Tường Phiêu Pagoda National Relic (Cựu Linh Temple)

Tường Phiêu Pagoda National Relic (Cựu Linh Temple)

Tường Phiêu Pagoda, whose Sino-Vietnamese name is Cựu Linh Tự, is located right next to Tường Phiêu Communal House, in Tường Phiêu Village, Phúc Thọ Commune, Hà Nội City.

Tường Phiêu Pagoda was built in the 19th century. The pagoda has undergone many restorations and embellishments: in 1999, the pagoda and local people restored and embellished the Ancestor Hall and Mother Goddess Hall; in 2001, the State restored and embellished the Tam Bao Hall; most recently, in 2024-2025, local authorities, the pagoda, and local people carried out restoration and embellishment of the Tam Bao Hall and secret chamber using socially mobilized funds.

Tường Phiêu Pagoda faces southwest. The pagoda includes the Tam Bao Hall; Ancestor Hall, Mother Goddess Hall, guest house, secret chamber, and a number of other auxiliary items. In front of the pagoda is a gate built quite elaborately, 4 m high, arched with the characteristic material of laterite. Passing through the pagoda gate into the courtyard, there is a system of ancient trees and perennial trees that stay green all year round. In front of the pagoda is a well. Its mouth looks like a wine gourd. Legend says this is a natural underground water source that never runs dry.

The Tam Bao (Buddha Hall) has a ground plan in the shape of the character Dinh (丁), comprising the Front Hall and Upper Hall (front with curved roof corners, rear with a closed gable). The Front Hall has five bays and four curved roof corners and is where Buddhist rituals are performed. The Upper Hall has three bays, with two roofs and closed gable walls, and is where the system of Buddha statues is placed.

Like many pagodas in the North, Tường Phiêu Pagoda worships Buddha of the Mahayana tradition. In addition to Buddha worship, the pagoda also has an Ancestor Hall and a Mother Goddess Hall—a form of folk belief of the ancient Vietnamese that has been passed down and survives to this day. The different forms of worship at this relic first serve the spiritual and religious life of local people, but at the same time they also help strengthen community bonds, encourage good and deter evil, educate people in the tradition of remembering the source when drinking water, and guide people toward good and humane values, which are truly worthy of respect and promotion.

With its typical historical, cultural, and artistic architectural values, Tường Phiêu Pagoda was ranked as a National relic under Decision No. 74 VH/QĐ dated 02/02/1993 of the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).