Giong Mot Pagoda

Giong Mot Pagoda is a valuable religious and spiritual relic, closely tied to the cultural and spiritual life of local people over many generations. Previously, Giong Mot Pagoda belonged to Dong Xuyen Village, Dang Xa Commune, Gia Lam District, Hanoi; today it belongs to Dong Xuyen Village, Thuan An Commune, Hanoi.

The pagoda's architectural structure includes tthe front hall and upper hall, creating a solemn and serene worship space in accordance with the traditional village pagoda architecture of the Northern Delta. In the front hall, in the central bay, there is an elaborately carved and gilded incense table. Above hangs a horizontal plaque inscribed with three characters “Tam Bảo tọa,” expressing the solemn space of the Buddha worship site. Outside the front hall, in the right bay, are statues of the Dharma Protector Khuyến Thiện and Đức Ông. Above hangs a horizontal plaque inscribed “Long Đức Tín.” Opposite on the left are the statue of the Dharma Protector Trừng Ác and the statue of Đức Thánh Hiền, with a plaque above inscribed “Thánh Trung Vương.” The statues of the Dharma Protectors Khuyến Thiện and Trừng Ác express the traditional Buddhist concept of encouraging people to do good, avoid evil, live compassionately, and cultivate morality.

Along the left gable wall of the front hall is the altar of the pagoda's patriarch, considered the first abbot of Giong Mot Pagoda. The statue is made in a meditative sitting posture, hands placed on the lap, wearing a cassock. The statue's face has gentle, approachable features, creating a sense of familiarity and reverence.

Entering the upper hall is the central space of the pagoda, where the system of Buddha statues is arranged according to the traditional Buddha worship of pagodas in the North.

The top layer is the set of Three Ages statues, representing the Buddhas of the past, present, and future.

The second layer is the set of Amitabha Trinity statues, including Amitabha Buddha together with Bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta, expressing Buddhism's thought of compassion and salvation of sentient beings.

The third layer is the statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, the image of a Bodhisattva with many hands and many eyes, symbolizing the ability to observe, listen, and help sentient beings in all circumstances.

The fourth layer is the statue of the Jade Emperor, flanked by Nam Tao and Bac Dau, expressing the interplay between Buddhism and folk beliefs in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people.

The fifth layer is the Nine Dragons – Infant Shakyamuni, re-creating the image of Shakyamuni Buddha at his birth. This is a familiar theme in traditional Buddhist sculpture art.

The system of worship statues at Giong Mot Pagoda not only meets the needs of religious practice but also reflects quite clearly the characteristics of the traditional Buddhist hall space in the North, where Buddhism blends with elements of folk beliefs and community cultural life.

Over time, Giong Mot Pagoda has become a familiar cultural and spiritual space for local people. It is not only a place for cultivation and Buddha worship but also contributes to educating people toward goodness and preserving the community's good moral and traditional values. With its outstanding historical, cultural, architectural, and artistic values, Giong Mot Pagoda was ranked as a national historical-cultural relic in 1995 by the Ministry of Culture and Information, now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Today, the pagoda continues to be preserved, protected, and promoted by local people, becoming a meaningful cultural and spiritual address, contributing to enriching the cultural heritage system of Thuan An Commune. Giong Mot Pagoda – a place preserving traditional Buddha statue art, the belief space of the rural village, and cultural values transmitted through many generations.