The temple on the mountain holds 4 Vietnamese records.

Dai Tue Pagoda is located on the summit of Dai Hue Mountain, 500m high, with an artificial lake, a system of calligraphic couplets, and statues made of ruby ​​and mulberry wood that have been recognized as Vietnamese records.

Dai Tue Pagoda, covering an area of ​​6,000 square meters, is located on the summit of Thang Thien Cave, part of the Dai Hue mountain range, Nam Anh commune, Nam Dan district, at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level, and is a famous scenic spot in Nghe An .

Legend has it that the temple dates back to the time when King Mai Hac De fought against the Tang army (627 AD). In the 15th century, the structure was rebuilt by King Ho Quy Ly to worship the Great Bodhisattva Dai Tue, who helped the Ho Dynasty build Dai Hue Citadel as a base to fight against the Ming invaders.

In 1789, on his way north to defeat the Qing army, King Quang Trung stopped in Nghe An, recruited soldiers, and organized training in front of a temple. A monk advised the king on a military strategy that would both avoid enemy surveillance and shorten the route to Thang Long. After ascending the throne, the king issued a decree allocating 20 acres of land to Dai Tue Temple for the villagers to maintain the temple's ancestral worship and offerings throughout the year.

Over time, the Dai Tue Pagoda was reduced to just three moss-covered walls and a thatched roof. In 2011, reconstruction began, consisting of four parts: the main pagoda, lower, middle, and upper sections.

The structures were completed after four years of construction. The entrance to the temple is a triple-arched gate with three tiled roofs and stylized patterns. Buddhists and visitors can observe the entire architectural complex behind the gate from within.

In front of the main gate and at several locations in the temple grounds are statues of Arhats made of solid stone, each over 2 meters tall. Below the statues are inscribed verses encouraging people to live virtuous lives.

The temple complex includes the main hall, ancestral hall, Five Emperors shrine, memorial hall, monks' quarters, etc., with each structure covering an area of ​​250-1,200 m2.

The most prominent architectural feature of the temple is the 9-story, 32-meter-high Dai Tue stupa, which houses statues of Buddha and national heroes.

Along the road leading up to the tower is a stone tomb. Legend says that Emperor Canh Thinh (King Quang Toan, son of Quang Trung), while being pursued by the Nguyen dynasty army, fled to Dai Hue mountain, shaved his head, and became a monk at Dai Tue pagoda. After his death, Canh Thinh was buried and had a tomb erected there by the local people.

Inside the nine-story pagoda are displayed dozens of statues made from solid ruby.

In the main hall, ancestral hall, and the temple dedicated to the Five Emperors, there are 32 Buddha statues carved from solid mulberry wood. Around these halls, there is a system of horizontal plaques and couplets written in pure Vietnamese calligraphy.

To the right of the temple buildings is Tien Lake, covering 350 square meters, which helps to regulate the landscape and environment surrounding the temple. On February 19, 2016, the Vietnam Record Holders Association confirmed four Vietnamese records for Dai Tue Temple, including: the temple with the most ruby ​​statues, the most statues made from solid mulberry wood, the largest system of couplets in pure Vietnamese calligraphy, and the temple on the mountain with the largest artificial lake.

The pathways around the temple grounds are all paved with tiles. In some areas, the temple arranges miniature landscapes during festivals and holidays to serve as photo opportunities.

The temple grounds are planted with many green trees, and under their shade are placed stone and iron benches for Buddhists and pilgrims to sit, rest, enjoy the cool breeze, and chat...

From the pagoda, visitors can "hunt for clouds," admire the winding roads around the Dai Hue mountain range, and enjoy the rural scenery in Nam Dan district.

At the foot of Mount Dai Hue, there are many orchards of egg-shaped and tree-shaped roses, currently in harvest season. Tourists visiting Dai Hue Pagoda for pilgrimage and sightseeing often stop by to check in and take記念 photos under the ancient rose bushes.

Duc Hung

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