Linh Tiên Đạo Quán

Linh Tiên Đạo Quán, also known as Linh Tiên Quán Pagoda or Linh Tiên Pagoda, is a Taoist architectural work established during the Triệu dynasty of Nam Việt. However, the architecture that exists today dates from the Mạc period.

This is a syncretic religious centre of Buddhism and Taoism. Initially, it was a hermitage of a Buddhist monk, later converted into a đạo quán (Taoist temple), and then from a đạo quán transformed back into a pagoda as it is today.

The đạo quán is located in Cao Xá village, Đức Thượng commune, Hoài Đức district, former Hà Tây province (now part of Hanoi city).

The quán has existed since ancient times, possibly before the Common Era. According to legend, at first this was the place of practice for a monk. Chancellor Lữ Gia of the Triệu dynasty passed by, saw an immortal sitting and playing chess, then flying up to the sky, so he ordered the construction of the quán.

During the reign of Trần Minh Tông, the daughter of King Trần, the Grand Princess, prayed for a child and her wish was fulfilled, so King Trần ordered a major restoration. Later, the people sculpted a statue of the king to worship in the front hall.

In the Mạc period, Taoist immortals were highly venerated, and many members of the Mạc royal family came to the quán to practise. Even the orientation of the quán was changed from southwest to northeast as it is today, also during this period. The person who left the greatest mark on the restoration was Đà Quốc Công Mạc Ngọc Liễn and his wife.

When the orientation was changed, the bell tower, which was originally in front of the pagoda, ended up behind it, so the pagoda does not follow the usual "front bell tower, rear khánh tower" layout seen in many pagodas and quán. The cinnabar wells, originally in the old courtyard, after the reorientation, now lie beneath the altars as they do today.

During the early Lê period, the quán was once a place where many woodblocks for printing sutra books were carved.

Linh Tiên Quán is situated on a high, spacious plot of land in the village. The overall structure is a mixture of đạo quán (Taoist temple) and Buddhist pagoda architecture. On the outermost side is a three-entrance gate (tam quan) with three bays and two side compartments, two storeys, eight curved roofs with upturned corners. Next is a small brick-paved path called "Nhất chính đạo" (Main Path) leading to an auxiliary tam quan in the form of four pillar columns. After a narrow courtyard is the central area of the quán.

This is the main worship area with three buildings in the shape of the Chinese character Công (工), including: Lower Quán, Upper Quán, and the incense-burning hall. The architectural elements are sparsely decorated, but the y môn (inner gate) and cửa võng (arched doors) are intricately carved. At the end of the central axis is a two-storey, eight-roofed bell tower; to the right is the three-bay Mother Goddess Hall (Điện Mẫu). The architecture of the quán is simple, but combined with the garden, it creates an elegant setting.

The Upper Quán (Thượng điện) is a five-bay building with two square side compartments. In the centre are three statues of the Tam Thanh (Three Pure Ones: Nguyên Thủy Thiên Tôn, Linh Bảo Thiên Tôn, Đạo Đức Thiên Tôn) nearly 4 metres high. In front are altars to: Đế Thiên, Đế Thích, Cửu Thiên Huyền Nữ, Khổng Tử, Văn Xương Đế Quân, Huyền Thiên Chân Vũ, Quan Thánh Đế Quân, Trần Hưng Đạo Đại Vương. On the left side is the altar to hậu thần (posthumous deities), namely Đà Quận Công Mạc Ngọc Liễn and his wife. Especially, beneath the altar to Cửu Thiên Huyền Nữ is an ancient well, said to have been dug by Chancellor Lữ Gia to obtain cinnabar for alchemical elixirs.

The Incense-Burning Hall (Tòa Thiêu Hương) is a long, tube-shaped building. In the centre is a large statue of the Jade Emperor (Ngọc Hoàng), similar in size to the Tam Thanh statues. On either side are Nam Tào, Bắc Đẩu, celestial maidens, and parallel to them are various officials. In front of the Jade Emperor statue is a small statue of the Grand Supreme Elder Lord (Thái Thượng Lão Quân) with white hair, riding a buffalo.

The Lower Quán: is a Buddhist Tam Bảo hall, though simply arranged. The horizontal board reads "Đại Hùng bảo điện" (Great Hero Treasure Hall). The main altar includes a Chuẩn Đề statue, a Cửu Long altar, and seven statues of the Thất Bảo Như Lai. On either side are the Dharma Protectors: Khuyến Thiện, Trừng Ác, Chancellor Lữ Gia, Lý Quốc Sư, King Trần, Tam Quan Đại Đế, seven hậu statues, and many small statues of immortals.

In addition, there are recent structures such as the Tổ house (ancestral hall), Mẫu house (Mother Goddess hall), and other valuable artefacts such as a pair of stone nghê (mythical lions), many horizontal boards, y môn, arched doors, incense tables, khánh (musical stone), bronze bells, and a stone stele.

Cửu Long - Infant Shakyamuni, Thất Bảo Như Lai (Bảo Sinh Như Lai, Bảo Thắng Như Lai, Ly Bố Uý Như Lai, Diệu Sắc Thân Như Lai, Quảng Bác Thân Như Lai, Cam Lồ Vương Như Lai, A Di Đà Như Lai),

Avalokiteśvara Chuẩn Đề, Avalokiteśvara Tống Tử, Avalokiteśvara Tự Tại (2 statues), Dragon Maiden, Sudhana

Dharma Protectors Khuyến Thiện, Trừng Ác.

Holy Elder Ānanda.

Bodhidharma Patriarch

Lý Dynasty Holy Patriarch (Từ Đạo Hạnh).

Brahma, Indra.

Tam Thanh: Nguyên Thủy Thiên Tôn, Linh Bảo Thiên Tôn, Đạo Đức Thiên Tôn and attendant statues (6 statues, 2 on each side of each main statue)

Jade Emperor (Ngọc Hoàng Đại Đế), Laozi

Nam Tào, Bắc Đẩu, etc.

Cửu Thiên Huyền Nữ, Huyền Thiên Chân Vũ, Văn Xương Đế Quân, Quan Thánh Đế Quân

Tam Quan Đại Đế: Thiên Quan, Thủy Quan, Địa Quan

Immortals

Confucius

Lữ Nam Đế, Lữ Gia

King Trần Minh Tông

Trần Hưng Đạo

Mạc Ngọc Liễn and wife

The hậu statues

Tam Tòa Thánh Mẫu (Three Palaces of the Holy Mothers)

Ngũ vị Tôn Quan (Five Revered Lords)

Quan Hoàng (Mandarin Princes)

Chúa Sơn Trang (Mountain Princess)

Cô Bé, Cậu Bé (Little Girl, Little Boy spirits)

Bhikkhuni Thích Đàm Chính (2003–present): born in 1961, came to the pagoda in 1989, succeeded as abbess from 2003, originally from Phạm Ngũ Lão commune, Hưng Yên.