VietNamNet Bridge – Chuong Temple is one of the must-see places in the northern province of Hung Yen. Built in the Le Dynasty (15th-17th century), this ancient temple is known as the one of the top three destinations of Pho Hien.
Pho Hien is a historical site in Hung Yen Province, about 70 kilometers southeast of Hanoi. In the 15th to 18th centuries it was a famous merchant port in Vietnam and a small historic town on the banks of the Red River. The prosperous time of Pho Hien was associated with the golden time of trade between Vietnam, China and Japan.
Like the ancient town of Hoi An, Pho Hien is a favorite destination of Japanese tourists. Pho Hien area covers five square kilometers running from Dang Chau Hamlet in Lam Son Ward to Ne Chau Hamlet in Hong Chau Ward.
Chuong (Bell) Temple, located in Nhan Duc Hamlet, Hien Nam Ward, Hung Yen Township (Pho Hien in the past), has another name of Kim Chung Tu. According to an old legend, a long time ago, there was a golden bell on a raft drifting into the river bank belonging to the locality of Nhan Duc Hamlet. People from different villages tried to bring it to their regions but found it impossible to do. Only the notables of Nhan Duc Hamlet could tug the bell.
The inhabitants in Nhan Duc supposed that the Creator and Buddha had helped them, so they together built a pagoda to hang the bell. Every time people strike the bell, its sound resounds thousands of miles. Therefore, this pagoda has the name of Kim Chung Tu (i.e. Golden Bell Pagoda).
Chuong Temple was constructed as the traditional architectural style – a typical style of the 15th-17th century with a view of splitting from the mundane life. Some special parts that can be listed are: the three-door temple gate, the front anteroom, the premiere sanctum and the house worshipping ancestors.
Before entering the pagoda, people going on a pilgrimage have to step over the three-door temple gate. The main gate in the middle which is the highest and largest one is closed all year, except some occasions like the first and fifteenth days of lunar months and Tet holidays. By contrast, the two other gates are opened frequently for pilgrims. After the gates are the three spans of the green stone bridge crossing the “dragon’s eye” pond. Following is the path called “the only right path” leading to the front anteroom house.
The front anteroom house has five compartments and two lean-tos. The premiere sanctum with a system of statues arranged with profound meanings for each line of statues and each individual statue.
At two edges at the west and east, two rows of corridors which are simply designed link the front anteroom with the model house.
Nowadays, Chuong Temple preserves architectural articles and displays items with high value. Firstly, there is a stone bridge and a stone shrine made in 1702. In addition, a big stone stele which is 1.65m high and 1.1m wide and was erected in 1717 has two sides: the front side describes the beautiful scenery of Pho Hien and the back side with the words “Nhan Duc co tich truyen” (i.e. Nhan Duc’s legend imparted) records the names of people who restored and contributed for the pagoda, including some Chinese persons.
And the last ones are a long musical stone (similar function to the bell but has flat surface) which is 1.46m long and 0.66m high, and a brass bell with the height of 1.28m.
From the documents found on the stone stele, the researchers suppose that there used to be a thousand-mile path connecting Pho Hien and Thang Long at the front of pagoda and they record the administrative units (wards) of Pho Hien at that time.
The pagoda is recognized as a national cultural – historical relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information and has become a destination that travelers must visit when coming to Pho Hien.
Hungyen.gov/VNE
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