Hanoi Attractions: #6 Quan Thanh Temple

inseasia (61)in #travel • 7 years ago

One of the major attractions in Hanoi is the Quan Thanh Temple which was formerly known as Tran Vu Temple. This is an extremely beautiful Taoist temple in the heart of Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city. It dates back to the 11th century and was dedicated to Xuan Wu, who was called Tran Vu in Vietnamese. He is one of the most important deities in Taoism. This is one of the Four Sacred Temples of Hanoi. You will find Quan Thanh Temple near the famous West Lake. The ward in which it stands carries the temples name. There is no doubt that this is one of most famous attractions in Hanoi and in fact carries great status throughout the country.

The Beautiful Quan Thanh Temple
“Quan Thanh” means “Place” or in true Vietnamese fashion “Shop”, of the Gods. Locals have colloquially named the street running alongside it as Quan Thanh street. That has now been officially recognised. It is believed to date from the the early part of the 11th century. The Four Sacred Temples of Hanoi were built in the four compass directions in order to protect the city’s population from evil spirits.

Many attractions in Hanoi have long histories, and the temple is certainly one of them. It has been restored and renovated many times. These alterations can be clearly seen as the building demonstrates many different architectural styles. In 1677 local artisans sculpted a magnificent statue of Tran Vu. Made of black bronze it stands 13 feet high and his highly prized today.

In much Vietnamese folklore animal symbolism os very prevalent and Quan Thanh Temple celebrates this strongly. The serpent is said to represent wealth whilst the turtle represents protection. A prefect example of this, of course, surrounds the legend of Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake. The crane is also highly represented and valued. An old tale tells of a time when during drought a crane brought water to a thirsty turtle. Later in times of flood the turtle allowed the crane to stand safety on his back. Of such tales, the wonderful Vietnamese idea of co-operation and helpfulness is based.

The Quan Thanh Temple is an absolutely unmissable venue among the attractions in Hanoi. Much loved and valued by Hanoians it should not be missed by Vietnamese tourists.

Other Hanoi Attractions can be found here:

#1 Cua Bac Church Here: https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions

#2 Hoan Kiem Lake. https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-2-hoan-kiem-lake

#3 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-3-ho-chi-minh-mausoleum

#4 The Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-the-vietnam-museum-of-ethnology

#5 Truc Bach Lake https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-5-truc-bach-lake