The pagoda is located in Tien Phuong commune, Hoai Duc district, Hanoi. It occupies a large land area on a hill and has 140 compartments.
The pagoda is located in Tien Phuong commune, Hoai Duc district, Hanoi. It occupies a large land area on a hill and has 140 compartments. The pagoda was built by Nguyen Nhu during the Tran dynasty (13th century). At the beginning of the 1yh century, it was destroyed by the Ming invaders, except the staircase. The present pagoda was rebuilt under the Le dynasty (17th – 18th centuries).
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The pagoda comprises three main groups of structures: at the entrance are two booths where “human chess games” are held during the yearly traditional festival, and the Gia ngu houses where are usually placed the palanquins of deities. After climbing several hundred brick steps, one will reach the second group of structures: a two-storey bell tower containing a big bronze bell (height: 1.1 metres, diameter: 0.60m). After climbing 25 more stone steps, one will reach the upper courtyard where is situated a square rostrum stone. Climbing 9 more stone steps one will come to the Antechamber, the Intermediate Chamber and the Upper Chamber.
The hall for worshipping the late patriarchs lies at the back of the pagoda, there is a pavilion containing a big bronze drum (lm in diameter) and a bronze crescent-shaped plate (length: I.20m; height: 0.60m). There are two sets of embossments representing the 18 Arhats and the Ten Kings of the hell.
