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Hanoi? Sacred Guardians By David Nguyen

blog vietnam travel1. East: Bach Ma Temple

The oldest of the four sacred sites is Bach ma (White Horse) Temple, located at 76 Hang Buom Street, Hanoi. Bach Ma Temple was integrated the ninth century to worship Long Do (Dragon?s Belly) - a patron saint of Hanoi. Legend has it that Cao Bien, a Tang Dynasty official, try to use his magic power to overcome a deity, but lost. He is believed to have built an altar to exorcise the spirit on this site

In 1010 King Ly Thai To chose to move his capital from Hoa Lu to Thang long. But whenever he attemptedto build a citadel on the new site, it collapsed. The King sent his staff to Long Di temple to pray for the supernatural powers for help out with building his citadel. Suddenly, the saw a white horse racing from temple

The king ordered the citadel being built for the path taken by the galloping horse. This time, the construction was successful. King Ly Thai to elevated Long Do to the position of tutelary deity of Hanoi. From that point onwards, the temple was called White Horse

The first one of many four Thang Long Tu Tran, Bach Ma Temple still contains many important relics, for example stone steles recording the temple origins along with the resident deity, and royal ordinances on deification rites and the process of restoration dating from your Le on the Nguyen Dynasties

2. West: Voi Phuc Temple

The temple that defends the west is Voi Phuc (Kneeling Elephants) Temple, built throughout the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong (1054-1072) to whorship Saint Ling Lang. According to a legend, Saint Ling Lang was your fourth price vietnam travel of King Ly Thanh Tong and Lady Hao Nuong, his ninth imperial concubine

When Chinese Sung dynasty sent a solid army to invade Vietnam, the king was very worried. He dispatched his messengers to recruit talented individuals to fight the invaders to avoid wasting the country. Hearing good news, the price asked the king to give him command from the troops. The king agreed and provided him with a red flag, along spear, and 2 elephants. After arranging his troops, the prince stood before the elephants and shouted: ?? I am the general from heaven ? the elephants immediately knelt down, then carried him towards the battlefield where he with his fantastic troops defeated the invaders. Since then, the temple was generally known as Voi Phuc

When peace was restored, King Ly Thanh Tong held a feast to reward his troops and expressed his intention of abdicating the throne to the prince. However Ling Lang refused the King?s offer. A short time later, the prince was stricken using a disease. Resting his directly a square rook, Prince Ling Lang converted into a dragon and disappeared into West Lake. King Ly Thanh Tong conferred the title of Grand Prince upon him

Later underneath the Tran and Le Dynasties, Ling Lang reappeared like a genie to aid the King to defend the united states against enemies. To commemorate the prince contributions, these dynasties conferred him the title ?Superior Genie. Settlements within sight of his red light all built temples to worship and honor him

3. South: Kim Lien Temple

The temple that guards Hanoi on the South is Kim Lien temple. this temple was built as a possible altar to saint Cao son, who, as legend has it, was the son of the son of Vietnam? s first couple, Lac Long Quan and Au Co, Cao Son was reportedly one in the 50 siblings who followed their mother for the mountains. It is said that Cao Son vietnam travel blog had helped Son Tinh (Mountain Genie) to defeat Thuy Tinh (Water Genie) and provide peace for the people

According to document kelp within the temple, King Ly Thai To ordered the temple?s construction after vietnam travel that the establishment of Thang Long. In 1509, Le Tuong Duc marched his troop from Thanh Hoa to Thang Long to squash Le Uy Muc?s rebellion. When passing the temple , he went in to pray to Cao Son for support . Shortly thereafter Le Tuong Duc successfully restored the Le Dynasty. In return for the saint?s support, King Le Tuong Duc had the temple replaced having a bigger plus more beautiful one out of King Hoa ward, that was then near to Thang long. He also ordered his historians to compile epitaphs about the saint?s merits to ensure his deeds could be remembered with the generations. the temple contains a huge stone Stele of 2.43 meters tall, 1,57 meters wide and 0,22 meter thick focused on Cao Son. It is carved with records of saint miraculous deeds and verses to pray him composed by historian Le Tung in 1510. The throne stele was erected in 1772. Every year, a conventional festiv!

al is held here on March 16th with the lunar year and offerings of thanks are made towards the saint

4. North: Quan Thanh Temple

Quan Thanh Temple- also referred to as Tran Vu temple is specialized in Huyen Thien Tran Vu a deity mentioned in both Vietnamese and Chinese legends. He is credited with having helped Vietnamese visitors to drive away ghosts, evil spirits, and foreign invaders.

King Ly Thai To had the temple integrated 1010 to protect the north border of Thang Long Citadel. The temple has a giant black bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu on a stone pedestal 1.5 meters high. The statue carries a solemn, majestic look and depicts a man with a square face, a long beard, and long hair. He is wearing a hermit costume and it has bare feet. The lest hand from the statue oases magic and also the right hand holds a sword shrouded by a snake propped from the back of an tortoise ( a snake symbolizes strength along with a tortoise represents immortality. The statue is often a symbol of Vietnamese people?s undying resistance to invasion

Cast in black bronze, it stand 3.966 m high and weighs four tons. this beautifully-made sculpture was made in Ngu Xa Village ( Truc Bach Lake) through the reign of King Le Huy Tong in 1677

Quan Thanh Temple features a three-door entrance. In front in the entrance stand four large pillars. In addition to the statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu, the temple also boasts other precious artifacts particularly a big bell going back 1677, a bronze musical bell cast in 1794 a bronze plate made in 1841 and stone stele recording the restoration in the temple ( 1857)

Together, Bach Ma, Kneeling Elephants, Kim Lien and Quan Thanh temples form the four sacred guardians of Thang Long- Hanoi. These temples and historic and cultural treasures that symbolize the artistry strength, self-reliance, and independence of Vietnamese people

5. Activities to celebrate 1000th Thang Long ? Hanoi anniversary, Vietnam

1. Opening day (October 1)

- The opening ceremony will likely be held by the Hanoi authorities along with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the Ly Thai To statue, Dinh Tien Hoang road and the space around the Hoan Kiem Lake within the morning of October 1.

- The exhibition of economic and social achievements of Vietnam and Hanoi will open inside the afternoon October 1 in the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre.

- The exhibition of literary works of Vietnam through various periods at the Cultural and Art Exhibition Centre, Hoa Lu, Hanoi.

- ?The country with Hanoi? special show on the Vietnam Television in the evening of October 1, with all the direct participation of numerous people in several sites in vietnam travel and abroad.

- A general cultural and art performance organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Hanoi inside the evening on October 1. The show could have the contribution of foreign experts.

2. Activities from October 2, 2010

a. Cultural and art activities:

- Cultural exchange festival for ethnic groups in vietnam travel guide to celebrate the 1000th Thang Long ? Hanoi anniversary in Hanoi

- A week for historical films in Hanoi

- ?Thang Long impetus as well as the song for the country? music show on the Hanoi Opera House

- Performance of selected new songs to celebrate the 1000th Thang Long ? Hanoi anniversary with the Ba Kieu Temple stage

- Street festival and cultural-art programme of young Hanoians at various places in Hanoi

- The first international festival for young bands in Vietnam in the My Dinh National Convention Hall

for additional information please visit our website at vietnamheritagetravel.com or email us at info@vietnamheritagetravel.com
After 12 years working in travel industry in Indochina, I would like being your free travel consultant for all travel aspects in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Lived in Hanoi, the administrative centre city of vietnam tourist news and traveled cross Indochina inside past decade, from Halong Bay ( Vietnam ) to Angkor Wat ( Cambodia ) from Hanoi to Vientiane, from Hue Festival to Songkran one and from luxury five star hotel to ocean view resort, Indochina is awaiting you.