The Perfume Temple ( vi, Chùa Hương, loinks=no,

Chữ Hán Chữ Hán (𡨸漢, literally "Chinese characters", ), Chữ Nho (𡨸儒, literally "Confucian characters", ) or Hán tự (漢字, ), is the Vietnamese term for Chinese characters, used to write Văn ngôn (which is a form of Classical Chinese ...

: 香寺) is a vast complex of

Buddhist temple A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism repres ...

s and shrines built into the limestone Hương Tích mountains. It is the site of a religious festival which draws large numbers of pilgrims from across

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making ...

.Do Phuong Quynh. Traditional Festivals in Vietnam. Hanoi: Thế Giới Publishers, 1995. The centre of the Hương Temple lies in Hương Sơn Commune, Mỹ Đức District, former Hà Tây Province (now

Hanoi Hanoi or Ha Noi ( or ; vi, Hà Nội ) is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam. It covers an area of . It consists of 12 urban districts, one district-leveled town and 17 rural districts. Located within the Red River Delta, Hanoi i ...

). The centre of this complex is the Perfume Temple, also known as Chùa Trong (''Inner Temple''), located in Hương Tích Cave.Ha Van Tan. Buddhist Temples in Vietnam. Hanoi: Social Sciences Publishing House, 1993.

Historical background

It is thought that the first temple was a small structure on the current site of Thiên Trù which existed during the reign of

Lê Thánh Tông Lê Thánh Tông (黎聖宗; 25 August 1442 – 3 March 1497), personal name Lê Hạo, temple name Thánh Tông, courtesy name Tư Thành, was an emperor of Đại Việt, reigning from 1460 to 1497, the fifth and the longest-reigning emp ...

in the 15th century. Legend claims that the site was discovered over 2000 years ago by a monk meditating in the area, who named the site after a Tibetan mountain where

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was born in L ...

practiced asceticism.Sieu, Thich Thien. Vietnam's Famous Pagodas. Ho Chi Minh City: My Thuat Publisher, 1995. A stele at the current temple dates the building of a terrace, stone steps and Kim Dung shrine to 1686, during the reign of Lê Hy Tông, at around the same time that Chùa Trong was being constructed. Over the years some of the structures were damaged and replaced. The original statues of

and Quan Âm were cast from bronze in 1767 and replaced with the current statues in 1793. More recently, damage was done during both the French and the American wars. Both the gateway and the bell tower at Thiên Trù Temple were destroyed, the bell tower rebuilt in 1986 and the gateway completed in 1994.

Physical layout

The many Temples that make up Chùa Hương are spread out among the limestone hills and tropical forests in the area of Hương Mountain.

Đền Trình

Approaching from the Đáy River, one will first come across Đền Trình (Presentation shrine), also known as Đền Quan Lớn (Shrine of High-ranking Mandarin), built to worship one of the generals of a Hùng King.Tuyet Nhung , "Perfume Pagoda (Chùa Hương) – “the first ranking Southern grotto”." Vietnam-beauty.com. 12 Aug 2008
(accessed March 12, 2009) This large shrine has a gate with two kneeling elephant statues on each side.

Thiên Trù Temple

Beyond Đền Trình is Thiên Trù (Heaven Kitchen) Temple, also known as Chùa Ngoài (Outer Temple). Here one will find Viên Công Bảo Stupa, a brick structure where Master Trần Đạo Viên Quang, who led the reconstruction of the temple, is buried. Thiên Thủy stupa, a naturally occurring structure that is the result of the erosion of a rocky hill, is also nearby. Thiên Trù is also home to a bell tower and Hall of the

Triple Gem In Buddhism, refuge or taking refuge refers to a religious practice, which often includes a prayer or recitation performed at the beginning of the day or of a practice session. Since the period of Early Buddhism until present time, all Theravad ...

, last restored in the 1980s. Inside the Temple there is a large statue of Quan Âm Nam Hải. hay

Giải Oan Temple

On the route from Thiên Trù to Hương Tích cave is Giải Oan Temple, also called ‘Clearing Unjust Charges’ Pagoda. Here there is a pond called Thiên Nhiên Thanh Trì (Natural Blue Pond), also called Long Tuyền Well, and Giải Oan stream, with its 9 sources.

Hương Tích Cave

The center of the Chùa Hương complex, Hương Tích Cave houses Chùa Trong (Inner Temple). The mouth of the cave has the appearance of an open dragon's mouth with Chữ Nho characters carved in a wall at the mouth of the cave. The characters (Nam thiên Đệ nhất Động) are translated as “the foremost cave under the Southern Heavens” and the carving is dated to 1770. The words are attributed by some to the ruler of that time, Tĩnh Đô Vương Lord

Trịnh Sâm Trịnh Sâm (, 9 February 1739 – 13 September 1782) ruled northern Vietnam from 1767 to 1782 AD. He ruled with the title "Tĩnh Đô Vương" () and was one of the last of the powerful Trịnh lords. Trịnh Sâm defeated the ancient enemy of t ...

. Inside the cave there are many statues. There is a large statue of

, as well as one of Quan Âm, both made of a green stone. Quan Âm's "left leg is stretched out and the foot lies on a lotus flower, her right leg is bent and is supported by a lotus flower with supple leaves; a hand holds a pearl." There are also statues of

Arhats In Buddhism, an ''arhat'' (Sanskrit: अर्हत्) or ''arahant'' (Pali: अरहन्त्, 𑀅𑀭𑀳𑀦𑁆𑀢𑁆) is one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved ''Nirvana'' and liberated ...

and various other figures. Among the naturally occurring features of the cave are numerous

stalactites A stalactite (, ; from the Greek 'stalaktos' ('dripping') via ''stalassein'' ('to drip') is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines. Any material that is soluble ...

and stalagmites, some of which are worn smooth from years of rubbing by visitors to the cave.Gordon, Grant. "Audio slideshow: Perfume Pagoda Festival." Video. BBC News. Mar. 2008
Accessed February 27, 2009. Other sites included in the Chùa Hương complex are Thiên Sơn Temple, Thuyết Kinh Grotto, Phật Tích Temple, and Cửa Võng Temple.

Popular practices

There are many practices associated with Chùa Hương and its various temples. Some of these are specifically

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

, while others are

animist Animism (from Latin: ' meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things— animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems ...

or part of

popular religion In religious studies and folkloristics, folk religion, popular religion, traditional religion or vernacular religion comprises various forms and expressions of religion that are distinct from the official doctrines and practices of organized rel ...

in Vietnam.

Pilgrimage

Many Vietnamese people visit Chùa Hương on religious

pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...

. The standard greetings from one pilgrim to another are "A Di Đà Phật" or "Namo Amitabha Buddha". For the purpose of pilgrimage there are various routes that one might take, but the most popular is to take a boat from Yến wharf, stopping at Trình Shrine to ‘present’ themselves at the ‘registration shrine’. The pilgrims then make their way to Hội bridge and visit Thanh Sơn temple inside a cave. The next stop is Trò wharf, from which pilgrims travel on foot to Thiên Trù Pagoda. After Thiên Trù comes Tiên temple, followed by Giải Oan temple. It is believed that

once stopped here to wash himself clean of the dust of humanity, and many pilgrims will wash their face and hands in Long Tuyền Well in hopes of washing away past

karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively ...

s. While here, pilgrims may also visit Thuyết Kinh cave and Cửa Võng Shrine to worship the Goddess of the Mountains, or Phật Tích Shrine where there is a stone believed to be the preserved footprint of the Quan Âm. From here pilgrims head toward the final destination: Hương Tích Cave. At Hương Tích there are statues of

deities A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greater ...

, but many pilgrims come to get blessings from the

and stalagmites, many of which are named and have special purposes. Many childless pilgrims seek fertility from Núi Cô (the girl) and Núi Cậu (the boy), while others visit stalactites and stalagmites thought to give prosperity. Pilgrims often gather under one particular stalactite, which resembles a breast, to catch drops of water in hopes of being blessed with health from the ‘milk’ of the 'breast'. Other names of stalactites and stalagmites include the Heap of Coins (Đụn Tiền), the Gold Tree, the Silver Tree, the Basket of Silkworms (Buồng Tằm), the Cocoon (Nong Kén) and the Rice Stack (Đụn Gạo).

Festival

The main pilgrimage season at Chùa Hương is during the Hương Temple

festival A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival c ...

, when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims make their way to Hương Tích cave and the other temples. The longest lasting festival in Vietnam, it officially begins on February 15 on the

lunar calendar A lunar calendar is a calendar based on the monthly cycles of the Moon's phases ( synodic months, lunations), in contrast to solar calendars, whose annual cycles are based only directly on the solar year. The most commonly used calendar, t ...

, but the peak in visitors lasts from the middle of January to the middle of March. The Festival is seen by some as a good opportunity for young people to find romance and begin courtships. Many restaurants in Hương Temple kill and butcher wildlife including

civet A civet () is a small, lean, mostly nocturnal mammal native to tropical Asia and Africa, especially the tropical forests. The term civet applies to over a dozen different species, mostly from the family Viverridae. Most of the species diversit ...

s, deer,

porcupine Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The term covers two families of animals: the Old World porcupines of family Hystricidae, and the New World porcupines of family, Erethiz ...

, wild pig and serve it as special, rare or expensive meat which is particularly popular during the festival period.http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/Daily_News/Wildlife_meat_is_still_hung_at_Huong_pagoda.html

Popular culture

Legends

There are many legends about Chùa Hương and its various temples. Hương Tích cave is an especially sacred place because "the legend says that Bodhisattva ( Quan Âm) went South and stayed at Hương Tích Temple in order to help save human souls." A stone at Phật Tích temple is said to be her preserved footprint.

References in literature

One particular legend about Chùa Hương has been preserved in a poem by Nguyễn Nhược Pháp. The poem tells the story of a girl who accompanied her father on pilgrimage to Chùa Hương and found love while there. The following is a translated excerpt from the poem: :''Oh! Here we are at Trong Temple!'' :''The grotto is hidden in green vegetation:'' :''Its ceiling is embroidered with stalactites'' :''Which look like pearls imbued with aquilaria perfume.'' Much Vietnamese literature has made Chùa Hương its focus, including the following song, written by Chu Mạnh Trinh: ''Delights of Hương Sơn'' :''Standing sky high, in the land of Buddhas'' :''Hương Sơn is a real wonder we have long wished to see'' :''With the sight of mountains covered with clouds'' :''This is undoubtedly "The most beautiful grotto of all"'' :''Looking up, we can notice a beautiful picture'' :''Brocaded with sparkling stones rich in colours'' :''The cave is so deep, glittering in the moonlight'' :''The entrance path with abrupt turns is so high'' Hoàng Quý, a popular Vietnamese musician who lived in the early to mid-20th century, sang about the experience of visiting Chùa Hương in his song ‘Hương Temple’: :''Hương Temple is filled with incense and aquilaria'' :''Smoke spiralling up in the dying sun'' :''It is the moment when one is held in deep reverie''. A Very Famous Song By Trung Đức & Lyric By Nguyễn Nhược Pháp Has been a big song in the culture of Chùa Hương ''Going To Chùa Hương (Em Đi Chùa Hương) – Translated Version'' ''Yesterday I went to Chùa Hương'' ''Flowers are translucent mist'' ''Also I see myself in the mirror'' ''Small towel, high ponytail '' ''I wear a silk undergarment'' ''Pants comfortable, A new shirt'' ''My hands carry Nón Quai Thao'' ''My feet in high shoes.'' ''Going To Chùa Hương (Em Đi Chùa Hương) – Un-Translated Version'' ''Hôm nay em đi chùa Hương'' ''Hoa cỏ còn mờ hơi sương'' ''Cùng thầy me em vấn đầu soi gương'' ''Khăn nhỏ, đuôi gà cao'' ''Em đeo dải yếm đào quần lãnh, áo the mới'' ''Tay em cầm chiếc nón quai thao'' ''Chân em di đôi guốc cao cao''

Gallery

File:Chua Huong 059.jpg, Pilgrim boats on the Yến River File:Bến Đục-Chùa Hương.jpg, Đục wharf, the starting point of pilgrim boats File:Chua Huong 069.jpg, Trình temple and Ngũ Nhạc mountain File:Chua Huong 561.JPG, Thiên Trù temple during a Buddhist festival File:Perfume Pagoda cableway.jpg, Perfume Temple gondola File:Một tự viện bên suối Hổ Khê.jpg, A Buddhist monastery near the Hổ Khê stream

References

{{Authority control Buddhist temples in Hanoi