Quan Thanh Temple

Quan Thanh Temple is one of the Four Guards of Old Thang Long. Quan Thanh Temple is an important historical and cultural relic, on a large and beautiful area by West Lake near the northern gate of old Thang Long Capital. The three ancient Chinese characters at the top of the entrance of Quan Thanh Temple read "Tran Vu Quan", which means that the temple is dedicated to Buddha and his faith­ful disciples. Saint Tran Vu was both a legendary character and a saint who assisted Emperor An Duong Vuong in chasing away ghosts during the construction of Co Loa citadel.

Quan Thanh Temple was built during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai To (1010-1028). Special attention should be paid to the black bronze statue of Saint Tran Vu, a giant 3,600kg statue cast in 1667 located in the main hall. Also notice­able, a 1.5m high ancient bronze bell hangs at the top of the three-gate entrance. Located in the temple is a small black bronze statue of Old Trong, the chief artisan of the bronze casting team who made the bell and the giant statue of Saint Tran Vu. To commemorate the great contri­butions of their teacher, Old Trong's students cast his statue and placed it in the temple so that future generations would remember him.