Kien So Temple

VIETNAM, Hanoi

The temple was built in the 9th century by the monk Cam Thanh, and is one of Vietnam’s few remaining temples constructed before the 10th century. The temple became the center of the Vo Ngon Thong school, named after the Chinese Chan Master Wu Yantong from the Tang dynasty, who became Cam Thanh’s teacher. Although it has been rebuilt many times, the temple still retains its original appearance.
The temple consists of the Triple Gem Hall, the Patriarch Hall, and the bell tower. The Triple Gem Hall is the temple’s main hall and has a single-eave flushed gable roof. Its style is simple and unadorned, with only dragon carvings under the eaves. The hall houses colored statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, King Ly Thai Tong (reigned 1009–1028), and Master Wu.
A unique feature of the temple is the bell tower on top of the Patriarch Hall. The temple also houses an ancient stone gong that is 230 cm wide, 60 cm high, and 17 cm thick. It is a treasured artifact of the temple.