A doorman protects the entrance to your home but for the city of Hanoi , four deities take care of that job.
For the millennium that it's been the capital city of Vietnam,Hanoi has been under the protection of four tutelary gods, worshippedin four temples located in the four corners of the city. Tens ofthousands of tourists and travellers visit these sites every year,according to figures from the Vietnam National Administration ofTourism.
East
Bach Ma (White Horse) Templeis located at 78-80 Hang Buom Street . Founded in the 9th century,there remains very little of the original thousand-year-old structuretoday. The present temple itself dates back to 18th and 19th centuryreconstruction work, and stands as one of the grandest temples inHanoi 's Old Quarter. It was originally named Long Do Temple, tovenerate the hero.
Legend has it that when King Ly Thai Tomoved the capital from Hoa Lu in present day Ninh Binh province toThang Long (former name of Hanoi), work on the citadel could not beginbefore the King himself prayed at the temple. After the ceremony, awhite horse appeared from behind the altar. After running around thecity, it flew off into the sky. The King decided to build the citadel inthe horse's footsteps. Long Do was then elevated to the position of atutelary deity or protector of the city and people started referring toit as White Horse Temple.
West
LinhLang, or Voi Phuc (Crouching Elephant) Temple is located inside theprecinct of Thu Le Zoo. Linh Lang was the fourth son of King Ly ThaiTong, and was immortalised as one of the capital's tutelary gods for hisglorious victory over the northern invaders.
The templerecently underwent restoration and is now home to many traditionalactivities including an annual festival on the 11th day of lunarFebruary. On that day, a statue of Linh Lang is ushered into the templeon a sedan chair carried by young men wearing light brown and redclothing. He is carried around an island that is situated in the middleof the zoo. In keeping with tradition, the speed and height at which thechair is carried must change from time to time, but the balance ismaintained.
North
Quan Thanh is a TaoistTemple . After many geographical changes to the city's layout, it isnow located on the corner of Quan Thanh and Thanh Nien street ,facing the West Lake . Dating back to the 11th century, the temple isdedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principle deities of Taoism.
During its long history, the site has been renovated several times,most recently in 1893 when the principal gate and the shrine wererebuilt, giving the architecture a mixture of the many different stylesof the imperial area. The main features of the temple are a large yardshaded by a giant banyan tree and a shrine that contains a famous bronzestatue of Tran Vu built in 1677. The statue measures 3.96m in height,weighs around 3,600kg and depicts Tran Vu as a deity with his twosymbolic animals, the serpent and the turtle.
With itshistory, architecture and location, Quan Thanh temple is one of the mostpopular tourist attractions in the city. It is also a training venuefor several traditional martial arts including Vovinam.
South
Cao Son Temple is located in Kim Lien village, Tay Ho District.Cao Son has appeared not once but twice in the ancient legends of thecountry. On the first occasion, he helped Son Tinh (Mountain Genie) inhis victorious battle against Thuy Tinh (Water Genie) and he was on handagain to help King Le Tuong Duc put down an outrageous revolt, revivingthe Le dynasty.
Built on a mound overlooking Dong Lam Lake , the temple is a typical example of ancient architecture.
An annual festival is celebrated on the 16th of lunar March at CaoSon Temple . Among the many traditional games and activities thattake place at the festival are bird fighting, a water see-saw and acooking competition which takes place on boats.
The fourtutelary gods of former royal capital Thang Long may have come fromdifferent times and beliefs, but have all been remembered and worshippedas heroes and protectors for over a thousand years by Hanoians. Theirhistory may be contained in books filled with pages about wars, but thefour sacred temples have always been there, giving their blessings tothe people of the capital city.
Restoration
In celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi , historical sitesall over the capital city are receiving special care. Quan De Temple at28 Hang Buom street in the Old Quarter recently underwentrestoration. Although it is quite the youngster being only 200 years ofage, the site had been gravely damaged by natural causes. However, whenit was reopened to the public last month, "90 percent of the originaldesign was restored", said Pham Tuan Long, deputy head of the Hanoi OldQuarter Management Department.
"It will act as a meetingplace for local people, and an information centre to welcome visitorswho are interested in the history of Hanoi's Old Quarter," Long said.
Re-opened in March, the centre will provide and promote activities tocelebrate the city's cultural heritage. It will also provide touristsand tour guides with information about the city, and in a city moving tomodernisation at the speed that Hanoi is, it is refreshing to knowthat cultural and traditional values are still appreciated, cherishedand thriving./.
For the millennium that it's been the capital city of Vietnam,Hanoi has been under the protection of four tutelary gods, worshippedin four temples located in the four corners of the city. Tens ofthousands of tourists and travellers visit these sites every year,according to figures from the Vietnam National Administration ofTourism.
East
Bach Ma (White Horse) Templeis located at 78-80 Hang Buom Street . Founded in the 9th century,there remains very little of the original thousand-year-old structuretoday. The present temple itself dates back to 18th and 19th centuryreconstruction work, and stands as one of the grandest temples inHanoi 's Old Quarter. It was originally named Long Do Temple, tovenerate the hero.
Legend has it that when King Ly Thai Tomoved the capital from Hoa Lu in present day Ninh Binh province toThang Long (former name of Hanoi), work on the citadel could not beginbefore the King himself prayed at the temple. After the ceremony, awhite horse appeared from behind the altar. After running around thecity, it flew off into the sky. The King decided to build the citadel inthe horse's footsteps. Long Do was then elevated to the position of atutelary deity or protector of the city and people started referring toit as White Horse Temple.
West
LinhLang, or Voi Phuc (Crouching Elephant) Temple is located inside theprecinct of Thu Le Zoo. Linh Lang was the fourth son of King Ly ThaiTong, and was immortalised as one of the capital's tutelary gods for hisglorious victory over the northern invaders.
The templerecently underwent restoration and is now home to many traditionalactivities including an annual festival on the 11th day of lunarFebruary. On that day, a statue of Linh Lang is ushered into the templeon a sedan chair carried by young men wearing light brown and redclothing. He is carried around an island that is situated in the middleof the zoo. In keeping with tradition, the speed and height at which thechair is carried must change from time to time, but the balance ismaintained.
North
Quan Thanh is a TaoistTemple . After many geographical changes to the city's layout, it isnow located on the corner of Quan Thanh and Thanh Nien street ,facing the West Lake . Dating back to the 11th century, the temple isdedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principle deities of Taoism.
During its long history, the site has been renovated several times,most recently in 1893 when the principal gate and the shrine wererebuilt, giving the architecture a mixture of the many different stylesof the imperial area. The main features of the temple are a large yardshaded by a giant banyan tree and a shrine that contains a famous bronzestatue of Tran Vu built in 1677. The statue measures 3.96m in height,weighs around 3,600kg and depicts Tran Vu as a deity with his twosymbolic animals, the serpent and the turtle.
With itshistory, architecture and location, Quan Thanh temple is one of the mostpopular tourist attractions in the city. It is also a training venuefor several traditional martial arts including Vovinam.
South
Cao Son Temple is located in Kim Lien village, Tay Ho District.Cao Son has appeared not once but twice in the ancient legends of thecountry. On the first occasion, he helped Son Tinh (Mountain Genie) inhis victorious battle against Thuy Tinh (Water Genie) and he was on handagain to help King Le Tuong Duc put down an outrageous revolt, revivingthe Le dynasty.
Built on a mound overlooking Dong Lam Lake , the temple is a typical example of ancient architecture.
An annual festival is celebrated on the 16th of lunar March at CaoSon Temple . Among the many traditional games and activities thattake place at the festival are bird fighting, a water see-saw and acooking competition which takes place on boats.
The fourtutelary gods of former royal capital Thang Long may have come fromdifferent times and beliefs, but have all been remembered and worshippedas heroes and protectors for over a thousand years by Hanoians. Theirhistory may be contained in books filled with pages about wars, but thefour sacred temples have always been there, giving their blessings tothe people of the capital city.
Restoration
In celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi , historical sitesall over the capital city are receiving special care. Quan De Temple at28 Hang Buom street in the Old Quarter recently underwentrestoration. Although it is quite the youngster being only 200 years ofage, the site had been gravely damaged by natural causes. However, whenit was reopened to the public last month, "90 percent of the originaldesign was restored", said Pham Tuan Long, deputy head of the Hanoi OldQuarter Management Department.
"It will act as a meetingplace for local people, and an information centre to welcome visitorswho are interested in the history of Hanoi's Old Quarter," Long said.
Re-opened in March, the centre will provide and promote activities tocelebrate the city's cultural heritage. It will also provide touristsand tour guides with information about the city, and in a city moving tomodernisation at the speed that Hanoi is, it is refreshing to knowthat cultural and traditional values are still appreciated, cherishedand thriving./.
