The name of the pagoda takes its source from a legend. It was told
that long ago, there appeared an old woman every night on the hill
where the pagoda stands today. She told local people that a Lord
would come and build a Buddhist pagoda for the country's prosperity.
Lord Nguyen Hoang, on hearing that, ordered the construction of a
pagoda of the Heavenly Lady.
The pagoda is situated on Ha Khe, on the left bank of the Perfume
river, in Huong Long village, 5 km from central of Hue city.
It was built in 1601, and then Lord Nguyen Phuc Tan had
renovated in 1665.
In 1710 Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu had a great bell cast (2.5 m high,
weighed 3,285 kg) and a stele (2.58 m high) erected on the back of a
marble tortoise in 1715. In the Nguyen Dynasty, Kings such as Gia Long, Minh Mang,
Thieu Tri, Thanh Thai all had the pagoda restored.
Phuoc Duyen tower (at first called Tu Nhan tower) was built
in 1884 by King Thieu Tri. Phuoc Duyen tower has
seven-stored with 21m high in octagonal shape.
Dai Hung shrine
is a main-hall and a magnificent architecture. In the main-hall,
besides the bronze cast statues, there preserved some precious
antiquities: the bronze gong cast in 1677, the wooden gilded
board with Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu's inscriptions in 1714.
On the both sides of the pagoda there are a bonze's room and a
guest-room for visitors.
In front of the pagoda is flowers and ornamental plant. At the
back is a calm and romantic pine-tree garden.
The pagoda was heavily damage in
1943. Priest Thich Don Hau has organized a great renovation of
the pagoda for more than 30 years since 1945. Nowadays it
becomes more and more magnificent and attracts tourist near and
far.
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