Tu Dam Pagoda – A 300-year-old ancient architecture in Hue

Tu Dam Pagoda is a unique temple that harmoniously blends the lines of old and new artistic architecture. The temple bears the mark of a long history of preserving and developing Buddhism and is a venue for organizing major events, conferences, and annual festivals.

Today, Tu Dam Pagoda has become a place for Buddhist studies and a place to welcome esteemed Buddhist leaders. The temple has a tranquil and serene appearance, exuding a sense of calmness and purity. Let’s learn more about this place in this article.

What is beautiful about the architecture of Tu Dam Pagoda?

Although it has undergone many renovations, this place still retains many ancient architectural features. The temple is built in a spacious and airy space surrounded by lush green trees. The temple’s architecture consists of three important parts: Tam Quan Gate, Main Pagoda, and Assembly Hall, in addition to the temple’s courtyard and An Ton Tower with a relatively attractive design.

Tam Quan Gate of Tu Dam Pagoda

The Tam Quan Gate has three entrances, with one main gate and two side gates designed with the temple’s name engraved on them. The Tu Dam Pagoda gate is roofed with tiles and the pillars are made of very sturdy stone. According to the culture of the ancient Vietnamese, Tam Quan Gate carries the meaning of “three gates of liberation,” which means passing through the gate will help rid one of greed, anger, and ignorance in life to step into the temple feeling peaceful and relieved. Therefore, like many other temples, Tu Dam Pagoda’s design of the ancient Tam Quan Gate aims to bring moments of tranquility to visitors who come to worship or sightsee.

Picture of Tam Quan gate of Tu Dam pagoda

Tu Dam Pagoda Courtyard

After passing through the Tam Quan Gate, visitors will immediately see the temple’s very large courtyard. The temple courtyard is paved with flat stones, clean, and on the right side of the gate is a large ancient Bodhi tree with a lifespan of hundreds of years. The Bodhi tree at Tu Dam Pagoda was a gift from Mrs. Karpeles, President of the French Buddhist Association, and was planted in 1936. The origin of the Bodhi tree was extracted from the Bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment. Therefore, this Bodhi tree has become a symbol of the vitality of Buddhism in general and the distinctive characteristics of Tu Dam Pagoda.

Sala tree in Tu Dam pagoda

Each element contributes to creating a cool and relaxing space. Going deeper into the courtyard, there are various constructions such as the front hall, main hall, ancestral hall, An Ton Tower, and souvenir room.

Tien Duong Area.

Looking at the overall architecture of Tien Duong area, Tu Dam Pagoda has the following features:

  • The roof has an ancient architecture with two symmetrically coiled dragons, and underneath the roof are statues of the Buddha placed on high stone pedestals.
  • The columns are engraved with long and meaningful couplets that are exquisite in detail.
  • On both sides of Tien Duong are two bell and drum towers.
  • Tien Duong is built on a foundation made of granite stones, with a raised elevation of 1.5m above the ground.
The area in front of Tu Dam pagoda

Main Hall and Ancestral House of Tu Dam Pagoda.

The main hall is designed in a simple yet solemn manner. In the middle stands a black statue of the Buddha Shakyamuni sitting on a lotus throne, holding the Mudra of the Three Jewels. On both sides are the Bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Manjusri. Besides, to the right of the main hall is a guest house and the monks’ quarters, and behind them is the ancestral house area. In front of the guest house, there is a small garden with a statue of the monk Tam Minh (who made contributions to the revival and development of Vietnamese Buddhism).

The image of the Buddha’s worship space in Tu Dam pagoda

Indrastupa of Tu Dam Pagoda.

Indrastupa is located at the left corner of the Tam Quan gate, near the Dien Bien Phu road area, opposite the lecture hall. Indrastupa has 7 levels, is 27m tall, and has a small architectural style that gradually decreases in size as it reaches the top. At each level of the stupa, there is a bronze Buddha statue for worship.

An Ton Tower, Tu Dam Pagoda seen from above

In addition, Tu Dam Pagoda is built with 3 floors, including a basement, a middle floor used as the office of the Buddhist Association of Thua Thien Hue province, and an upper floor used as a lecture hall, exhibition room, and seminar room. The memorial room of the pagoda is built to store artifacts and historical images of the pagoda. Visitors can come here to explore the history of the pagoda.

An Ton Tower, Tu Dam Pagoda

Explore the history of Tu Dam Pagoda.

In 1695, the pagoda was founded by Venerable Minh Hoang Tu Dung from China, a disciple of the 34th Lam Te Zen lineage. In 1703, the pagoda was named Sac Tu An Ton Tu, bestowed by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu. After more than 100 years, in the reign of King Thieu Tri, the pagoda was renamed “Tu Dam Tu” in 1841, meaning “pure and serene clouds”.

Pictures of Tu Dam Pagoda

In the 20th century, in the 1930s, Tu Dam Pagoda was given to the An Nam Buddhist Society for restoration and architectural renovation. In addition, the pagoda was also known as the headquarters of Buddhism in the national salvation movement, preparing for the August Revolution. In 1951, the first unified Vietnam Buddhist Association was held with the participation of 51 delegates from all three regions of the country at Tu Dam Pagoda. From the 1960s until the country was liberated, the pagoda was also the starting point for the struggle against the Republic of Vietnam – Ngo Dinh Diem regime. Today, the pagoda is a popular destination for monks and Buddhists across the country to come for practice and activities.

Explore Hue with Hue City Tour by private car.

Where is Tu Dam Pagoda located?

The pagoda is located at 1 Su Lieu Quan, Truong An, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue. It sits on a flat land, surrounded by the Kim Phung mountain range, about 3 km from the center of Hue city.

How to get to Tu Dam Pagoda?

Bus: If you choose to take the bus to the pagoda, take route 05. However, pay attention and ask the driver for the stop you need.

Route 05: Southern Bus Station to Dong Ba Market – Tuần Market and vice versa.

Intersection of QL49, An Cuu – 15B Ha Noi – In Thong Ke – Thuong Bac – Dong Ba – Hue Central Hospital – Quoc Hoc High School – Hue Station – Bao Quoc Pagoda – Tu Dam Pagoda – Border Guard Base – Nam Giao Esplanade – Lim Bridge – Cu Chanh Intersection – Thien An – Thuy Bang Commune People’s Committee – Khai Dinh Tomb – Tuần Market.

In addition, you can hire a private car with our driver at an affordable price. A professional driver will take you on a journey to the best temple.

If you use your own vehicle, you need to loop around the back of Tu Dam Pagoda and park there.

  • Admission fee: Free.
  • Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

Tu Dam Pagoda has an ancient and tranquil appearance, but is also very attractive, leaving a deep impression on many visitors. Along with Thien Mu Pagoda, Hon Chen Palace, and Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda, Tu Dam Pagoda is one of the famous spiritual tourism destinations in Hue. Despite numerous renovations, Tu Dam Pagoda has maintained its unique characteristics. Don’t forget to follow DanangPrivateCar.com’s to update information…

Top 5 Famous Temples in Hue

Traveling to the dreamland of Hue, you do not only discover tombs or poetic nature. There are also many ancient and sacred temples in Hue , tinged with time.

The temples in Hue are beautiful, famous and sacred

Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda

Address : Dong Cham village (Hon Von), Huong Ho ward, Huong Tra town, Hue.

If traveling to Hue, do not miss the opportunity to visit Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda. The temple is hidden deep in the valley, surrounded by mountains and pine hills. This is a peaceful place for those who want to stay away from the city and noise.

It is known that the temple belongs to the Nam Tong sect. Built in 1989, thanks to the construction of monks and nuns, Buddhists, from a wild and arid hill, this place has become a spiritual place for those who want to pray for peace and happiness in life. The pagoda has an area of ​​​​about 10,000m2, planned to include 2 main areas, the Outer Institute and the Internal Institute. In particular, the Outer Institute is the place to organize worshiping ceremonies and activities of Buddhism, while the Inner Institute is dedicated to the retreat of monks, nuns and Buddhists.

Located at an altitude of 300m above sea level, thanks to the immense forest trees and surrounding lake, Son Thuong Xuan Khong Pagoda has a strange fresh and pleasant air. Surrounded by green pine forest, cut by a small stream full of water lilies, coming here you will feel your soul is relaxed, pure, forgetting all worries in daily life.

To get here, you should go from Kim Long Street through Thien Mu Pagoda, then along the road along the Perfume River through Van Thanh and Vo Thanh areas to Xuoc Du Bridge. After that, continue for more than 1km and then turn right to the gate of Dong Cham Cultural Village. From here, you continue to move 1 more segment to arrive.

Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue City

Address: Ha Khe hill, Huong Long commune, city. Hue, Thua Thien – Hue province.

Join Halo to discover the second temple in Hue that you must definitely visit, which is Thien Mu Pagoda. It is often said that the oldest temple in Hue is probably Thien Mu Pagoda. With an age of more than 400 years, this place is not only a famous spiritual place of worship but also a tourist attraction in the ancient capital.

Visiting the temple, you will see that this place is surrounded by a stone and brick citadel shaped like a turtle. The first image associated with the symbol of Thien Mu pagoda is Phuoc Duyen tower. 7-storey tower, 21m high, built of bricks. Explore deep inside is Dai Hung Palace, the main hall and also the largest room of the temple.

The best time to visit the pagoda is around January and February, when the weather in Hue is the most pleasant. However, if you want to see the pagoda in the season of phoenix flowers, you can go to May or June. The temple is open from morning to 6 pm, you can combine visiting this place with the Citadel, Minh Mang Tomb, Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda because it is on the same route.

See More: Visit Thien Mu pagoda by Hue city tour

Tu Hieu Pagoda

Address: Village Duong Xuan Thuong III, Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue City.

Famous as the pagoda in Hue symbolizing filial piety. Tu Hieu Pagoda was originally just a Thao Am called An Duong Am, founded by Patriarch Nhat Dinh. Like Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda, Tu Hieu Pagoda is hidden behind a large pine forest. The temple is associated with the story of a son’s filial piety with his old mother and is unique when it is the resting place of eunuchs under the Nguyen Dynasty.

This place is distinguished by the harmonious combination of architecture and poetic natural scenery that makes visitors feel like they are lost in the fantasy world of the green pine forest. Along the small tree-lined streets, Tu Hieu Pagoda gradually appears with an airy space, charming landscape, both simple features and the appearance of Hue royal architecture. Exquisite carvings, ceramic decoration on the reliefs with dragon and phoenix patterns.

The temple has 3 traditional compartments and two wings forming a closed whole. The main hall is the place to worship the ancestors. One thing that is different at Tu Hieu pagoda from other temples is that besides the statues of Tam The Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha, the temple also worships paintings instead of statues, which is also a special feature that makes the solemn place of worship closer. .

Bringing the mysterious wild beauty between religion and life, Tu Hieu Pagoda is the place where the people of the ancient capital of Hue come to feel peace of mind and peace in life, forgetting all worries and worries. of the mundane life.

Thien Lam Pagoda

Address: Quang Te Hill, Thong Thuong 2, Thuy Xuan commune, Hue city.

Referring to Hue pagoda, it is impossible to ignore Thien Lam pagoda. This place is not only a spiritual burial that many people come to worship but also a “very beautiful” check-in place because of its Thai-style architecture.

As soon as you enter the temple, you will be attracted by the white stupa with a golden peak about 15m high, shaped like an upside down bell, with a sharp peak. The stupa consists of 2 floors, the upper floor worships Shakyamuni Buddha and the Saint Sangha, the lower floor is the main hall where monks and Buddhists practice. In addition, the pagoda also has many other beautiful architectural works such as the unicorn unicorn statue, the tops of the towers on the stone slabs in the style of Theravada sect, the magnificent stupa, etc. only at Thien Lam Pagoda.

Exploring the temple, you will feel peace and tranquility. At the same time, this place is also a beautiful virtual living spot for young people thanks to its bold architecture in the style of the land of the Golden Temple.

Tu Dam Pagoda in Hue City

Address: No. 1 Su Lieu Quan Street, Truong An Ward, Hue City.

Tu Dam Pagoda is one of the famous pagodas in Hue. The pagoda has a unique architecture with a harmonious combination of tradition and modernity. Although it has been repaired many times, the temple still has ancient architectural beauty.

Tu Dam Pagoda has the architecture of 3 Tam Quan gates, the main pagoda and the Hoi house. In which Tam Quan Gate is a gate with 3 aisles, this is a very common gate in Vietnamese temples. The main pagoda includes the front hall, the main hall and the Ancestral house. The main hall is decorated with respect to Buddha statues.

Although not the oldest temple in Hue, Tu Dam Pagoda is a place with a long history and culture. This is an important temple in the cause of Vietnamese Buddhism from the past to the present. To get to this place, you can travel by motorbike or take a taxi. The temple is only 2 km from Hue city center!

 

The land of the ancient capital always gives visitors gentle and nostalgic emotions. Visiting 5 famous temples in Hue introduced in the above article, you will surely find peace and tranquility in your soul, forgetting all troubles in life.