Lý Triều Quốc Sư Pagoda

Lý Quốc Sư Temple is an ancient temple built in 1131 during the Lý dynasty and was originally called Lý Quốc Sư Tự (李國師寺). It is currently located at 50 Lý Quốc Sư Street, Hàng Trống Ward, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi City.

This place worships Zen master Nguyễn Minh Không, who cured King Lý Thần Tông of his illness. He was granted the title of National Preceptor (quốc sư) and was given land by the royal court in Tiên Thị village (now Điềm Xá), Gia Viễn District, Ninh Bình Province. When he passed away, the villagers built a temple in his honour, called "Lý Quốc Sư Tự". In 1932, Zen master Nguyễn Văn Định, the abbot, arranged for additional Buddha statues to be placed in the temple, so it became known as Lý Quốc Sư Pagoda.

According to legend, he was skilled in magic and was also the founder of the bronze casting craft. The temple still preserves a stele composed by Lê Đình Diên in the year Tự Đức 1855, on the occasion of a restoration. In the early days of the nationwide resistance against the French, the temple was destroyed, and it was only restored in 1954 to its present state. The temple houses many artistic portrait statues of historical figures, sculpted in the Lê dynasty style, such as a group of four lacquered wooden statues of princesses from the Lý dynasty, four Lý dynasty mandarins in court attire, each with a different expression and demeanour. Notably, there are four coloured stone relief portraits: Từ Đạo Hạnh on a stele 1.3 metres high, Đức Thánh Mẫu sitting cross-legged on a lotus pedestal as a round statue leaning against a stele 82 cm high, Đức Thánh Phụ 93 cm high wearing a square hat with a scarf draped over the shoulders, and Zen master Giác Hải with a topknot and short beard, 97 cm high. These are ancient 16th-century stone statues depicted in a naturalistic style, close to real people. The pagoda also has a Bảo Tháp Tự bell dated to the year Ất Hợi, though the reign is unclear. In 1995, the pagoda was recognised by the Vietnamese State as a historical and cultural relic.

At Lý Quốc Sư Temple, the resident monks often come out to the street, opening the temple gates to serve vegetarian meals. Those who come to eat vegetarian food include both Vietnamese and foreigners, and their numbers are increasing. Lý Quốc Sư Street in Hanoi is a unique street, especially renowned for its cuisine.