Long Tien Pagoda is the largest sacred pagoda in Ha Long. With a long history and significance in the spiritual life of the people here, Long Tien Pagoda is a destination that attracts many tourists whenever they have the opportunity to travel to Quang Ninh. Therefore, follow Vietdreamtravel.vn to get more information about this pagoda.
Introduction to Long Tien Pagoda in Ha Long
If Buddhists have the opportunity to visit the fertile land of Quang Ninh, they should not miss Long Tien Pagoda in Ha Long. One of the spiritual tourist destinations of the Northern sect has been designated a National Historical-Cultural Relic of Vietnam.
This is also one of the famous pagodas, built during the Nguyen Dynasty and inaugurated in 1941. Not only does the pagoda house Buddhas, but it is also dedicated to the “Holy Mother” and the heroes of the Tran Dynasty. Long Tien Pagoda has the largest area in Ha Long, located on Le Quy Don Street in Bach Dang Ward, just below Bai Tho Mountain, and is a famous place that preserves the city’s historical and cultural values . Besides, this pagoda is also located at the foot of Bai Tho Mountain, with a peaceful, quiet scene, ideal for spiritual activities.
The best time of year to visit Long Tien Pagoda is during the festival, right after the Tet holiday. At this time, the pagoda is holding many cultural, spiritual, and entertainment activities. The period from May to December is the low tourist season, so if you come here, it will be quite deserted, but it is suitable for those who love quietness and easy for prayer.
Long Tien Pagoda Festival is held on the 24th day of the 3rd lunar month every year. The festival is an opportunity for monks, nuns, Buddhists, and tourists to offer incense, pray for peace and blessings, and admire the magnificent palanquin procession.
Landscape architecture in the style of the Nguyen Dynasty
Long Tien Pagoda is built in a two-story, eight-roofed, overlapping-roof style with softly rising eaves. The system of wooden columns and trusses is in the style of a gong frame with four rows of legs. It consists of 6 rooms, two stories, and eight roofs, covered with yin-yang tiles, a popular type of tile in the architecture of the Quang Ninh region. In particular, the decorative motifs in the pagoda clearly show the characteristics of the Nguyen Dynasty’s artistic style.
After nearly 8 decades of construction and restoration, some ancient items of the pagoda, such as the Tam Quan gate, have retained their original architecture. Today, the construction items in the pagoda, from the outside to the inside, include:
Tam Quan (triple-gate)
The Tam Quan gate of Long Tien Pagoda is unique, with a three-story, overlapping-roof design in a pyramid shape. On the highest floor is a statue of Amitabha Buddha in a sitting position; below is a bell tower with a bronze bell hanging.
The lowest floor is the entrance, with two statues of Ong Thien and Ong Ac standing on either side. The triple gate stands out, with the words “Long Tien Tu” in the middle, written in Chinese characters, and two parallel sentences.
The yard
The pagoda yard consists of an upper yard and a lower yard. In the lower yard, the most prominent is the statue of Bodhisattva Guanyin standing erect and holding a vase of amrita in the posture of saving all living beings.
From here, follow the path to the upper yard to reach the place where Buddhists offer incense to worship Buddha. In the upper courtyard of the pagoda, there is a painting depicting the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni.
Main Hall
The main pagoda is built in a T-shape, including the prayer hall and the upper hall, where many statues are placed. In the main hall, Buddha is worshiped. On the right, Tran Dynasty heroes are worshiped, and on the left is the “Holy Mother” palace.
The main hall is at the highest point, leaning against the mountainside, and inside it houses many Buddha statues. The highest is the Three Buddhas. The second position is Amitabha Buddha meditating and preaching on a lotus platform. The third position is Bodhisattva Quan Yin, with a thousand eyes and a thousand hands, accompanied by Longnu (Dragon Girl) and Sudhana (Child of Wealth).
The fourth position is the Jade Emperor, who governs the heavens to help Buddha practice the Dharma. In front of the Jade Emperor statue stands the Infant Buddha Shakyamuni.
On both sides of the wall, facing each other, are the two main altars of the Ten Kings of Hell. These statues are made of clay, wearing Binh Thien hats, and wearing different types of costumes, both traditional and influenced by the North.
In addition, the pagoda also has a To house (where the three founders of the Truc Lam Zen sect and the Arhats are worshiped) and a guest house.
Source: collected by An
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