Tu Hieu Temple

VIETNAM, Thua Thien-Hue, Hue

Tu Hieu means Maternal Filial. It was originally a small hermitage built by the monk Nhat Dinh in 1843. When Nhat Dinh passed away in 1847, his disciples erected a stupa on a small hill. The following year funds were raised to renovate the hermitage and expand it into a temple as a sign of respect for Nhat Dinh’s work. Several renovations took place between 1865 and 1972.
The main features of the temple include the main gate, main hall, a lecture hall, and a crescent-shaped pond. The main gate is two stories high. The lower story is three bays wide, with each bay formed by an archway. The columns are inscribed with couplets. There are statues of Dharma Protecting Bodhisattvas enshrined within the gate. The upper story is surrounded by a balustrade. The main hall houses statues of the Three Buddhas. The temple has served as a publishing house for Buddhist sutras and the printing blocks are still preserved within the temple.