Tram Gian Pagoda, also known as Quang Nghiem Pagoda, is located on a hill about 50m high in Tien Lu village, Tien Phuong commune, Chuong My district. With unique architectural features and a place that still preserves many precious artifacts of high artistic value, Tram Gian Pagoda is considered one of the four sacred pagodas in the region, along with pagodas such as Tram Pagoda, Thay Pagoda and Tay Phuong Pagoda.
Unique Buddhist architectural heritage
The Tram Gian Pagoda is a unique architectural complex, located on a hill, the architectural units of this pagoda have a total of 104 sections, divided into three main architectural clusters: three-entrance gate, bell tower and main pagoda.
A walking way to the pagoda
The three-entrance gate has eight roofs standing majestically on the top of a hundred brick steps. It was built by the ancients with two large pillars creating a path in the middle, on both sides are two walls connected to two small pillars. Through three-entrance gate is a brick yard with two corridors on both sides.
At the end of the yard is a winding road gradually increasing in height to the top of the hill leading to the pagoda; in the middle of this road is a row of ancient pine trees, creating a solemn landscape.
The bell tower is located on the central axis of the Three Jewels area, slightly to the west, is also one of the few oldest bell towers still remaining in Hanoi today. According to legend, the bell tower was built in 1693. The bell tower has the architectural style of four sets, rafters placed on 16 columns made of ironwood, but concentrated on four main columns. The square architectural plan, two floors and eight roofs with many curved motifs create the bell tower like a pure lotus.
The bell tower is like a valuable work of art, with sophisticated carvings of many dragons and fire clouds in the style of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Currently, the bell tower still hangs a 1.1m high bell with four Chinese characters meaning “Quang Nghiem Ancient Pagoda” cast in 1794.
From the bell tower, passing through stone steps with dragon-carved railings, we reach the main pagoda, including the worshiping hall, the incense burning area and the upper hall. The two corridors on either side the hall worship 18 Arhats, each Arhat carved in wood is a unique work of art.
18 Arhats in Tram Gian Pagoda
Regarding artifacts, Tram Gian Pagoda still preserves many precious relics, notably a pair of stone dragons from the Tran Dynasty used as railings and steps. At Tram Gian Pagoda, there are 153 statues, mostly made of wood, a few made of terracotta, especially precious are the statue of Tuyet Son Buddha carved out of black jack-tree weed and the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara statue.
The main hall
In the middle of the upper hall, there is a rectangular red terracotta pedestal, on the stone pedestal is a lotus platform, surrounded by many animal and flower decorations. On the altar are placed statues of the Buddha.
The decorations of stone pedestal in main hall
Among the statues in the pagoda, there is a statue of Admiral. Dang Tien Dong, a famous military officer of the Tay Son Dynasty who defeated 290,000 invading Qing troops, liberating Thang Long in 1789.
In addition, Tram Gian Pagoda also has a tower garden – the tombs of the abbots with many old coniferous trees surrounding.
A view outside of the pagoda.
In recent decades, the pagoda has been continuously renovated and embellished, but basically still follows the old style. Because of its outstanding values in architecture and sculpture, in 1962 Tram Gian Pagoda was ranked as a National Historical – Cultural Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Source: collected by An
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