Phù Xá Đoài Pagoda

Phù Xá Đoài Hamlet, Nội Bài Commune, Hà Nội City

The pagoda's literary name is “Phúc Lâm Tự”; through its steles, bell, and system of statues, it can be seen that the pagoda was built early and was extensively renovated, retaining its current architecture from the 19th century.

The pagoda was built facing south–southwest, with a ground plan in the shape of the character “Công.” The Front Hall is connected to the Upper Hall by the Thiêu Hương (Incense Hall). The Front Hall has seven bays, built in a gable-end style with closed gables, hand-shaped brackets, and protruding ornamental pillars in front. The Thiêu Hương has three bays with two roof trusses and eight columns. The Upper Hall has three bays, four roof trusses, and sixteen columns, designed with upper gong stands and lower braces resting on columns and walls. Behind the main pagoda is the Mother House with five bays and closed gable ends.

Phù Xá Đoài Pagoda has a relatively complete system of statues, rich in materials, including clay and wooden statues dating from the 19th century.

In the Front Hall, there are the following groups of statues:

+ Vajra statue group: 8 statues

+ Đức Ông – Thánh Tăng statue group: 2 statues

+ Khuyến Thiện – Trừng Ác: 2 statues

+ Bodhisattva statues: 4 statues

Three Jewels and Upper Hall:

+ Nine Dragons statue

+ Statues of the Jade Emperor, Brahma, and Indra: 3 statues

+ Statue of the Infant Shakyamuni

+ Statue of Shakyamuni Practicing Asceticism and Bodhisattva statues

+ Statues of Amitabha, Guanyin, and Mahasthamaprapta

+ Statues of the Ten Kings of Hell

+ Statues of the Three Times Buddhas

+ Statues of Cundi Guanyin and Child-Sending Guanyin

+ Statues of Manjushri and Samantabhadra

+ Statues of the Land Deity and Earth God

+ Rear statues: 2 statues

+ Mother Goddess statues

+ Patriarch statues

The artistic decoration in the pagoda is sparse and simple; the architectural components are plain, with tight joints and some molded edges. Notable is the ornate arch, carved in relief, lacquered red, and gilded; in the center is a tiger emblem, flanked by two panels depicting phoenixes playing in clouds. Below is an image of two dragons adoring the moon, with dragon bodies depicted in lively curls, and the border features curling leaves and chrysanthemum vines… strongly reflecting the artistic style of the Nguyễn dynasty.

Phù Xá Đoài Pagoda was ranked as a national relic under Decision No. 2009/QĐ dated November 15, 1991, by the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Sports.