History of Am Tien Cave: The Mysterious Story of the Dinh Dynasty's Tiger-Raising Grounds

Am Tien Cave is located halfway up the mountain in the Ngu Phong Mountain range, in Truong Yen commune (now Tay Hoa Lu ward), Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. It is only about 400 meters from the East Gate of King Dinh Tien Hoang Temple, adjacent to the East Citadel of the ancient Hoa Lu capital.

To enter the cave, visitors pass through a stone gate, following the pathway beside a crystal-clear lake filled with lotuses, water lilies, and schools of perch. In the past, this lake was believed to be Ao Giai (Giai Pond) – a place where crocodiles (giai) were raised to punish criminals. The cave is shaped like a dragon's mouth (Dragon Cave), featuring a beautiful system of stalactites shaped like rice stacks, money trees, Buddha's hand fruits... Today, there is a convenient mountain tunnel, instead of having to climb 205 stone steps as before. Am Tien Cave is surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs, creating a secluded valley like a "private world." It was this rugged terrain that made it an ideal choice for King Dinh to build the execution ground.

Under the reign of Dinh Tien Hoang (Dinh Bo Linh, 968-979), Am Tien Cave was used as a strict execution ground to deter and punish criminals, maintaining discipline and order in the context of a country newly unified after the turmoil of the Five Dynasties period.

According to folk legends and historical records:

• King Dinh Tien Hoang ordered the raising and keeping of tigers and leopards in the valley of Am Tien Cave. Serious offenders were thrown here to be torn apart by wild tigers.
• At the foot of the mountain lay Ao Giai (Crocodile Pond) – where criminals were thrown to be eaten by crocodiles.
• In Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu (Complete Annals of Dai Viet), it is clearly recorded: “The King, wishing to use awe to govern the realm, placed a large cauldron in the royal court, kept wild tigers in cages, and ordered that anyone breaking the law must suffer the penalty of being boiled in oil or fed to tigers.”

Legend has it that King Dinh Tien Hoang assigned martial arts master Truong Ma Ni (Tang Luc Dao Si) and his son, royal son-in-law Truong Quan Son, to manage and guard this area. From a rugged mountainous region, the Truong father and son organized and renovated this place into an area serving law enforcement and royal defense. After the fall of the Dinh Dynasty, King Le Dai Hanh (Le Hoan) also used this area to detain Song Dynasty prisoners of war such as Guo Junbian and Zhao Fenxun following the 981 victory, releasing them in 986. Additionally, the area features Muoi Cave (Salt Cave) and Tien Cave (Money Cave), which were used to store food supplies and national treasury during the Dinh - Le eras.

One of the most touching stories associated with Am Tien Cave is the monastic journey of Empress Dowager Duong Van Nga – the only woman in Vietnamese history to serve as Queen of two dynasties (Dinh and Le) and Empress Dowager under two kings.

After Dinh Tien Hoang and his son Dinh Lien were assassinated in 979, Duong Van Nga married Le Hoan (Le Dai Hanh), helping to stabilize the royal court and joining her husband in defeating the Song forces and pacifying Champa. In her later years, she chose Am Tien Pagoda as a place to enter monastic life, adopting the Buddhist name Bao Quang Empress Dowager. This quiet place, isolated from worldly affairs, was the ideal sanctuary for her peace of mind.

Folk legend passes down a famous poem inscribed on the pagoda wall:

Shouldering the weight of two Kings Two dynasties' Queen, practicing at Am Tien Pagoda Following her husband to defeat Song and pacify Champa Great service to the nation, ill-fated in personal life

Today, inside the main cave is a stone pagoda dedicated to the Buddha, Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong, as well as shrines for historical figures of the Dinh Dynasty such as the Truong Ma Ni - Truong Quan Son father and son, Princess Phu Dung, and Empress Dowager Duong Van Nga.

Today, Am Tien Cave has been restored and developed into a unique tourist destination within the Trang An World Heritage Complex. The route into the cave has become much easier thanks to a mountain tunnel replacing the former hazardous 205-step stone climb.

• Monument Structure: The main cavern of Am Tien Cave serves as both a stone pagoda worshipping Buddha (and Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong) and a temple dedicated to notable figures of the Dinh Era such as Truong Ma Ni, Truong Quan Son, Princess Phu Dung, and Empress Dowager Duong Van Nga.
• Scenery: The lake water (ancient Ao Giai) here is extraordinarily crystal clear, allowing views straight to the bottom and reflecting the lush green of the limestone mountains. Am Tien Cave still retains its majestic, poetic charm while preserving a touch of mystery and solemn melancholia of a former execution site, captivating every visiting tourist.

Am Tien Cave is not only a stunning scenic spot but also a living history book, helping visitors gain a deeper appreciation for the strict enforcement of royal law and the ups and downs of historical figures during the dawn of Dai Co Viet.

Concluding the journey to explore Am Tien Cave, visitors not only feast their eyes on the heart-stirring beauty of "Tuyet Tinh Coc", but also touch the grand historical sediments of the Ancient Capital of Hoa Lu. This place is a miraculous intersection between the strict Dinh Dynasty execution ground, where tigers and leopards were once kept to uphold royal law, and the tranquil monastic sanctuary of Empress Dowager Duong Van Nga. Am Tien Cave today is not merely a scenic site, but also an epic song of independent willpower and Vietnamese Buddhist spirit. Let Am Tien Cave tour by Sovaba Travel lead you to this sacred space, allowing you to personally experience the captivating contrast between the heroic past and the peaceful present of this Ninh Binh wonder.