As a province where many Khmer ethnic people live, Vinh Long has a distinct beauty expressed through unique architectural works. Among the famous landscapes and monuments, Hang Pagoda is one of the most popular destinations, attracting visitors with its ancient beauty and fine art sculptures crafted by the skillful hands of the pagoda’s monks and artisans.
Overview of Hang Pagoda
Hang Pagoda, also known in Khmer as Kompong Chray, is a famous Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagoda located in cluster 3, Chau Thanh Commune, more than 5 km south of Tra Vinh ward, along Highway 54.
It was named Hang Pagoda because of the gates built like a system of 3 caves close together, and Hang in English means “Cave”. In which the middle gate is a large cave, and the two sides are two small caves. All three gates are solidly built with a 12m-thick wall, creating the feeling of standing in the gate, as if in a cave.
Explore the design style of Hang Pagoda in Vinh Long
The arched pagoda gate is a work of artistic and aesthetic design that sets the Hang Pagoda apart from the remaining Khmer pagodas in the province. They show a “trait” that Khmer Theravada Buddhism, also called Southern Buddhism, has an inheritance that does not change Brahminism, often quietly practiced in a dark cave, without passersby.
The main hall of the pagoda was built on a high ground, with many steps leading up, decorated with many patterns and motifs. The roof of the main hall was composed of many overlapping layers, atop which stood a towering, majestic tower. Inside the main hall are two tall rows and majestic columns; in the middle is the altar. The large statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is placed high, and below are smaller statues of Shakyamuni Buddha in many different postures.
In front of the main hall is a flagpole tower; at the foot of the tower is a relief of 7 Naga snake heads. The two sides have a set of 12 wheels symbolizing the twelve predestined fates. There is also a population of 12 animals, arranged in an arc to emboss a pair of dragons winding like a boat.
On the right side are also, in order, the gods riding goats, monkeys, chickens, dogs, and pigs. In the middle, there are two gods: one riding the head of a snake and the other riding a horse, arranged close to the screen. On the screen is a 4-sided tower with a roof, on both sides there is a statue of the goddess Kinnari supporting the roof, and on top is a set of 8 Buddhas with hands clasped.
Hang Pagoda is not as large as other Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas in Vinh Long province. However, the attraction of this pagoda is the wood-carving workshop, with many products that resonate in the Vietnamese fine art market, and a “bird sanctuary” exists nearby in Tra Vinh ward.
The campus of Hang Pagoda is about 7 hectares wide, and it is home to thousands of birds of all kinds, most of which are white storks, ivory storks, red-necked storks, and herons. With a loved and protected by local people, birds are getting bolder. They nest on the area in front of the main hall, the monks’ house…With all, this place is peaceful. Therefore coming to Vinh Long, you should not forget to visit Hang Pagoda.
Source: collected by An
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