Khê Tang Pagoda
Introduction
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An overview introduction to a prominent tourist attraction of the capital Hanoi...
Detailed content about the history, culture, and distinctive features that attract visitors...
The pagoda is adjacent to Thượng Đình of Khê Tang village, Thanh Oai district, Hà Nội. Trì Bồng Pagoda was founded in the 13th century and later became associated with the legend of Venerable Linh Thông Hòa Thượng, a member of the Trần royal clan who went into hiding to practice and avoid Hồ Quý Ly's persecution. Therefore, Venerable Linh Thông is also worshipped together with Hưng Đạo Vương at Khê Tang Đình. The ancient temple has just been restored by the state but has not yet been handed over for use. A new three-entrance gate and several items were built; on the gate hangs a bronze bell cast in the 6th year of Cảnh Thịnh under the Tây Sơn dynasty. The pagoda still keeps 16 stone steles, the oldest from the Lê dynasty in the 3rd year of the Vĩnh Tộ reign, and the latest from the Nguyễn dynasty in the 5th year of Bảo Đại. In particular, the stele erected in the 7th year of Dương Hòa (1642) is quite beautifully carved and was erected during the reign of King Lê Thần Tông; the inscription says that on this occasion two consorts, Phạm Thị Ngọc Lãnh and Phạm Thị Ngọc Phác, in the Trịnh lord's palace, sponsored the construction of the spacious pagoda. The inscription was composed by Trạng nguyên Nguyễn Xuân Chính.
Trì Bồng Pagoda, together with Thượng Đình and Hạ Đình, are distinctive relics of the new Bình Minh Commune, preserving the traces of the two national heroes Hưng Đạo Đại Vương and Linh Thông Hòa Thượng Đại Vương, the pride of Khê Tang in supporting the saint and protecting the nation.
The pagoda was most recently repaired and embellished in 2024 with the following items: the three-entrance gate, the front hall, the upper hall, and some technical infrastructure.
