Bach Ma - An ancient temple with timeless beauty

Bach Ma Temple is one of the "Four Towns" of the ancient Thang Long citadel. The temple was built in Tho Xuong district, Hoai Duc district, now 76 Hang Buom street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The temple worships the god Long Do. - Guardian god of Thang Long citadel, guarding the East (Tutelary God of Hanoi). 

According to outstanding artisan Nguyen Tat Kim Hung - incense maker of Nguyen Khiet Linh Tu temple (Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi), Bach Ma temple is considered one of the most sacred places in Hanoi. 

Legend has it that when King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long, he built a citadel but it collapsed many times. The king immediately sent someone to the temple to pray for the island. He immediately saw a white horse coming out of the temple. Wherever it went, its footprints followed. After that, the horse returned to the temple and then... disappeared. Seeing that, the king immediately built a dyke citadel following that footprint and was successful, so the new temple was named Bach Ma Temple (white horse temple) and worshiped the god Long Do as the Thanh Hoang of Thang Long citadel.

Bach Ma Temple was built in the 9th century and has an ancient and solemn beauty with golden walls and a door made of red wood carved with golden dragons. The highlight of the architecture inside the temple is the entire wooden house frame with a system of large ironwood columns, the roof supports are all made in the exact style of "a gong stand stacked on top of a gong and a second child", with meticulous, sturdy carvings. , strong... The great worshiper of Bach Ma temple places an altar that is exquisitely crafted and carved with detailed dragons and phoenixes painted in red and gilded with gold. In particular, the details of the dragon head, diaphragm, and parallel sentences are not only brilliantly gilded but also extremely sophisticated and vivid.

This place also preserves many precious artifacts of great historical value such as: 15 stele stele recording the legends and myths of temple construction, worship rituals, and renovations over the past 1,000 years. There are also: Ornaments, incense burners, single vases, double bells, bronze bells or palanquins,... In that sacred space of Bach Ma temple, amidst the bustle of Hanoi, it seems that Bach Ma temple has become the unique and distinct beauty inherent in the old town, becoming a unique feature that can only be found in Hoan Kiem old town, Hanoi.

With more than 1,000 years of history, Bach Ma Temple is one of the typical heritages of Hanoi Capital. The temple's festival is held on the 12th and 13th of the second lunar month every year. It is a harmony between folk belief culture and royal worship rituals, creating a unique character. Over more than a thousand years, the temple has been restored many times but still retains its majestic landscape and rare ancient vestiges, carrying special cultural and historical values.  Recently, the People's Committee of Hanoi City and Hoan Kiem District have paid attention to preserving and promoting relic values ​​to serve historical and cultural research and become a special tourist destination for tourists. domestic and foreign customers.

On January 18, 2022, Thang Long's four towns include four typical relics, guarding the four directions East, West, South, and North of the ancient Thang Long citadel, including Bach Ma temple, which was designated by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. signed a decision to rank a special national monument. It is expected that the ceremony to receive the certificate of recognition as a special national relic of Thang Long four towns - Bach Ma temple will be held by the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem district on June 18, 2022.

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