History
Driving about 5km from the centre of Hue city, visitors can access Thien Mu Pagoda hidden into the lush trees on Ha Khe hill. There is a mysterious legend why the Vietnamese ancestors chose this location for building the pagoda. Once time, Lord Nguyen Hoang takes a trip around the beautiful places in his country. He decides to take a rest on Ha Khe hill because of its sublime scenery and auspicious lands. The local people gossips that they met an old women sitting on the top of Ha Khe hill and said “There will be a Lord come and rebuild the old pagoda so that the development of our country is more prosperous”. After that, the old woman disappears. Therefore, the Lord replaces the small pagoda on Ha Khe hill into Thien Mu Pagoda as today.
An overview of Thien Mu Pagoda from high altitude
Experiencing through huge changes of Vietnamese history, Thien Mu Pagoda was used to be destroyed by strong floods and the ruins of time. Under the period of Nguyen dynasty, this place was restored and became one of the most palatial pagoda in Vietnamese centre land. Besides, Thien Mu Pagoda was used for national rituals, which prays the God for a peaceful nation and prosperous life of native people.
Structures
Tam Quan Gate
Tam Quan Gate is an area with 4 big pillars and 24 concrete steps erected in front of the entrance of Thien Mua Pagoda. After that, Nghi Mon, the main gate of pagoda will appear with ancient tiled roof and statues of Vietnamese God sticked on its wall. People believe that those God will remain the pagoda for safety.
Tam Quan Gate
Nghi Mon Gate with a gravestone behind
Dai Hung Shrine
Dai Hung Shrine is the main part of Thien Mu Pagoda with architectural style of Vietnam ancient time. Almost of main structures of the shrine was created by concrete painting with wood color layers. It also remains a huge Buddha statue, who can save the life of the poor and see the cruelty in the world.
Phuoc Duyen Tower
Phuoc Duyen Tower has become the most outstanding symbol of Thien Mu Pagoda for a long time. It has octagonal shape with measuring with 21m in height, which includes 7 floors with different size. In the past time, a golden Buddha statue was put on the highest floor of Phuoc Duyen Tower.
Dai Hong Chung bell
Dai Hong Chung bell is evaluated as an excellent masterpiece of Vietnamese bronze casting in the early 17th century. The bell is 2.5m in height, 2,025m in weight and 1.4 m in diameter. It is carved with sophisticated pictures of Buddhist holy animals and calligraphy.
Landscapes
Stepping foot on Thien Mu Pagoda, you can experience the feeling of satisfaction and tranquility when boating on romantic Perfume River. From a far distance, Thien Mu Pagoda appears in the solemnity of a historical Buddhist structure from the previous time. The lush tree is shaking towards breezes or a pine forest is flourishing behind Thien Mu Pagoda. It is really a perfect picture between natural landscape and priceless values of a hudred-year Buddhist structure in Vietnam.
A panorama from Thien Mu Pagoda
