To Hoang Pagoda

To Hoang Pagoda is located at No. 13, Alley 101, To Hoang Dyke, Cau Den Ward, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi. Currently, To Hoang Pagoda still preserves the most valuable collection of cultural relics, including 5 stone steles, among which is the stele “Khai sang ky kim bi ky” erected in the 4th year of Bao Dai (1929), which clearly records the construction process and the merits of those who contributed to building the pagoda: “In the year of Nham Tuat (1922), construction of To Hoang Pagoda began and in the year of Quy Hoi (1923) it was completed.” Over the years, along with wartime conditions, the pagoda was seriously degraded. In 1997–1998, Venerable Thich Gia Quang, abbot of Lien Phai Pagoda, together with local authorities and people, restored the Three Jewels Hall and built the Ancestor House and Mother House, so the pagoda's architecture became quite spacious. The main pagoda has a “ding” character structure, including 5 bays of the front hall and 3 bays of the upper sanctuary. Overall, the decoration on To Hoang Pagoda's architecture is strongly imbued with the Nguyen style. To Hoang Pagoda currently has 13 Buddha statues lacquered and gilded, elaborately and finely crafted, including: 3 statues of the Three Ages Ever-Present revealing the Dharma body, an Amitabha statue seated in meditation on a lotus throne, a Shakyamuni Holding a Flower statue in the center, with Bodhisattva statues on both sides. Finally, there is the Nine Dragons throne and the newborn Shakyamuni statue. In addition, the pagoda has 8 couplets and 6 horizontal boards lacquered and gilded with Chinese characters, whose content praises the compassion and charity of Buddhism. To Hoang Pagoda is currently directly managed by the People's Committee of Hai Ba Trung District and has not been ranked, but it has become a center for cultural and religious activities for the community of residents in the ward and visitors from all over.