Pagodas are an important part of Southeast Asian culture. In Vietnam pagodas are not just considered to be a place of worship but also a place where traditional and cultural functions and other festivities. The most ancient of these pagodas that have been contributing and continuing to uplift the traditional, cultural and religious aspects of the society is the Chu Thanh Pagoda in
Hoi An. The Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An is the oldest and the most respected pagoda in Hoi An.
Distanced from the centre of Hoi An by a good 2Km, the Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An was instituted by a recluse from China. This monk named Minh Hai set up the Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An in the year 1454. the exact location of the Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An is in the Quang Nam Province, within the Tho Cam ward. The Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An also significant for being the birthplace of the “Thien Tam Te” religion. The pagoda made of wood and the decorations are made up of lacquered panels, and boards with Chinese characters etched out on them. Moreover, the architectural style of the Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An uniquely combines Chinese desighs with Vietnamese styles. The Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An is a living relic in itself and has been restored along with many other establishments in Hoi An as a Heritage Building with funds provided by the UNESCO; the renovations took place twice, in 1956 and again in 1964.
The Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An currently houses 5 monks, headed by a Buddhist priest called Thich Tri Nhan, who are the chief guardians of the Thien Tam Te religion and also the precious relics of the pagoda. The relics include a the bells within the pagoda, a two century old stone gong and another wooden gong in the shape of a carp that is even older that the stone gong. The Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An houses the deities Tam The Phat, Di Lac, and La Han within the walls, while there is another deity – the ‘Goddess of Mercy’ Quan The Am Bo Tat – just outside the pagoda. Outside the Chu Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An are also the tombs of the renowned priests Minh Hai, Thiet Tho, An Bich, and Thien Quan. |
|
Package Vietnam Tours
