This small temple is perched on top of a hill said to resemble a buffalo, and lies a short distance west of Thay Pagoda, hence its name, which means Western Pagoda. Originally dating from the 8th century, it is best known for its impressive collection of more than 70 finely carved, jackfruit-wood  statues representing incarna- tions of the Buddha, Confucian  disciples, and various arhats (Buddhist saints) in meditative poses. The Tay Phuong  Pagoda is also distin- guished by particularly  fine wood carvings of flowers and mythical animals, such as the phoenix and dragons. Other striking features of the temple include a large bell cast in  1796, and the double- tiered roof, which  has elegant, upward- sweeping eaves,  beautifully decorated with symbols of the sun, moon, and stars.