

The main part of the temple (for praying and bowing) where the statue of Trấn Vũ deity is situated has four roofs (under which are four halls). Right at the centre is a horizontal lacquered board written as “Trấn Vũ Quán” in Han scripts. On the side walls, there are carved poems praising the Temple and the Statue by the poets living during the Nguyễn Dynasty.

Main gate
Quán Thánh Temple, named as Trấn Vũ Quán in Sino-Vietnamese, dating from the reign of King Lý Thái Tổ (1010-1028), was established to worship one of the four principal deities guarding four gateways of Thăng Long in the past (Four Sacred Temples).
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The position
According to Vũ Tam Lang, the temple was moved to the south of West Lake on the occasion of largening the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long in 1474 by the orders of King Lê Thánh Tông, however, not until 1836, under the reign of King Minh Mạng of the Nguyễn Dynasty, was the temple repaired and completed.
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The name
Quán Thánh Temple is also called Trấn Vũ Quán. “Quán” is understood as a sacred place for Taoist gods and spirits. After the restoration, the structure of the temple consists of a three-door gate, a big yard, fore-temple, middle temple and inner palace.
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The structure
The Temple has been repaired quite many times so far, but the structure remaining from the Nguyễn Dynasty.
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Statues
Inside the Temple, there are a lot of statues, big Han scripts, inscribed parallel sentences written in Han scripts, ornamental things skilfully made from copper.
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The doors
In addition to casted copper fine handicrafts, Quán Thánh Temple is also famous for beautifully carved wooden things. On the wooden pieces of the temple, there are many elaborately carved themed shapes and figures.
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The statue of Trấn Vũ
The main part of the temple (for praying and bowing) where the statue of Trấn Vũ deity is situated has four roofs (under which are four halls). Right at the centre is a horizontal lacquered board written as “Trấn Vũ Quán” in Han scripts. On the side walls, there are carved poems praising the Temple and the Statue by the poets living during the Nguyễn Dynasty.
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Giant statue
In the past, the Statue of Huyền Thiên Trấn Vũ was made of wood. In 1677, it was cast and molded from black brass 2,96 m height and 4.000 kg weight. This is a unique work of art marking the copper casting skillfulness and talent of Vietnamese craftsmen.
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Touch of fortune
Trấn Vũ deity is a combined image of the god that helped King An Dương Vương to expel evil spirits during the construction of Cổ Loa citadel and the Chinese mythological god Chân Võ Tinh Quân (the god protects the North). Visitors often touch the Statue of Trấn Vũ to be granted good luck and healthy.
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Praying
The Temple is not only a place that has historical and architectural values but also a famous space for Ha Noi people in the past and today practice their religious and cultural activities.
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