Quan Thanh Temple

Quan Thanh Temple

One of the four Taoist temples in Hanoi dedicated to Tran vu, the guardian of the rain and wind. The temple was built around the 1010 when the capital of Vietnam was established. According to the Taoism, one of the 3 religions come from China, there are 4 guardians that control 4 directions, north, west south and east.

Quan Thanh temple was located at the north entrance of the citadel of Thang Long, on the bank of West lake. People believe that Tran Vu is very sacred protector who can killed ghosts and devils for human being. Until now, on the first and middle day of lunar month, many Vietnamese people bring offering to pray for good things. One of the most interesting ceremony is to touch the big toe of Tran vu statue for protections. People touch the toe and touch some of parts their body with the expectation for healthy.

The architecture of the temple has many elements related to Taoism symbols. For example: Yin and Yang, Bamboo, bat, Carp, Cloud, Crane, Dragon, Elixir of Immortality, Mouse, Peach, Phoenix, Pine, Plum etc. the statue of Tran vu was casted in 1677 by the bronze village, Ngu xa. It is in black color, symbol of water and the northern part. It has meditation seating position with gesture of hands indicating the magical meanings of Taoist monks.

During the story of Hanoi, and the country, many dynasties have contributed to the restoration of the temples. In 1667 King Le Hy tong casted the statue and big bell. In 1907 King Thanh Thai left the boots before being exiled in Island of Reunion by the French. In 1794 the Crescent shaped bronze gong was casted. In 1951 a big oil lamp was casted by the bronze village.

Now a day, the temple of Quan thanh is one of the most interesting place for tourists from all over the world. 

Tran Vu

Quan Thanh is dedicated to Tran Vu, the Guardian of the North in Taoist pantheon. Taoism originated in China and arrived in Vietnam with Chinese invaders and officials as early as the 2nd century BC. Taoist tales and legends mingled with the popular animistic faith and many Taoist deities acquired local meanings in the course of time. Among them, Tran Vu came to be highly venerated as a protector of Vietnam in general and as the Guardian of the North in particular.

Huyen Thien Tran Vu means the genie in charge of guarding the Dark Heaven (i.e. the northern part of heaven). During the course of time, the name changed and today most people refer to the genie in Quan Thanh temple as Tran Vu.

According to legend, Tran Vu assisted Vietnam in its struggle against the Chinese from the 3rd century BC. He is the patron saint or genie who protects the country during times of adversity and inspires new generations of heroes. He has appeared many times to save the kingdom, fighting everything from Chinese warriors to fabulous animals. There are many legends about him and many temples dedicated to him. In theHanoi area alone, there are three other Taoist temples dedicated to Tran Vu: Huyen Thien Temple near Dong Xuan Market in the old quarter of Hanoi, Thuy Loi Temple in Dong Anh district, and Cu Linh temple in Gia Lam district.

Legends of Tran Vu

Once there was a Queen named Tinh Lac who dreamt she had absorbed the sun. A few days later she discovered she was pregnant. She gave birth to a boy at almost midday on the 3rd day of the 3rd month of Khai Hoang. She gave him the name Huyen Nguyen (Black Source).

One day when the boy was a few years old, a big festival was being celebrated near the palace. The Prince begged to go to see the festival, but once he saw how extravagantly people celebrated, it made him reflect upon life on earth. He asked his father to let him live in isolation on Mount Vu Duong (85 miles from the capital). There he studied Taoist philosophy.

One day a famous Taoist magician came and took Prince Huyen Nguyen's liver and intestines and buried them behind Vu Duong. Huyen Nguyen's soul rose into the sky and he was able to attain immortality in the realm of the gods. After many years, Huyen Nguyen's liver became the Tortoise spirit (Qui Tinh) and his intestines became the Snake spirit (Xa Tinh). These two spirits tormented the people until the Jade Emperor ordered the Magician to find Huyen Nguyen again. Huyen Nguyen was ordered to reprimand the devils. The Jade Emperor gave the prince the Armour and the Sabre of Seven Stars to use in his battles. Huyen Nguyen, who was later known as Tran Vu, tamed the tortoise and snake then gave them the name Generals of Fire and Water (Thuy Hoa Tuong Quan). The sword, along with the snake and the tortoise, can be seen on statues of Tran vu.

Another legend tells of a nine-tailed fox that was terrorizing the inhabitants of the forests where Hanoi now stands. This fox ate women and children and when the king of heaven heard about it, he sent Tran vu to fight the fox. They fought for many days before Tran vu triumphed over the beast. In their struggle, they carved out a deep depression in the damp earth. From this hole sprang the biggest lake in the capital, West Lake. In gratitude, the people built a temple dedicated to Tran vu near the banks of the lake. 

There are many legends about the exploits of Tran vu. Many times he reappeared in person or in a reincarnated form to fight off wild animals, evil spirits and diseases that plagued the nation across the centuries. Although originally a Chinese deity, Tran vu has been adopted by Vietnam and is one of the most powerful protectors of the country.

Taoism

Taoism originated in China in the 6th century BC. The philosophy is believed to have been founded by the scholar Lao Tze. Little is known about Lao Tze and his life. According to one story, he was bowing out of public life as an old man when he was stopped at the city gate and asked to leave behind his wisdom. Lao Tze stopped long enough to write a document of 5,000 characters, now known as the Tao-Te Ching. He then left and was never heard of again. The Tao-Te Ching is the basis of Taoist philosophy. It has been interpreted in many ways and therefore given rise to many different sects. Nevertheless, there are some main principles that remain constant throughout the development of Taoism.

According to the Taoist philosophy, the most important thing was to find Tao, which means the way or the right way of thinking and action in all conditions of life. In training himself to find Tao, a man must live in the simplest and strictest way and learn to think quietly and deeply for long periods. When he finds Tao, a man achieves perfection and is able to disregard all misfortunes of life.

A Taoist striving for perfection must constantly be in harmony with nature since Taoists believe in the natural order of things. The concept of the participation of man in the universal order occupies a central place in the doctrine. Lao Tze explained this concept in terms of opposing but complementary parts of nature. Heaven and earth are the realization of two properties of the universal order yin and yang. Yin is rest or concentration (female principle) and yang it movement or expansion (male principle). All beings are born between heaven and earth. Yin gives them water; yang gives them breath, the vital air in them.

The material world is impregnated with breaths that endow man with life. Perhaps it was around this idea that a mystical religion evolved in China during the 3rd.century AD with a pantheon of gods and genies, myths and superstitions. Later all kinds of magical practices were grafted onto it. As a result a very complicated pantheon of personified natural forces comprising genies and demons emerged in Taoism. These deities acquired widespread popularity in China over a period of time and the religion came to Vietnam along with Chinese invaders.

In Vietnam, Taoism merged with the existing popular beliefs. Chinese Taoist deities were borrowed and invested with Vietnamese myths and legends. The Vietnamese include in this religion all of the malevolent spirits and the supernatural powers that they cannot put in other belief systems like Buddhism or Confucianism.

Source: http://www.vietnamtravelart.net/destination/vietnam/hanoi-and-around/quan-thanh-temple-one-of-the-4-guardians-of-thang-long-capital.html