Vietnam Pagodas

Bà Nành Pagoda

Hà Nội(Chùa Bà Nành (Hà Nội))

Bà Nành Pagoda

Overview & history

Bà Nành Pagoda (also known as Tiên Phúc Tự) is a pagoda located at 27 Văn Miếu Street (Hà Nội), with another gate at 154 Nguyễn Khuyến Street.

History of Formation

There are two legends regarding the construction of this pagoda. The first legend is that the pagoda was originally built to worship an old woman of unknown name who sold goods. She often sold tea and soybeans to the students of the Quốc Tử Giám School. Some sources add that the pagoda was erected at the beginning of the Lê dynasty, in the 15th century, on the site of the old woman's refreshment stall, and that King Lê Thánh Tông (1460–1497) once visited the Quốc Tử Giám and stopped by to admire the pagoda.

The second legend is associated with a romantic poetic setting. From the beginning of the 13th century, a king of the Lý dynasty had this pagoda built. During the Trần dynasty, the pagoda was renamed Tiên Phúc because, according to popular folklore, people would occasionally see a fairy maiden gracefully appear in front of the pagoda's courtyard. When King Lê Thánh Tông visited the pagoda to enjoy the scenery, a beautiful young woman suddenly appeared from the bell tower, reciting the following verses:

Here I cherish the scenery, cherish the master

Though I delight in the Buddhist path, my heart is not yet at ease.

The king exchanged verses with the fairy maiden, after which she disappeared at Quảng Văn đình (communal house). This legend is also applied to Bà Ngô Pagoda, a pagoda next to Bà Nành Pagoda. (For details, see: Bà Ngô Pagoda)

Architecture

In the year Đinh Hợi (1887), during the reign of King Đồng Khánh, Tiên Phúc Pagoda underwent major renovations. The outer structure features a three-entrance gate (tam quan), while the interior is shaped like a pestle handle, divided into two areas: a reception area and an altar with a Buddha statue. The pagoda worships Bà Nành alongside the Buddha, so it still preserves a rectangular, dark blue stone slab with engraved cloud patterns, said to be the place where the old woman displayed her refreshments for sale. The statue of Bà Nành is gentle and close to everyday life, bearing artistic features of the 18th century. Three stone steles and one bell are valuable artefacts.

Preservation

Bà Nành Pagoda – Tiên Phúc, in addition to its intrinsic historical and cultural value, is also considered a relic within the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám historical complex. The pagoda was classified as an architectural and artistic relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information on 12 December 1986. However, for a period, the pagoda's gate at 27 Văn Miếu Street was sealed off and encroached upon by some business households. The pagoda was left with only one gate on Nguyễn Khuyến Street. Currently, both gates have been reopened.

Photos

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Visiting tips

  • Dress modestly; remove hats and keep quiet inside the main hall.
  • Incense, flowers and offerings are usually sold right outside the gate; light an odd number of sticks (1 or 3).
  • Most pagodas open from early morning to evening and are free to enter (some major sites charge a small scenic fee).
  • Full-moon days, the 1st of the lunar month and Tet are very crowded; visit on weekday mornings for a quiet experience.
  • Ask permission before photographing inside shrines; do not touch statues or altar objects.

Read more & references

Useful links to learn more before your visit:

Location

Coordinates: 21.02892, 105.83668

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

References

Other pagodas in Hà Nội

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