Kien Giang is a land of Southern history – culture. Vinh Trang Pagoda is an important factor to create the identity here. The pagoda that has existed throughout here for three centuries. It’s always referred to as a pilgrimage site that should not be missed when arriving in Tien Giang beside the Mekong delta tour boat trip on Cai Be floating market.
Where is Vinh Trang pagoda?
The address of Vinh Trang Pagoda is easy to find. Because the pagoda is located on Nguyen Trung Truc Street, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province. Every day, the temple welcomes nearly 1000 visitors, including about 300 foreign guests. In addition to the title of “the largest temple in Tien Giang”, the temple also has numerous other interesting things.
How Vinh Trang Pagoda is unique?
This is one of the most famous vacation spots in Tien Giang province. It’s built in the 19th century by Bui Cong Dat – a mandarin under King Minh Mang’s period (1820-1840). The formation of the temple starts from the aromatic heart of the local people.
In 1894, Venerable Thich Hue Dang at Giac Lam pagoda (Gia Dinh) returned to the abbot to build a great temple and named it Vinh Truong pagoda with the wish for the pagoda to be “longevity”. Because of that noble meaning, the pagoda is loved by people called Vinh Trang pagoda.
Until today, the pagoda has been restored many times by many different monks. In 1907, Tra Chanh Hau monk repaired the main hall, mixing Asian and European architecture. But In 1930, Minh Dang gave a comprehensive restoration, creating a new and strange face of the temple.
In the two resistance wars against foreign invaders. Vinh Trang Pagoda is also a place to hide revolutionary soldiers. Although the enemy was discovered and many times devastated. But still could not damage the pagoda. So far, this place has an irreplaceable symbol in the hearts of the local people.
The architecture of Vinh Trang pagoda
The pagoda is located on an area of 14,000m², 70m long, 20m wide. It’s built with both cement and precious wood, foundations of 1m high, surrounding solid walls. Come here, you will be surprised by the perfect mixed Asian – European architecture of Vinh Trang Pagoda.
There are three-door gates with art pieces made of ceramic through the skillful hands of the old artisans. It’s been set up into many paintings illustrating. Such as: Buddha’s legend, folk tales, themes of spirituality, four precious animals, four precious plants, clouds and sky … with great harmony of paintings.
The front of the road creates a feeling of straying into a foreign temple with its slender columns, curved arches and colorful patterns. Surely this is the first time you admire the unique architectural tricks. Such as the bas-reliefs of animals, Roman-style arches, French cotton, Japanese ceramic tiles, etc. Vinh Trang Pagoda is like a miniature museum.
Asian beauty is what people will feel more clearly when entering inside. Creating the stability of the pagoda is a system of horizontal diaphragm, cleverly and skillfully carved wooden statues.
The four pillars of Vinh Trang My Tho temple in Tien Giang with special design. A special feature is that these two dragon wings have a unique arrangement of unique layouts: touching the phoenix standing on the dragon’s head. It can be said that the whole beauty of the temple is focused on visual art, in which the statue is the majority.
System of Buddha statues of Vinh Trang Temple
In Vinh Trang pagoda. There are more than 60 statues of wooden Buddha, copper, earthenware and cement. All statues are iridescent gold. Besides the statues and pagodas, there is a Dai Hong Chung named Bao Phap. The bell is 1.2 meters high, weighs about 150 kg. Also there are 20 valuable pictures.
The space inside the temple is home to many art works of artisans come from North, Central and South Vietnam. At the temple, there are eighteen La Han statues. It’s beautiful as the statues of the La Han Tay Phuong pagoda.
In the temple grounds, there is a Maitreya Buddha statue in a sitting position in the middle of the park, with a length of 27m, a width of 18m, a height of 20m and a weight of 250,000kg with concrete and reinforced materials. The statue of Buddha Vinh Trang pagoda is used for the working office of the Buddhist Association of Tien Giang province, with lecture halls and accommodation for 200 people.
To serve tourists, Vinh Trang Pagoda is open all days of the week. All the monks always explain and guide when visitors need help. In 1984, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized this pagoda as a national-level historical-cultural relic. Vinh Trang Pagoda with unique architectural beauty and spiritual values. It ‘s increasing to be a Vietnam vacation destination Tien Giang cannot be ignored.
