Bridge Pagoda is a magical, beautiful tourist destination in Hoi An ancient town. Many visitors of Hoi An tour are curious and fascinated by the history and beauty of this place. Today, let’s go with Origin Travel to discover this wonderful place.
400 years ago, the Japanese built a bridge of 18 meters long, curved through the creek flowing into the Huai River. And now, it has become the symbol of Hoi An ancient town. With great cultural significance, it was honored to appear on the polymer money 20.000 VND. Now, if you have the chance to go on a holiday in Hoi An, don’t forget to visit this historical place – Bridge Pagoda
Bridge Pagoda – A historical symbol
Bridge Pagoda – as the name suggests – is a pagoda located on a bridge across a creek in the ancient town of Hoi An. The pagoda was built in the early 17th century by Japanese merchants. This is the only work that has originated from the land of the rising sun in history. Therefore, the Japanese Bridge is another name of this bridge. The pagoda ‘s unique architecture resembles the sword of the Namazu monster. In the Japanese legend, the sword prohibited the monster from tugging at its tail and causing earthquakes. In 1653, a pagoda was erected right on the bridge, connected to the north rail, protruding between the bridge.
Bridge Pagoda – A beauty of architecture
Although it was built by the Japanese, Bridge Pagoda still boldly bears and inherits the uniqueness as well as specialty of Vietnamese architecture. The pagoda is roofed with yin-yang tiles on top of it – a feature of Vietnamese architecture. The roof of the pagoda has a irreplaceable architecture which is made from wood. While the corridor has seven huts. And it were constructed as a resort for local people and travelers to come to visit the temple. Bridge Pagoda, as well as the bridge are completely made of wood. And they were painted with lacquer together with elaborate carvings in Vietnamese architecture. They were typically dragon carvings. Besides, there are two heads of wooden animals at the pagoda. One is a dog, one is a monkey. According to Japanese legend, these two kinds of animal have been worshiped by Japanese since ancient times.
From a far distance, the Bridge Pagoda stands out with the curve of a soft, flexible roof, like a rainbow. It illuminates a corner of the ancient but modern town. It brings a lighthearted but bustling feeling. The pagoda is also a mix of culture to architecture and religion. Moreover, at night the image of the bridge is reflected on the river. This image is what attracts so many visitors to go in Hoi An.
Bridge Pagoda – A beauty of culture
For over 400 years, this famous pagoda has been visited by many people. From domestic visitors from different provinces in Vietnam and foreign visitors who traveled thousand of miles to step on Hoi An land. The pagoda’s special feature is that The Buddha is not worshiped in the pagoda. But rather a guardian god who is Bac De Tran Vu. People believe that the guardian god Bac De Tran Vu can protect them from floods and give them both happiness and safety.
This is because the Hoi An ancient town geologically suffers from the wind of the accretion of Thu Bon River. This land is volatile and surrounded by rivers. Meanwhile, the Thu Bon River is the largest river in the central region, as a result, floods often occur. The early Japanese merchants came to the new land facing many geological differences. One of which is harsh natural conditions like floods every years.
They placed their trust in the guardian god. And prayed to for a easier life of luckiness and safety and prosperity. Nowadays, on the fifteenth day of the month, the first day and New Year holiday… Hoi An residents incense in front of the statue of the guardian god to show their respects. They worship and pray for the protection of the god.
In 1990, Cau Pagoda was recognized as a National Historical-Cultural Relic.
Although the Bridge Pagoda has experienced at least 6 times of repairmen, it still retains the ancient features. So far, the pagoda have become an invaluable asset, formally chosen as the symbol of Hoi An. When you come to Hoi An tours, don’t forget to visit this place. For more information, contact Origin Travel.
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