Phúc Khánh Pagoda

Phúc Khánh Pagoda (福慶寺), also known as Sở Pagoda (㕑所), is an ancient pagoda located at 382 Tây Sơn Street, Đống Đa Ward, Hà Nội. The pagoda was recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a National Historical and Cultural Monument in 1988.

The pagoda was built during the Later Lê dynasty. During the Lê period, the pagoda served as a training centre for talented monks in Buddhism. Later, it was completely destroyed by fire. Some documents state that the pagoda was located in the area where the Battle of Đống Đa took place in 1789, leading to its ruin; it was later rebuilt by the monk Chiếu Liên with the support of Admiral Trần Văn Lễ (of the Tây Sơn period), who had once stationed troops at the pagoda. He also commissioned the casting of a great bronze bell (đại hồng chung) and a Cửu Long statue as offerings to the pagoda.

The pagoda has been restored several times in the years 1853, 1921, 1932, 1935, 1940, 1993, 1996, and 1998. In 1940, the abbot, Most Venerable Thích Trung Thứ, had the pagoda renovated, establishing it as a centre for training monks and as the annual summer retreat (An cư kiết hạ) site for the sangha.

Villagers contributed labour and resources to build the present pagoda in 1950. The Buddha Hall is solemnly arranged and houses 20 statues of high artistic value. The pagoda has 21 stone steles, the oldest dating to 1698; 3 great bronze bells, the oldest cast in 1796; 14 sets of carved wooden altar screens (bao lam/cửa võng), and other ritual objects such as bronze incense burners, dragon thrones (long ngai), and incense tables (nhang án), etc.

Abbots of the pagoda:

Most Venerable Thích Thanh Thứ, Patriarch of Bằng Sở.

Most Venerable Thích Thanh Phụng.

Venerable Thích Thanh Quyết.