Kim Long Where the Nguyen Dynasty Began

The Folk Lord of Thien Mu Pagoda's Origin

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Kim Long, the road leading to Thien Mu Pagoda today, was once named Quai du Père de Rhodes during the French colonial period. Before that, in the 17th century, Kim Long Ward was chosen as the capital by the Nguyen Lords. Its location next to the fragrant Perfume River, which always carries the scent of calamus grass, and its auspicious feng shui were highly regarded.

Hue's oldest pagoda, Thien Mu Pagoda, has a folk legend associated with the birth of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue. Long ago, Lord Nguyen Hoang was told in a dream by a celestial lady (Thien Mu in Chinese) to travel south. Upon finding a rocky outcrop with a pagoda, he was instructed to establish his capital there, as it possessed the essence of the dragon vein and feng shui conducive to a royal court.

This led to the founding of Thien Mu Pagoda. Although many historians believe this was a political strategy by the lord, it must be acknowledged that the feng shui and scenery of the protruding rock at Thien Mu Pagoda are indeed perfect, resembling a dragon watching the sunset over the Perfume River.

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