Hung King Temple is a complex of majestic architectures that consist of Ha Temple, Thien Quang Pagoda, Gieng Temple, Trung and Thuong temples, and King Hung Tomb. It is located on Nghia Linh Mountain, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, approximately 95km from Ha Noi.
Hung King Temple
Hung King Temple is tied to the legend about the 18 Hung Kings who built Van Lang State, with Phong Chau as the capital. The complex consists of Ha Temple, Thien Quang Pagoda, Trung Temple, Thuong Temple, King Hung Tomb, Gieng Temple, Mother Au Co Temple, Father Lac Long Quan Temple and Hung Vuong Museum.
Ha Temple
Ha Temple which was built in the 15th century, dedicated to Mother Au Co. According to the legend, in this place, Au Co gave birth to a pouch containing 100 eggs, which later hatched to become 100 sons. In front of the Ha Temple, there is an over-700-year-old tree.
Thien Quang Pagoda
Thien Quang Pagoda is located on the right of Ha Temple, the construction mainly built of front shrine (5 compartments), sanctum (3 compartments).
Trung Temple
Trung Temple is located 168 brick steps from Ha Temple. According to legend, the Kings Hung usually chose this place to rest and hold political meetings. It is also where the 6th King Hung ceded the thrown to Prince Lang Lieu who created sticky rice cakes (banh chung and banh day).
Thuong Temple
Thuong Temple where exclusively used for Hung Kings to have offerings to the Sun God, the Earth God, the Rice God, etc.
The 6th Hung King Tomb
According to the legend, after the victory of Saint Giong against An invaders, he ascended to the Heaven, and the 6th King Hung took off his clothes, which he put on the branch of a kim giao tree and died on the spot.
Gieng Temple
Gieng Temple is located at the foot of the mountain. In this temple there is a well called Ngoc (Emerald); thus, the temple is called Gieng (Well) Temple. The legend says that Princesses Tien Dung and Ngoc Hoa, daughters of the 18th King Hung, had the habit of looking at their reflection in the well to comb their hair.
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