When I created this piece, I was thinking about Lady Chúa Thượng Ngàn Temple in Tam Đảo and the feeling of standing there in the cool mountain air.
The temple is dedicated to Lady Chúa Thượng Ngàn, one of the important Mother Goddesses in Vietnamese spiritual tradition. She is connected to the mountains and forests, and many people visit the temple to pray for protection, health, and stability. Because of this, the temple is not just a building. It’s a place people return to during important moments in their lives.
Tam Đảo itself is higher and cooler than the surrounding areas. The temple sits along the hillside, and when the mist rolls in, the rooflines seem to appear and disappear. The curved tips of the roof, often shaped with dragon details, are very typical of northern Vietnamese temple architecture. They are decorative, but they also carry meaning. Dragons are seen as protective and powerful symbols.
In this artwork, I chose to focus on one corner of the roof. Sometimes a small section tells the story just as well as a full view. The layered tiles, the curve of the eaves, and the carved dragon shapes show the craftsmanship that goes into these temples.
I kept the drawing simple and slightly loose. The ink lines are not perfect, and the watercolour is light. That reflects how the temple feels to me. It’s strong and solid, but also softened by time and nature. You can see the greenery growing around the structure. In real life, plants and moss often surround these buildings, especially in mountain areas.
For me, this piece is about appreciation. Appreciation for traditional architecture, for cultural heritage, and for places that remain steady while everything else changes. It brings a small part of Tam Đảo and its spiritual history into a home in a quiet, easy way.