An Giang is famous as a pure “sacred land” with ancient temples imbued with many architectural and folklore beauties. In which, Hang Pagoda is one of the extremely sacred temples that attracts many visitors from all over the world to come here to enjoy and pilgrimage to pray for happiness and luck.
Hang Pagoda is an attractive destination of An Giang
Hang Pagoda is a familiar name that people give to one of the famous temples of Chau Doc – An Giang which is Phuoc Dien pagoda. Phuoc is a blessing, a field is a field (land), the name Phuoc Dien can simply be understood as a land to cultivate blessings. The temple has been recognized as a National Historical – Cultural Relic, located on the slopes of Sam mountain, near the cluster of relics, Ba Chua Xu Temple, Tay An Pagoda and Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb. Traveling to An Giang, visiting Hang Pagoda, you will be like going through the door opening a new world to get rid of all the dust and dust problems, immerse yourself in the fresh, peaceful and mellow atmosphere like a fairy-tale place.
Hang Pagoda is also known as Phuoc Dien Temple
Hang Pagoda is not only famous for its captivating scenery, but it is also associated with many anecdotes and thrilling stories. The pagoda was formed around 1840 – 1850, initially as a bamboo and leaf temple, founded by Mrs. Tho whose real name is Le Thi Tho (1818-1899), legal name Dieu Thien, a tailor in Cho Lon. as a place of practice, at a young age.
Temple entrance gate
According to the story, Ms. Tho also had a family before, but because her husband’s family was too strict, she got depressed and fled to Sam mountain, went to Tay An pagoda to cut her hair and become a monk while taking medicine and ringing the bell. hope to end karma soon.
After spending time at Tay An pagoda, she realized that this was not the right place for her because there were many people frequenting it, and the local authorities were watching. Therefore, in 1950, she left Xi’an to find another place to practice, hoping for a peaceful place. On the way, she met a cave about 1km from Tay An pagoda, immediately set up a monastery, which is the original origin of today’s Chau Doc Hang Pagoda.
According to anecdote, next to the am tu there is a deep mountain cave, with a pair of unusually large snakes in the cave. But since she came to practice, the pair of snakes are no longer fierce, but often come and listen to the sutras. Gradually, the pair of snakes were tamed, often coming to eat vegetarian food, watch out for wild animals and crooks, and protect Ms. Tho’s religious place. She named them Thanh Snake, White Snake and after her death, the pair of snakes also suddenly disappeared.
Stairs leading up to visit the Temple
Since ancient times, this mountainous land has been associated with many legends, from white tigers to three-legged tigers and giant snakes. But any beast, no matter how aggressive, when hearing the sound of sutras, will be tamed, only evil with bad people, defending the cultivator and the honest person.
Therefore, the oral story of the pair of snakes associated with this nun is like an admonition about punishing the wicked and saving the good. People around here all know the legend of Chau Doc Hang Pagoda by heart. Every time there are tourists passing by, sitting by the lotus lake, the corridor of the temple is even more interesting to hear.
In 1885, because of his admiration for the virtue of nun Dieu Thien, he said Thong (Nguyen Ngoc Cang) in Chau Doc and the people in the area raised their own money and rebuilt the pagoda: the floor was tiled with Chinese bricks, and the poles were made of mahogany. cars, wooden rafters, roof tiles … In 1937, the Most Venerable Thich Hue Thien (1904 – 1990) upgraded the pagoda for the second time. Today, in the third abbot’s life – Most Venerable Thich Thien Chon, the pagoda is in the process of being completed…
The temple is located on the slopes of Sam . mountain
Located on the slopes of Mount Sam, Hang Pagoda gives visitors a wonderful feeling. A very charming space but equally sacred. This one-hundred-year-old temple has an extremely open view and a quiet, solemn space.
The season of phoenix flowers blooms and fills the whole area
Hang Pagoda is surrounded by deep green forests of majestic mountains, many species of trees bloom in season to color the whole area, bringing a poetic picture to the ancient Hang Pagoda.
Surrounded by trees and flowers
To visit and worship Buddha at the temple, visitors have to follow the steps built of stone blocks, quite steep, slightly standing but very easy to go. The road is enough for people to take a breath, then stop, breathe in the fresh air, look up at the towering pagoda or admire the vast, immense plains to help visitors forget their tired footsteps. but continue the journey.
Green fields seen from the temple
The unique feature of the temple is not only in its nostalgic and contemplative architecture, but also in its standing position. The pagoda is divided into several floors along the open-air bridge next to the mountain with steep, craggy cliffs. The pagoda was built according to that cliff like a giant bas-relief carved meticulously.
The space is pure and sacred
In the garden of Hang Chau Doc pagoda, there is a large water lily pond, surrounded by many kinds of flowers to create a fresh green space, mixed with white, red and yellow flowers. From the garden of the pagoda, tourists of Hang Pagoda also have the opportunity to admire the picture of the peaceful countryside of An Giang.
The picture of a peaceful village of An Giang country
The temple has a temple to worship the statue of Buddha Di Lac, the statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and 4 dharma protectors standing looking at the foot of the mountain. In front of the pagoda, there are two colorful, harmonious, elaborately carved stupas standing majestically on the mountainside. The two stupas are also the places to worship the two monks who have the greatest merit in the formation of Hang Chau Doc pagoda, Mrs. Tho and monk Thich Hue Thien.
The stupa is a place to worship the two monks who have the greatest merit in the formation of Hang Pagoda
The lower stupa is the place to worship Thich Hue Thien, while the upper tower is the place to worship the female shaman Dieu Thien or Mrs. The pagoda also has a work that people dedicate to remembering Phan Thong, who has donated money to build the temple for the first time after Ms. Dieu Thien passed away.
Statues of Dharma protectors standing looking at the foot of the mountain
The main hall of Hang Chau Doc Pagoda is not too big but very majestic and decorated with impressive artistic reliefs. The main hall is the place to worship Shakyamuni Buddha and a number of gods. Prominent in front of the pagoda is a banner with a height of up to 20m and white mascot statues.
Buddha statue in the main hall
Exquisitely carved Buddha statues
Under the temple steps are two rather vivid cement lion statues. On the left side of the pagoda is the Tay Lang, on the right is the newly built Dong Lang.
Going through the main hall to the temple grounds, visitors will find a small am located in the cave. The name Hang Pagoda that people here give Phuoc Dien self probably comes from this very unique architectural feature.
Buddha statue in the cliff
Inside the cave, on both sides of the shrine are two large snake statues of green snake and white snake with their eyes lit up with lamps, making the space tinged with spirituality and adding a mysterious impression to visitors.
Two large snake statues, green snake and white snake, are associated with legends
Besides the worshiping halls, the pagoda also has other works for tourists to rest or as a place to study and live for monks.
Sunset scene at the temple
If you have the opportunity to travel to Chau Doc, you should not miss a sightseeing tour of Hang Pagoda (Phuoc Dien Tu), so that you can find a peaceful place, dispel all fatigue and worries of life. This is also an opportunity for visitors to both go to the temple to pray for peace for the family and to admire the magnificent and magnificent art works of An Giang land.
