One Pillar Pagoda - a Symbol of Vietnamese Culture
History of the One Pillar Pagoda
The One Pillar Pagoda was built in 1049 during the reign of King Ly Thai Tong. According to legend, King Ly Thai Tong dreamt of the Bodhisattva Quan Am standing on a lotus pedestal, presenting him with a son. Upon awakening, the king shared his dream with the court officials and received advice from the Zen master Thien Tue to construct a pagoda resembling the vision for blessings. The king then had the pagoda built on a 4-meter-high stone pillar with a square base measuring 1.2 meters wide. At the top, there is a small wooden pavilion with a two-tiered tiled roof housing a wooden statue of Bodhisattva Quan Am. The pagoda was named Dien Huu Tu, meaning "lasting blessings."
Throughout its historical journey, the One Pillar Pagoda has witnessed numerous resistance battles against foreign invaders by the Vietnamese people. In 1954, as the French withdrew from Vietnam, they planted explosives to destroy the pagoda. After gaining independence, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam government reconstructed the pagoda to its original architecture. In 1962, the One Pillar Pagoda was recognized as a National Historical and Artistic Architectural Monument. In 2012, it was officially acknowledged by the Asia Record Organization as the "Pagoda with the Most Unique Architecture in Asia."
Architecture of the One Pillar Pagoda
The One Pillar Pagoda boasts a unique and exquisite architectural design, reflecting the harmonious blend of Vietnamese and French architectural styles. The pagoda resembles a lotus flower on the water, symbolizing the tranquility and nobility of Buddhist teachings. It comprises three main parts: the pillar, the Lotus platform, and the pagoda roof.
The pillar serves as the supporting structure for the pagoda, made up of two stacked stone columns, measuring 4 meters in height and 1.2 meters in diameter. The square-shaped pillar symbolizes stability and durability.
The Lotus platform, situated atop the pillar, is constructed from wood and has a width of 3 meters. The Lotus platform consists of two tiers: the lower tier houses a wooden statue of Bodhisattva Quan Am, standing at 1.2 meters tall, holding a vase in the right hand and a lotus in the left; the upper tier serves as a place for offerings like flowers, candles, and incense. The Lotus platform represents a blooming lotus flower, symbolizing enlightenment and Buddhist realization.
The pagoda roof is the protective covering for the Lotus platform, crafted from wood and covered with a two-tiered tiled roof. The pointed roof signifies the loftiness and far-reaching nature of Buddhist teachings. At the peak of the pagoda roof, there is a small bronze bell called "Universal Awakening," cast in 1108 by Nguyen Phi Y Lan, the wife of King Ly Thanh Tong. The bell aims to awaken the hearts of sentient beings and propagate Buddhist teachings.
The One Pillar Pagoda stands as a unique and beautiful architectural masterpiece of Vietnam. It is not only a place for worshipping Buddha and praying for national prosperity but also a site preserving the historical and cultural imprints of the Vietnamese people. The One Pillar Pagoda truly deserves to be recognized as a cultural symbol of Vietnam.