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> Lang
Pagoda Hanoi
The Lang Pagoda is
located in Lang Village in the Dong Da District of
Hanoi. It was built during the reign of King Ly
Anh Tong (1138-1175). Over eight centuries have
elapsed since its original construction and its
exterior has undergone numerous changes during
repairs. Yet, it remains in its original location.
It was last altered during the mid-19th century.
The beauty of the Lang Pagoda's architecture is
indeed its very composition, harmonious and
balanced. The gate is a line of four pillars built
of brick with three intricately curved roofs. The
square pillars stretch skyward with the two
central pillars the highest ones. The three curved
roofs are not on top of the pillars but rather
attached to their sides with the mid-roof higher
than the other two, thus creating a solemn
gesture.
Upon entering the gate, a brick playground
stretches out with a stone bed in the center on
which the King's chair was placed during festivals
held in the past. At the end of the playground,
there is Tam Quan gate from which a walled brick
lane, decorated with prints of flowers leads to an
eight-sided house where the "god" statue is placed
and to whom the flowers are dedicated during
festivals. Beyond the eight-sided house is the
main pagoda, whose architecture achieves a sense
that is both majestic and spacious, giving the
entire complex a symmetrical and balanced
relationship.
Repairs to the pagoda in the 19th century
restricted the number of old relics that it could
contain. The new decoration was of a rather
nondescript character with two exceptions: (1.)
Under the corridor's roof, there are two lines of
ten beautiful halls that depict the various kinds
of punishments in the world of the dead to deter
sinners; and (2.) At the back of the pagoda, apart
from normal Buddhist statues, there are statues of
King Ly Than Tong and the senior Buddhist monk, Tu
Dao Hanh. The king's statue is made of wood and
the monk's of painted rattan.
The presence of these two statues originated from
the following legend: Tu Dao Hanh had been born as
the son of Sung Hien Hau, younger brother of King
Ly Than Tong. As the king did not have any
children, he abdicated the throne in favor of the
son of Sung Hien Hau who became King Ly Than Tong
(1116-38). Due to that abdication, King Ly Than
Tong' son, Ly Anh Tong had Chieu Thien pagoda
constructed and dedicated to and for the worship
of his father, the king, who was also the senior
Buddhist monk, Tu Dao Hanh.
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