Viet Reader.

VR.

Premier Newspaper for Vietnamese Worldwide

Explore Co Le Pagoda – an ancient temple with unique architecture in Nam Dinh

Coming to Thanh Nam land, do not miss the trip to explore the ancient pagoda of Nam Dinh – a temple worshiping Buddha but with many unique and magnificent architectural beauty of the Catholic churches.

If you are planning a  spiritual trip with the purpose of praying for peace, health, or simply visiting the pagoda, Luhanhvietnam would recommend a trip to discover Nam Dinh Ancient Temple – one of Nam Dinh’s most sacred temples. And also one of the most unique Buddhist architectural complexes of Nam Dinh province in particular and the Red River Delta in general.

Explore Co Le Pagoda – an ancient temple with unique architecture in Nam Dinh
Ancient Le Truc Ninh Pagoda

About the ancient pagoda of Nam Dinh
 

Where is Co Le Pagoda?

Le pagoda is located in Co Le town – Truc Ninh – Nam Dinh. This is one of the most famous religious works in Nam Dinh and is visited by many tourists during the New Year. The pagoda is named “Than Quang Tu”, built in the 12th century in the reign of Ly Tran Tong. This sacred temple worships Buddha and the Holy Father Nguyen Minh Khong.

On every Tet holiday or the 1st and 15th of every month, the ancient Le pagoda has become a spiritual destination for the local people and far away visitors to come here to visit the pagoda and pray for peace.

Cau Giay leads to the temple

History begin

Co Le Pagoda was built in the period of Ly Tran Tong founded by the national monk Nguyen Minh Khong to worship Buddha. The first pagoda was built of wood according to the ancient architecture. However, then the pagoda was collapsed. In 1902, the abbot of Pham Quang Tuyen designed and rebuilt the pagoda according to “Nhat Thoc Lau” architecture with Gothic architecture like Cong Giao church architecture. After that, the pagoda was restored many times with bricks, molasses, lime and mortar, creating a solid texture.

Built on an area of ​​nearly 10 acres of the North, Co Le Pagoda owns a charming landscape of water and mountains surrounded by many small lakes and rivers creating a poetic and calm scene.

Explore Co Le Pagoda – the temple owns a 9,000kg bell

Co Le Truc Ninh Pagoda is the rhythmic integration between Vietnamese traditional architectural elements with beautiful Gothic architectural elements like Europe. This is a Buddhist temple but has a splendid beauty of a Catholic cathedral. That is what makes this sacred temple stand out and attracts many visitors to come here.

Lien Hoa Nine Products Tower

During the visit to Nam Dinh Co Le Pagoda , visitors will be impressed with the extremely unique project that is Cuu Pham Lien Hoa tower 32m high with 8 faces and 9 floors of lotus flowers. This is a symbol of the noble, solemn throne of Buddha. And that is also one of the wonderful symbols of this temple.

Lien Hoa Nine Products Tower

Built in 1927, the tower is placed on the back of a large amulet facing the pagoda. The turtle piggyback is placed in the middle of a large square lake with four corners of four very real fake mountains, adding 4 large elephants that look very beautiful. The tower has 98 spiral steps to the top. Legend has it that when the Buddhist followers come here on a pilgrimage to the 98th level of the tower, when touching the statue on the top of the tower, life will be fulfilled and lucky.

Assembly Hall (Trinh Pagoda)

The synagogue is also known as Trinh pagoda. This is the main space to worship the Buddha statue with thousand arms and thousand eyes. This is also the place for the ceremony to take off the robe and wear warfare for 27 monks of the pagoda who set off to defend the country on February 27, 1947. 

Trinh Pagoda

In front of Trinh pagoda yard is displayed 2 giant bronze jars. To the left of Trinh pagoda is Linh Quang Tu temple, built in 1937 to worship Tran Hung Dao and 2 doctors from Dao family. To the right of Trinh Pagoda is Khanh Quang Phu, built in 1937 to be a place to worship Tam To Thanh Mau. These works all possess a solemn and unique beauty when harmoniously combining Gothic arches and traditional Buddhist motifs.

Worshiping Buddha Guan Yin thousand hands
Temple Gothic architecture
Mountain Bridge behind Trinh Pagoda

Dai Hong Chung – treasure of Co Le pagoda

To explore Co Le pagoda next we cannot ignore Dai Hong Chung – the treasure of Co Le pagoda. This is a bell in the center of the lake weighing up to 9000kg and it is called Dai Hong Chung bell. The bell possesses a diameter of 2.2m, a height of 4.2m, and a wall of 8cm thick. The bell mouth is decorated with patterns of lotus petals, the body is carved leaves with carved leaves looking very eye-catching.

The bell hung in the middle of the lake

This bell has not been beaten once, but according to oral folklore, when the bell rings, the whole province and some neighboring areas will hear the sound of the bell. And this is also one of the biggest bells in Vietnam.

Front Street & Main Hall

The main palace is one of the works of the ancient Le pagoda, possessing a unique architecture combining Europe and Asia, ancient and metal. Although possessing the spiritual culture of Vietnamese people, of Vietnamese Buddhism such as dragon phoenix reliefs, blade roofs, lotus flowers, rolled roofs … but this work still possesses Westernized beauty with architecture. The dome is as magnificent as an ancient castle. Therefore, this is a monumental and magnificent work of Buddhism. Behind the three-storey building is the forbidden palace of the great god Nguyen Minh Khong in the architectural style of worshiping “Tien Buddha, Hau Thanh”.

Kim Chung Bao C (Bell guard)

Behind the house is a bell tower with a monumental architecture with 3 floors and 4 sides called Kim Chung Bao Cac. This bell guard has a height of up to 13m40 and was built in 1997. The second floor of this bell has hung a large bronze bell up to 4m20 high, 2m03 wide and weighs 9,000 kg. The bell was cast in 2003. The 3rd floor has hung a bronze bell from the Le Canh Thinh dynasty weighing 300kg.

Kim Chung Bao C (Bell guard)

Behind the bell is the temple’s ancestral tomb. In the pagoda, there is a bronze drum and a boat used for swimming competition.

Thanks to the quintessential combination between Vietnamese traditional architecture and Western architectural elements, Co Le Pagoda has become a spiritual destination and a beautiful scenic spot of the Red River Delta. And if you have a pilgrimage trip to Nam Dinh , remember to explore Co Le Pagoda – a famous spiritual destination on the occasion of the new year.

Photo: Internet

About author
You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page.
View all posts
More on this story