Located in the Trang An scenic complex, Duyen Ninh Pagoda has long been known as one of the sacred ancient pagodas of the ancient capital Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh province.
With a history of more than a millennium and stories associated with love and couple happiness, this place has become a familiar destination for many tourists from all over.
Duyen Ninh Pagoda, also known as Thu Pagoda, was built around the 10th century during the Dinh Dynasty. The pagoda is located at the foot of a limestone mountain range in Chi Phong village, Tay Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province, amidst the peaceful space and unique natural landscape of Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
According to documents and folk legends, the pagoda is a place associated with the predestined relationship between Princess Le Thi Phat Ngan - daughter of King Le Dai Hanh and General Ly Cong Uan, who later became King Ly Thai To. Legend has it that the two met and made appointments here before giving birth to Ly Phat Ma, the heir to the Ly dynasty. After suppressing the Khai Quoc Vuong rebellion, King Ly Thai Tong changed the pagoda's name to Duyen Ninh.
In her later years, Empress Phat Ngan chose Duyen Ninh Pagoda as a place to practice and take care of King Le Dai Hanh's tomb. Stories about her cultivating happiness for many couples have contributed to forming folk beliefs that this is a famous love-praying pagoda of the ancient capital.
Not only worshiping Buddha, the pagoda is also a place to worship many figures in folk beliefs such as Ong To, Ba Nguyet, Kim Hoa Thanh Mau and Zen masters who have made great contributions to the history of Vietnamese Buddhism such as Phap Thuan, Khuong Viet and Van Hanh.
Over more than 1,000 years and the fluctuations of time, the original architectural traces of the pagoda are no longer preserved intact. However, the historical, cultural and spiritual values of Duyen Ninh pagoda are still preserved, becoming a stopover sought after by many people when visiting famous landmarks such as Trang An and Bai Dinh pagoda.
Today, Duyen Ninh Pagoda is not only a place of religious activities for local people but also a destination imbued with cultural identity, contributing to enriching the spiritual heritage system of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
