Princess Huyen Tran was born in 1287 to King Tran Nhan Tong and Queen Kham Tu. In 1306, to help maintain the good relation between the two neighboring countries, she agreed to get married to Champa King Che Man and became Queen Paramesvari. Right before the marriage, King Che Man donated land as a wedding present which is now part of our country from Quang Tri to Quang Nam. Unfortunately their happiness didn't last very long. King Che Man passed away just one year later. It was the custom in Champa at the time that the wife must be set to fire when her husband died. Well aware of this, King Tran Anh Tong sent his men to Champa and brought Huyen Tran back home successfully and the next year, she became a nun. She passed away in 1340 to the regret of people.
Huyen Tran Temple was built in Hue in 2006 on the occasion of the celebration marking 700 years of Thuan Hoa-Phu Xuan and the construction was finished one year after that. The temple soon becomes a well-visited place. People come to pay homage to a respectful princess thanks to whom they have the city of Hue today.
The first glimpse
Under this blue still water...
...live a school of koy fish.
These stone dragons are well known as the longest ones in Vietnam ever built. But it's not the record that I care about. What I care is their beauty; the way they are meticulously scarved shows the skillfullness that the builders and craftmen can boast.
Phoenix are found everywhere in the temple. Do you know why? Because this monument is dedicated to a female. In the East, dragons are often used to embellish constructions dedicated to men and phoenix to women.
Inside the temple where the main altar is placed.
No picture of the princess was recorded, as common was at the time, and it's hard to figure out what she looked like. But based on the descriptions of her brother King Tran Anh Tong and the fact that she was much adored by the king of Champa, she must be a beautiful princess. This statue of her was made in her costume as a nun after the rescue.
This route leads visitors to the tower named Tower of Peace which contains a giant bronz bell. It's rewarding to listen to the sounds of the bell after the long and hard climb. The view of Hue City from this elevation is equally amazing.
They will see Laughing Buddha on the way.
Actually the temple is also dedicated to the princess's father King Tran Nhan Tong who was the founding father of Truc Lam, a Buddist denomination. 3 pagodas of this denomination named Truc Lam Thien Vien have been built in Vietnam, one in the north, another in Da Lat and the other in Hue near Truoi Lake. (I have been to Truc Lam Thien Vien in Da Lat, but not the one in Hue yet. Hope someday...) After a rest at the Tower, visitors can follow the route down the mountain to visit Thien Vien.
Outside and inside Thien Vien
A good-bye shot.
Rushing for a vegetarian lunch at Lien Hoa Resto. It was a day of full moon.
Appendix
Music lovers might now better understand the lyrics of the song Nuoc non ngan dam ra di by Pham Duy.
You made me miss my grantmother. When she was alive. she told the Huyen Tran Princess story to all her nieces. And through this story, my grantmother wanted to give a message to me and my sister cousins.
Huyen Tran came to Champa with a very clever maid. This maid helped her so much and always beside princess. After Che Man passed away, she must be sent to the fire with the King. That was the traditional culture in Champa country. But Huyen Tran didn't want to die, she wanted to come back her home. The maid who was very clever and resourceful mind,helped Huyen Tran and princess returned in safe. Huyen Tran lived the rest of her life in Hoa Chau country.
My grantmother told that story but she didn't agree with the way princess did. In her point of view, Huyen Tran must followed the traditional culture in Champa, princess must died with her husband. It was so cruel with a young women, but, according to my grantmother, Huyen Tran must accepted because she was Che Man 's wife, she must went to the heaven with him. That was the duty of a wife to her husband.
I have understood what my grantmother wanted to say. And I always remember that.
From your blog, I knew Huyen Tran decided to be a nun after escaped from Champa. How courage she was!
To me, this story is the lesson from my grantmother. I never forget this story.
I will visit Huyen Tran Temple someday...
Posted by: Binh Minh | April 18, 2011 at 11:26 AM