<sup>*Quán Sứ Temple was built in the fifteenth century during the reign of Emperor Lê Thế Tông, and located in An Tâp Village, Thọ Xương District, Thăng Long (modern day Hà nội). At that time, according to Hoàng Lê Nhất Thống Chí (Records of the Unification of the Imperial Lê), a guesthouse had been erected in this area to receive ambassadors from countries such as Laos, the Khmer Empire, and Champa. Since these nations practiced Buddhism, Lê Thế Tông subsequently ordered the construction of a temple adjacent to the guesthouse to accommodate the ambassadors in their observance of religious rites; thus, the temple was named Quán Sứ (Ambassador) Temple. Today only the temple remains, and since 1934 has become the headquarters of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam. 

translated from the Vietnamese by Thúy Ðinh</sup>

Quán Sứ Temple looks so empty, so sad
Some say its head monk has turned into a cat
In broad daylight, no clackings of its whale-shaped drum
By late afternoon, no sight of moss-sweeping devotees 
Once, the clack-clacks would roar, rest, then resume
Susurrations of prayers with counting beads could be heard
The head monk had set his sail toward the Western Paradise
But the monsoon wind upturned his good ship. 
 

Quán Sứ Tự*

 

Quán Sứ chùa xưa cảnh vắng teo,
Thương ôi sư đã hoá ra mèo 
Sáng banh vắng kẻ khua dùi mõ,
Trưa trật không người quét kẽ rêu.
Chí chát chày kình im lại đấm, 
Lầm rầm tràng hạt đếm cùng đeo.
Buồm từ cũng rắp sang Tây Trúc,
Gió vật cho nên phải lộn lèo.