Vietnam PagodasDictionary of Vietnamese pagodas & temples

Thiên Niên Pagoda

Hà Nội(Chùa Thiên Niên)

Thiên Niên Pagoda

Overview & history

Thiên Niên Pagoda, whose formal name is Thiên Niên Cổ Tự, and also known as Trích Sài Pagoda, is a pagoda located right on the shore of West Lake, in Trích Sài village, Bưởi ward, bordering Xuân La ward, Tây Hồ district, Hanoi city.

History

According to legend, the pagoda was established during the reign of Lý Nam Đế (544–548). In the time of King Lê Thánh Tông, this place was granted to palace maids as land for their livelihood. The estate was named Thiên Niên, meaning 'granted for a thousand years' or 'long-lasting grant.'

On the 18th day of the 1st lunar month, year Giáp Ngọ (1234), Bùi Quốc Khái passed away. In mourning for him, the people created a statue for worship and inscribed his name on the 'Thanh Bằng thịnh sự stele,' carved on the 18th day of the 2nd lunar month, year Giáp Thìn, 45th year of the Cảnh Hưng era (1784).

At this Thiên Niên estate, by the time of the Minh Mạng era (1820–1841), the pagoda was given the name Thiên Niên Tự from then on. The earliest surviving physical trace is a stone stele dated the 5th year of the Vĩnh Thịnh era (1709), indicating that the pagoda already existed during the Early Lê dynasty.

The pagoda also worships Lady Phạm Thị Ngọc Đô, the consort of King Lê Thánh Tông, who taught the craft of weaving lĩnh silk to the local people.

The relics of the ancient Trích Sài village, including Thiên Niên Pagoda, have all been evaluated, classified, and restored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in response to the 1000th anniversary of Thăng Long – Hanoi.

Photos

📷 Contribute photos

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: 21.06218, 105.80962

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

References

Other pagodas in Hà Nội

Các chùa ở Hương Sơn

Hương Sơn is a commune located in the south of Mỹ Đức District, Hanoi City, Vietnam. Here, there are many limestone mountain ranges beside winding streams. On the mountains and within the caves, many temples and pagodas have been built, with the centrepiece being Hương Pagoda in Hương Tích Cave. The system of pagodas, temples, and caves in this area is situated among limestone mountains and tropical forests, covering a total area of approximately 6 km².

Anh Linh Pagoda, also known as Anh Linh Tự, is located in Cổ Nhuế 2 Ward, Bắc Từ Liêm District, Hanoi. The pagoda was established by Princess Trần Khắc Hãn (Princess Túc Trinh), daughter of King Trần Nhân Tông, who assisted the people in reclaiming land, founding the village, and building this pagoda. In 1993, the pagoda was recognised as a historical and artistic relic.

Chùa Bà Đá

Bà Đá Pagoda, also known as Linh Quang tự and Sùng Khánh tự, is an ancient pagoda located at No. 3 Nhà Thờ Street, Hanoi, near Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Bà Đá Pagoda was built in 1056 during the reign of Lý Thánh Tông. The pagoda was erected on the foundation of the famous Báo Thiên Tower of old Thăng Long Citadel. The pagoda's front hall is constructed in the 'nhất' (一) character style, while the central hall is built in the 'đinh' (丁) character style; these two sections are connected, forming a square architectural block. Inside the pagoda are many wooden statues. The pagoda is situated on a small street only a few hundred metres long, yet it is home to both Buddhist and Catholic belief systems. The pagoda was originally the headquarters of the Lâm Tế Zen school; today, it serves as the main office of the Hanoi Buddhist Sangha. The Hanoi Intermediate School of Buddhist Studies is also located within the pagoda. Every year, the pagoda regularly hosts ceremonies organised by the Hanoi Buddhist Sangha. In the past, the pagoda housed the Phát Lâm Statue (a statue with a joyful smile), which was considered one of the 'four treasures' of Hanoi.

Bà Già Pagoda is a pagoda located in Phú Gia village, Phú Thượng ward, Hà Nội.

Chùa Bà Nành (Hà Nội)

Chùa Bà Nành (Hà Nội)

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

Chùa Bà Ngô (Hà Nội)

Chùa Bà Ngô (Hà Nội)

Bà Ngô Pagoda is an ancient pagoda in Hà Nội, dating back to the reign of King Lý Nhân Tông. Its formal name is Ngọc Hồ Tự, also known as Ngọc Hồ Pagoda, and it is currently located at 128 Nguyễn Khuyến Street, Văn Miếu Ward, Hà Nội. The French used to call it Sinh Từ Pagoda, as it is situated on Sinh Từ Street. Over nearly 900 years of existence, Bà Ngô Pagoda has preserved many stone steles, parallel sentences, and a large number of relics in various forms such as imperial thrones, ancestral tablets, ritual objects, and more. The pagoda is a beautiful and unique religious structure, closely associated with many legends and figures throughout the development of Thăng Long - Hà Nội's history.