"HA TAY & THAY PAGODA" Tinh Ha Tay by Nhiki

I have been everywhere in Vietnam, but I have very special feeling about this beautiful Thay ("Thay" in Vietnamese means "Teacher") pagoda. THAY PAGODA is located in Sai Son commune, Quoc Oai District, Ha Tay province. The pagoda sits at the foot of Phat Tich mountain where Monk Tu Dao Hanh led his religious life.
THAY PAGODA comprises 3 sections including Ha (Lower) pagoda, Trung (Middle) pagoda and Thuong (Upper) pagoda. The Upper pagoda worships the 3 incarnations of Monk Tu Dao Hanh, namely as Monk, Buddha and King.
A sandalwood statue of Tu Dao Hanh sits on the left and portrays him in the process of meditation in Huong Hai temple. He treated diseases, saved patients and created the traditional water puppet there. In the middle is the statue of his incarnation as Buddha. On the right hand is the statue when Tu Dao Hanh reincarnated himself as the offspring of Sung Hien Hau and became King Ly Than Tong. Hence Tu Dao Hanh is considered as Monk and King and as the founder of the traditional water puppet.