The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty.

11/03/2024 | 16:13

TPO - For more than a decade, a pair of dragons from the Ly Dynasty have been erected beside West Lake. Domestic and international tourists enjoy taking photos next to this iconic pair of dragons from the Ly Dynasty.

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 1).

In 2010, a pair of ceramic dragons from the Ly Dynasty were erected and displayed at the Botanical Garden on the occasion of the Grand Celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi .

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 2)

In 2012, these two ceramic-clad stone dragons were officially moved and installed at West Lake (at the beginning of Nguyen Hoang Ton Street, Tay Ho District).

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 3).

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 4).

Each dragon is 8.5 meters tall and 15.6 meters long, constructed from thick concrete and a sturdy steel frame, with a total weight of up to 60 tons.

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 5).

The two dragon statues at West Lake are a popular check-in spot for many tourists visiting the capital city.

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 6).

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 7)

The outer part of the dragon's body is decorated with numerous pieces of ceramic, teacups, and bottles. These materials are known to have been fired at a temperature of 1,300 degrees Celsius.

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 8).

Some iconic images of Thang Long - Hanoi, such as the Hanoi Flagpole, Turtle Tower, One Pillar Pagoda, and Khue Van Cac Pavilion, are decorated along the dragon's body.

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 9).

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 10)

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 11)

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 12)

The bodies of the two dragons are crafted from 6,000 plates and 4,000 cups. Each dragon holds a large pearl in its mouth. These are precious gemstones, each weighing up to 57 kg.

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 13)

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 14)

Domestic and international tourists alike enjoy taking photos next to the iconic pair of dragons from the Ly Dynasty erected by West Lake.

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 15)

Since ancient times, the image of the dragon has been extremely familiar and popular in Vietnamese architecture and art. According to some researchers, the dragon first appeared during the Ly Dynasty with the legend of Ly Cong Uan's relocation of the capital. The dragon of the Ly Dynasty had a close relationship with Buddhism, associated with images such as the Buddha, lotus flowers, Bodhi leaves, temples, etc.

The little-known story of the pair of dragons erected at West Lake during the Ly Dynasty (image 16)

With its unique location, West Lake encompasses almost the entire cultural and historical space associated with numerous legends, artistic and architectural works, and the thousand-year history of Hanoi. Therefore, West Lake is the ideal location to place the sacred dragon statues from the Ly Dynasty.

Hoang Manh Thang

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