Huong Tuong Temple

Huong Tuong Temple is currently located at 64 Ma May Street, Hang Buom Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City. In the past, this place belonged to Huong Tuong giap, Giang Khau Ward, later changed to Ha Khau, Huu Tuc Canton. In the Nguyen period, it was changed to Dong Tho Canton, Tho Xuong District, Hoai Duc Prefecture.

The surviving Han-Nom documentary sources kept at the temple, such as deity legends, royal edicts, horizontal plaques, and couplets, show that Huong Tuong Temple worships Nguyen Trung Ngan, a famous figure under the Tran dynasty. He served as an official through five reigns, reaching the positions of Grand Academician, Pillar of the State and Founding County Baron, and National Duke; he was also the Great Intendant of the capital. He was a talented politician and writer who left many valuable works, including 'Gioi Hien thi tap', 'Ma Nhai ky cong bi', 'Hoang Trieu dai dien', and 'Hinh thu'. At present, the Library of Social Sciences still keeps a handwritten poetry collection copied in the Year of the Goat, the 36th year of Canh Hung (1775), entitled 'Vung tap Gioi Hien thi cao toan trat'.

His poetry collection was copied in full in Le Quy Don's 'Toan Viet thi luc'.

According to the stele 'Huong Tuong giap trung tu bi ky' erected in the Year of the Rooster, the 6th year of Minh Menh (1825): 'The Great King's temple with purple robes of our giap was founded in the Tran dynasty and has lasted more than 400 years; it is believed that it was built with money and property contributed by the worthy elders of our giap. Inside is the deity hall, in front of the deity hall is the central hall, and in front of the central hall is the front hall, each connected and consisting of three bays. Outside is a gate, surrounded by brick walls; our giap has offered worship throughout the year...'.

When discussing the restoration in the Year of the Dragon, the 16th year of Thanh Thai (1904), the stele author adds: 'The communal temple of our giap was founded in the Tran dynasty and is solemn and spacious. The upper part is for worshipping the tutelary deities, and the lower part is for worshipping the heroes of the nation...'.

Thus, through the above ancient bibliographic sources, it can be seen that Huong Tuong Temple was founded in the Tran dynasty. Through successive reigns, it was granted divine edicts and restored and repaired many times over the years: the 3rd year of Vinh Huu (1737), Gia Long (1802-1820), the 6th year of Minh Menh (1825), Tu Duc (1848-1883), and the 16th year of Thanh Thai (1904). The current appearance of the temple bears traces of the restoration under the Nguyen dynasty.

Huong Tuong Temple faces west, looking out onto Ma May Street. The temple's architectural structures are concentrated in an airy space, hidden beneath the canopy of an old banyan tree with dense foliage all year round. The components of the relic include: a small gate in front, a brick yard behind, and then the main architectural area.

In the center of the rear hall is a raised wooden platform: 148 cm high and 240 cm wide, with boards on three sides; inside are arranged a dragon throne and spirit tablet for worshipping the deity Nguyen Trung Ngan, whose honorific title is Tu Y Dai Vuong.

Huong Tuong Temple currently preserves a collection of cultural artifacts of historical value. Among them, six divine edicts from the three dynasties of Le, Tay Son, and Nguyen are especially valuable; the earliest are edicts from the Canh Hung year (1783), the first year of Chieu Thong (1787), the fourth year of Quang Trung (1791), the first year of Canh Thinh (1793), the 18th year of Tu Duc (1865), and the 9th year of Khai Dinh (1924).

Contributing significantly to enhancing the relic's value is a system of seven ancient stone steles; the earliest stele bears the Vinh Huu era, 3rd year (1737). In particular, the stele from the 6th year of Minh Menh (1825) records the construction of the temple.

Huong Tuong Temple was ranked as an architectural and artistic relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 2007.

I notice you've provided translation instructions, but there's no Vietnamese text included for me to translate. Please send the Vietnamese tourism copy you'd like translated into English.According to Hanoi Scenic Spots and Relics, Volume 01