Vietnam: Hanoi – Quan Thanh Temple
Quán Thánh Temple is me of the main attractions in Hanoi and one of the four most important temples in the country. It was built in the 11th century and dedicated to Taoist deity Huyen Thien Tran Vu, who is considered the God of the North and the protector of the nation. The temple has writing in ancient Chinese, since the Chinese ruled over Vietnam for nearly a thousand years. The temple is known for its beautiful architecture, with intricate decorations and vibrant colors. It also has a lot of animal symbolism, traditional to Vietnam – the serpent represents wealth and power. Two other animals are crane and turtle – according to a legend, a crane once carried turtles to water during a drought, while the turtle let crane stand on it during a flood – this symbolizing friendship and mutual protection.
