Vietnam Pagodas

Vua Pagoda

Hà Nội(Chùa Vua)

Overview & history

Vua Pagoda is located in Phố Huế ward, Hai Bà Trưng district, Hà Nội. The pagoda was built during the Lê dynasty (1428–1527), and worships the chess king Đế Thích.

Introduction

A prince of the Lê dynasty built a hall to worship Đế Thích next to the pagoda and used the pagoda as the central hub for Chinese chess (cờ tướng) in Thăng Long. Since then, the pagoda has become the most renowned Chinese chess arena in Thăng Long. The pagoda actually consists of Hưng Khánh Pagoda, which worships the Buddha, and Thiên Đế Hall (the former Đế Thích Quán), which worships the chess king Đế Thích. The pagoda currently preserves 14 beautiful statues made of sandalwood, the most prominent being the statue of King Đế Thích, about 1.6 metres tall. There is a finely carved Nine Dragons panel, two bronze censers from the Nguyễn dynasty, a small bell from the Cảnh Thịnh era, two large bells from the Lê dynasty, and two large jars about 1.6 metres high cast during the Lê dynasty.

Every year, from the 6th to the 9th day of the first lunar month, the pagoda holds a Chinese chess competition festival. The pagoda is a relic within the Thăng Long tứ quán (four main shrines of Thăng Long), and it can also be considered a chess miếu (chess shrine) of Thăng Long, as it has been the venue for top-level Chinese chess matches for several centuries.

On 1 October 2004, the pagoda was awarded a plaque as a revolutionary resistance relic because it was a secret base of the revolutionary Nguyễn Phong Sắc, Secretary of the Central Region Party Committee.

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: 21.01054, 105.85300

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

References

Other pagodas in Hà Nội

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Các chùa ở Hương Sơn
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Chùa Anh Linh
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
Chùa Bà Đá
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Chùa Bà Già
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.