One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi

 Very close to Ho Chi Minh Museum and behind Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is One Pillar Pagoda or Chùa Một Cột in Vietnamese. Chùa Một Cột means long lasting happiness and good luck.

Though a very small pagoda, it is very different from any pagodas I had seen earlier. It stands on a single pillar in a small pond.

one roomed pagoda

History of pagoda:

• King Lý Thái Tông (1009-1028), who was the second emperor of Lý dynasty did not have any successor. He used to visit pagodas to pray and ask for a heir.
• He dreamt that the Goddess of Mercy, Quan Am sitting on a lotus handed him a son. 
• He married a peasant girl who bore him a son, Ly Nhât Tông or King Lý Thánh Tông.
• King Lý Thánh Tông was the ruler who later founded the Temple of Literature in 1070.

Ly Nhât Tông or King Lý Thánh Tông

• As a symbol of gratitude and appreciation to the goddess, King Lý Thái Tông asked the monk, Thien Tue to get the temple constructed as he had seen in his dream.
• The future monarchs held Buddha bathing ceremony which attracted many people.
• The temple underwent renovation many times. In 1105, it was renovated for the first time by the then ruler, King Lý Nhân Tông (1066-1127), who was the grandson of the King who constructed the temple. He added the Linh Chieu lake around.
• King Lý Nhân Tông, also founded the first National Academy.
• In 1109, a bell was installed, but was moved to another due to its size and weight.
• In 1954, when the French were asked to withdraw from Vietnam after the First Indochina War, they completely destroyed the pagoda using mines. Only the pillar remained and some wooden beams remained.
• In 1955, the municipal government rebuilt and restored the place.

Architecture of pagoda:

• The tiny pagoda stands on a single large stone pillar in middle of Linh Chieu lake symbolizing a lotus emerging from its muddy water.
• The pagoda has 3 parts: stone pillar, temple and the roof.
• The pillar is 1.2 meters in diameter and stands 4 meters above water.
• From a solid pillar, emerge 8 wooden beams representing the 8 petals of lotus. On these 8 "petals" stands the main shrine of Quan Am.
• The shrine is only 3 meters.
• The pond is 20 meters on all sides and is surrounded by a low wall.

The roof has red tiles and four bent leaves on its four corners. Two dragons face each other, harmony between yin and yang.

rear view of pagoda

an image of Quan Am in front of temple

Guarded by nghe, a sacred and traditional Vietnamese animal

a small flight of steps leads to the main altar

Qua An on her throne

Golden image of Quan Am with many arms sits on a red lacquered throne on top of a lotus. Prayer offerings, ceramic vases with golden lotus form the interior of temple.

The red roof is curved on its sides with a dragon facing inwards

Top of the roof with dragons facing each other

Moving to the side of shrine, surrounded by many bonsai trees is an enclosure with two small shrines.

two small shrines

In middle of the shrines, I am not sure but looks like Lord Ganesha.

inside one shrine

looking closer, image of Quan Am with Buddha's finger fruit in a dish

The other one had lack stone covering

Aum

Just close by is the Bodhi tee which was presented to President Ho Chi Minh by the President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1958.

Chinese temple:

In the same courtyard as Chua Dien Huu Pagoda or the One Pillar Pagoda is this Chinese temple.

main entrance to temple

entrance to temple from pagoda side

Image of Confucius

Image of Quan Am outside

oven for burning joss paper

shops outside the temple

We combined Tran Quoc, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and Quan Thanh temple in one circuit. Walking from Tranc Quoc to these places is not very difficult.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum:

Ho Chi Minh or Bác Hồ (Uncle Ho) as he is fondly addressed was the President of Vietnam from 1945-1955. The capital of South Vietnam, Saigon was changed to Ho Chi Minh in his honor after the unification of Vietnam in 1976.

In the middle of Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh used to preside huge rallies. The mausoleum was inaugurated on 29th August, 1975.

The 21.6 meter high mausoleum consists of three layers:

the lowest is the base which has a three-step staircase. The middle layer includes the body room and has corridors, stairs go up. All around are rows of square columns of granite.

The topmost layer is the roof with "President Ho-Chi-Minh" written in pink.

The President's palace

Inside the mausoleum lies the well-preserved body of Ho Chi Minh. The modest stilt house where he lived is a tourist attraction.

It was a tiring day but in all a wonderful experience.