Quán Thánh Temple, Taoist temple in Tây Hồ, Vietnam
Quán Thánh is a temple in Tây Hồ, Vietnam, dedicated to the Taoist guardian deity General Tran Vu. The main shrine houses a three-meter bronze statue with a dark patina, surrounded by wooden pillars and red lacquered panels.
Rulers of the Ly Dynasty built the temple between 1010 and 1225 as a northern guardian post for the capital. The bronze statue was cast in the early 17th century during the reign of King Lê Công Hoàng.
The temple maintains religious ceremonies throughout the year where participants burn incense, offer fruits, and pray to General Tran Vu for protection.
Visitors can enter the temple daily and explore the main hall as well as smaller side shrines. Shoes are removed before stepping into the main shrine and photography is permitted inside the building.
The statue weighs more than one ton and was made using a technique that only a few Vietnamese craftsmen mastered at the time. The metal shows copper and tin inclusions that give the face a soft sheen.
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