Dong Son Pagoda (Linh Son Tu)

Dong Son Pagoda (Linh Son Tu) was ranked at city level under Decision No. 95/QD-UBND dated January 7, 2019, of the Hanoi City People's Committee

1. Overall introduction to the relic site
Dong Son Pagoda was built on a high, dry and airy plot of land right next to Dong Son communal house in the village's residential area. Local people say that formerly the communal house and pagoda of Dong Son village were large in scale. However, due to time and historical changes, through the nation's wars of national defense, the village's communal house and pagoda were destroyed. Based on the traces and architectural scale along with the remaining system of artifacts, it can be concluded that the pagoda was initially built during the Nguyen dynasty.
The pagoda has undergone many restorations and repairs; the current architectural result bears the mark of a major restoration in 2001. The overall layout of the architectural works includes: the triple gate, the front hall, the upper sanctuary, and the Mother Goddess house.
2. Architectural description
2.1. Triple gate
The pagoda's triple gate is built in a stacked two-tier style with eight imitation tubular-tile roofs; on the roof ridge are two dragons facing each other, and eight roof corners are attached with stylized dragon-leaf shapes. Separating the upper and lower roof tiers is a horizontal plaque bearing three characters,
Han characters: Linh Son Tu; below, the gate is built with an arched vault, and on both sides are faded couplets. No auxiliary gates were built on either side; instead, two low walls connect to the pagoda's enclosing wall.

2.2. Front hall
Passing through the triple gate is a large courtyard paved with red square bricks; we step up to the front hall of Dong Son Pagoda. Seen from outside, the front hall is built in a stacked two-tier roof style. The lower roof tier is the front veranda and the two side gables of the building, but inside is a single structure consisting of three bays and two side compartments, roofed with local tiles. The veranda roof section is concreted and covered with tiles on the outside. On the roof ridge are two dragon groups, and at the four corners are stylized dragon-leaf ornaments. The frame is made of wood with four trusses structured in the 'upper beam, lower seated brackets and veranda supports' style on two rows of columns, and the floor is paved with red square bricks. In front are three rectangular panel doors, and the two side bays have windows in the character 'Longevity' shape to create ventilation and increase light inside.
The decoration is mainly concentrated on the purlins, tie beams, and the two corner braces adjoining the upper sanctuary, with motifs such as four seasons, leaf scrolls, seal patterns, and molded edges, serving as accents that make the architecture softer.
2.3. Upper sanctuary
Upper sanctuary: it consists of two longitudinal bays located behind the front hall, forming a T-shaped layout. The building has gable walls with closed tops and local tiled roof. The frame consists of three concrete trusses imitating wood, structured in the 'rafter, beam, and crossbeam with hidden columns' style; both ends rest directly on the enclosing walls, and the floor is paved with red bricks. There is no decorative patterning on the architecture of the upper sanctuary.
2.4. Mother Goddess house
The Mother Goddess house is located immediately to the right of the pagoda, comprising three bays, built of brick; inside it has a flat roof, the exterior is covered with tiles, in front is a wide veranda, and three rectangular hinged doors open outward; the floor is paved with ceramic tiles.
2.5. Side house
The side house is located slightly obliquely behind and to the right of the front hall, comprising three bays, built of brick, roofed with Western tiles, and floored with square bricks. The frame consists of four simple wooden trusses.
3. Arrangement of worship objects in the relic site
In the Upper Sanctuary, a high platform is built as a place for placing the tiers of Buddha statues
- First tier: Three statues of the Three Worlds

- Second tier: Amitabha Buddha statue - Two Bodhisattvas

- Third tier: Shakyamuni Buddha holding a flower

- Fourth tier: Amitabha Buddha - Jade Emperor - Guanyin of the South Sea
- Fifth tier: Nine Dragons throne - Manjushri - Samantabhadra
On both sides of the upper sanctuary's gable walls, statues of the Earth God and the Kitchen Supervisor are arranged
In the two side bays of the front hall, statues of Encouraging Goodness, Punishing Evil, the Lord, and the Holy Monk are arranged along with a number of other artifacts.
In addition to the Buddha statue system, horizontal plaques, curtained doors, and couplets are hung in all bays; below them are incense tables with worship objects such as vases, incense bowls, offering trays, and candlesticks...