Linh Phuoc Pagoda
At the beginning of this year, I was lucky enough to be in Vietnam. It was an exit to a beach holiday during the Russian winter. When in Moscow there were frosts at minus 30 degrees, the countryside in Vietnam was plus 30 Celsius.
Warm sea, sun and beautiful beach are good for me for a short time. I was in Vietnam for the first time and I really wanted to see the country. A trip to the city of Dalat allowed to do this.
Vietnam is a very beautiful country. There is a variety of nature. Beautiful mountains, fields, the sea. Rich nature.
Since Vietnam was almost always at war, there were few important architectural objects left. There is almost no science and technology. But the Vietnamese are hardworking and will be able to create everything they need.
An example of amazing diligence and opportunities is Linh Phuoc pagoda, which was built in a very short time. About this building I would like to tell you today.
A huge and very beautiful Chinese Buddhist temple from several buildings, entirely made of glass, porcelain and ceramic fragments.
In Vietnam, it is not customary to throw broken glass and china dishes away, as, as far as we know, there is no production of it in the country. Hence the value follows. "Material" for the construction was collected by the whole country, everything went into the course: facing tiles, pots, vases.
On the main gate you will meet a huge dragon. In the main temple there is a large two-storeyed hall with free access to the multi-stage roof. Almost all rooms are open. Inside the first floor is a Buddha statue, columns in the shape of dragons and several altars. Also there is a hall of antique inlaid with mother of pearl furniture. And a real mummy monk, which is prohibited from taking photographs. Entrance to the temple is strictly barefoot. On the roof there are cool views of many statues of dragons, lions and fish. Everything is colorful.
The second building is a tower with a spiral staircase and a bell of fulfillment of desires. At the entrance are huge Chinese sculptures of either rulers or monks. You need to write your desire on a piece of paper, stick it to the bell and hit it with a special log. The whole bell is covered with pieces of paper. To reach the top of the tower is a whole adventure on it's own, with every floor the staircase becomes narrower and narrower. Each floor has an open balcony and a different Buddha statue. On the top floor, the balcony is closed, but the view is still spectacular.
The next building is the hall of a gigantic female white Buddha, around it are a bunch of mummies of monks (but these are copies). They can be photographed without problems. From here the exit to the balcony to another giant statue of sand, surrounded by snow-white nymphs. An impressive sight.
Let's Talk About Numbers
The construction of the pagoda started in 1949, and finished in 1952. In 1990, in the course of restoration works, a triple gate was added to the construction on the street side, in order to make it easier for tourists to find the pagoda.
In the courtyard the multi-story tower deserves your attention, decorated with dragons. The tower reaches a height of about 27 meters. The prayer hall is also no less beautiful - the ceiling of the room is adhered to 12 dragons, decorated with terracotta tiles.
The lobby of the pagoda is adorned with an impressive statue of the Alokiteshvara Bodhisattva, sitting on a lotus flower. The height of the statue is 4.9 meters.
On the right you can see the patriarchal throne, and behind the image of Buddha-9 dragons, there is a beautiful garden with a pond, an orchid garden and miniature mountains. The pond is surrounded by a 49-meter statue, made in the form of a curled dragon, decorated with glass tiles.
In November 1999, the Great Bell was cast specially for the pagoda. The height of the bell is 4.3 meters, diameter - 2.2 meters, weight - 10 tons.
About dragons
In the understanding of the Vietnamese, the Dragon is a beast, born of a fantasy of the mind, possessing supernatural powers, but its image can be seen everywhere in everyday life. The dragon is one of 12 animals of the eastern calendar and symbolizes good luck and perfection. The dragon is also a symbol of honor, power and talent. Therefore, the people of Vietnam are confident that a lot of good and prosperous will happen in the New Year of 2012 and 2024...(every 12 years) - the years of the Dragon. Many Vietnamese believe that all children who are born in the year of the Dragon will have a strong character and will succeed in life.
Since ancient times, the image of the Dragon occupies an important place in the cultural and religious life of the Vietnamese people. According to the views of the ancient Vietnamese, the Dragon symbolized the absolute strength of the emperor. Therefore, many imperial things in the palace have a connection with the word "long" (dragon) with the image of a dragon. For example, "Long sàng" (king bed), "Long bào" (royal clothes), "Long xa" (royal carriage). The dragon was included in the number of four mythical animals (dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix). For the Vietnamese, their ancestor is the ruler of the Dragon (Luck Long Quan). According to legend, Dragon Luke Long Quang once met in the mountains a fairy bird Au Co. They fell in love and got married. Soon, Au Ko demolished 100 eggs from which 100 children hatched. Since then, the Vietnamese nationalities have formed.
In the center of the pagoda stands a seven-story bell tower.
Each floor is decorated with statues of a certain deity, the stairs are decorated with bright mosaic panels. From the last floor, from a height of 27 meters, beautiful views of the surrounding area and the pagoda itself. And on the second floor there is a bell, famous for its weight - ten tons. It is considered to be the largest in Vietnam. This is another place where you can write down your wishes on a piece of paper. They are glued to the bell, and then hit it three times. To beat in a ten-ton bell is a labor-intensive matter, that's why everyone is sure that the wish will come true.
To enter the pagoda you need to take off your shoes.
A few more photos of the interiors of the pagoda
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