Thai Vi Temple

Thai Vi Temple is known as an ancient temple built in XIII century when Emperor Tran Thai Tong decided to become a monk and retire to the mountains to rest. This place has a majestic and magnificent natural landscape with mountains and fields.

General information about Thai Vi Temple

Thai Vi Temple is located in Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh, with a spacious, airy natural setting, a historical and cultural relic site, and is an extremely prominent tourist destination in Ninh Binh. This place is located in the famous Tam Coc – Bich Dong eco-tourism area, attracting millions of visitors every year. This place mainly worships the first emperors of the Tran Dynasty, such as Tran Thai Tong, Tran Thanh Tong, Tran Nhan Tong, and Tran Anh Tong, as well as the generals Tran Hung Dao and Tran Quang Khai, and Queen Thuan Thien. All of them founded the Vu Lam palace, an important base in the resistance against the Yuan-Mongol army.

The first temple here was built by the king in 1258, right after the resistance against the Yuan-Mongol army won. After abdicating in favor of his son, Emperor Tran Thai Tong retired to the mountains of Tam Coc and established the Thai Vi hermitage, becoming a monk. Much later, other emperors such as Tran Thanh Tong and Tran Nhan Tong also became monks here.

How to get here?

Currently, there are two ways to get to the Thai Vi temple: either go by road via the Van Lam ferry and then turn onto the road parallel to the Ngo Dong river to enter the temple, or go along the river and take a boat to Tam Coc.

However, the waterway entrance will be more distinctive. You will be transformed into a tiny “dot” in the vast space of Tam Coc, surrounded by interwoven gray-green mountain ranges.

Classical and unique architectural space

Located in the natural landscape like a painting, all the pillars inside and outside the temple are made of solid green stone. The outside is carved meticulously and elaborately, with elegant, graceful patterns that rival wood carvings. In front of the temple is a jade well, also built of green stone, which is green all year round. Behind the temple is the majestic Cam Son stone mountain range.

Inside the temple, there will be many statues, stone steles, and ancient cast bells of great value. The stele tower will record the merits of those who have contributed to the worship and construction of the temple.

As soon as you enter the temple, you will see a large yard, about 40m² wide, paved with green stone. The main road and the yard are both paved with green stone. On both sides will be two rows of Vong houses, where the ancients would discuss the ceremony. In addition, there are also Five Great Gates with extremely impressive architectural carvings. Outside, the stone pillars are carved with parallel sentences in prominent Chinese characters, and the area is framed by a stone porch with elaborate carvings of two dragons facing the moon.

From the dragon yard, follow the stone steps with a height of 1.2m to reach (5 large doors) with 6 rows of parallel round stone pillars, all carved with relief of dragon kings facing the front. The outside of the stone pillars is all carved. The porch beams are also made of stone and carved. Although there are many stone pillars inside Thai Vi Temple, the stone workers have “breathed life” into each pillar, making them more soulful and artistic. Whether carving parallel sentences or honoring the kings of the Tran Dynasty, each has its own unique features.

In the main palace, there will be statues of the Tran Dynasty kings. If the statue of Tran Thanh Tong is in the middle, on the left are the statues of Tran Thanh Tong and Tran Thai Tong, and on the right is the statue of Empress Dowager Hien Tu. Every line on the face is meticulously carved to imitate the king’s portraits.

Thai Vi Temple Festival – Annual National Festival of Ninh Binh Province

Every year, Thai Vi Temple holds a large festival for 3 days, on March 14, 15, and 16 of the lunar calendar. According to the local people of Tam Coc, after defeating the Yuan-Mongol invaders, March 15 is the day the king returned to Thien Truong in Nam Dinh to pay respects to his ancestors and celebrate the victory. Therefore, organizing this festival is also a celebration of the king’s victory and a tribute to the heroic sacrifice of the soldiers who gave their lives for the nation.

Thai Vi Temple will definitely be a place worth visiting, deserving of your time and effort. The special feature of the temple lies not only in the beautiful natural scenery like a watercolor painting, but also in the unique architecture, tinged with time and special festivals!

Source: collected by An

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