Hang pagoda: one of the oldest pagodas in Hải Phòng
The Hang (Cave) Pagoda, also known as Cốc Tử Pagoda, leaning on a mountain and overlooking the beach in
Hang Pagoda, also known as Coc Tu (zone 1, Van Son ward, Do Son District, Hai Phong city) is considered the largest natural temple in the Do Son historical relic.
Do Son Cave Pagoda is a mountain cave, this is a valuable relic related to the first time Buddhism was introduced into our country.
According to legend, a monk named Ban, a native of Thien Truc, followed the boat to spread Buddhism to reside in the cave and opened this pagoda. Many domestic researchers believe that this is the first place where Buddhism was introduced to our country.
The pagoda is located in a rocky cave along the side of a mountain, 35m high, 7m wide and divided into two inside and outside steps. In general, the pagoda has a trapezoidal structure, penetrating directly into the mountain with a length of about 25m.
The deeper you go, the lower and narrower the Hang Do Son Pagoda, with the same height of about 1.2 m and width of about 1.3 m. The pagoda has a position of its back hidden deep in the solid mountain and the face facing the vast sea. From a distance, pagodas, towers, ancestral churches, … merge into a unique architectural complex in shape, diverse in shapes.
Although it has undergone many embellishment times, the architecture of Hang Do Son pagoda “Tien Phat, Hau Than” has basically remained unchanged.
Experiencing many ups and downs along with the history of building and defending the country, the present Hang Pagoda is no longer lying on the coast but has receded more than 100 meters from the old pagoda campus. This is really an interesting destination to learn about Buddhist history and national beliefs.
Recognizing that Hang Pagoda is an extremely rare cultural heritage, the temple management board together with local and local Buddhists are continuing to preserve and embellish the pagoda in order to preserve the relics.
Introduction to Hang Do Son Pagoda
Hang Pagoda or Coc Tu is an ancient Buddhist temple located at the foot of Van Tac mountain in zone 1, Van Son ward, Do Son District, Hai Phong city , formerly known as Van Tac village, Do Son commune, Nghi Duong district, Kinh Mon Palace, Hai Duong religion.
According to many researchers in Vietnam, the pagoda is likely to be built before BC, specifically in the 2nd century. Therefore, there are many legends that have been established to explain the origin of the pagoda. Accordingly, in the 18th Hung King period, there was a monk named Poor Thien Truc in India in the process of spreading Buddhism on a boat and stopping at Van Tac Mountain to rest, discovered the cave in This mountain should have set up an altar and practice here.
Even the Do Son people said that the large Ban Pagoda on top of Mau Son mountain was also opened by him to evangelize everyone. But later in his life he still came back to have many memories with him, especially Hang Do Son pagoda and passed away there.
Moreover, this temple is also the first place where Buddhism came to Vietnam and has great spiritual and architectural significance to the people in the area, so they composed a lot of flower songs. Fine to praise it like:
“Hang Pagoda, Buddha Cave, Bat
Four Cave in eight directions is nowhere near”
Or:
“Temple of the cave
is a miraculous Buddha scene. Is it a Buddha or a Fairy?”
Impressive architecture of Hang Do Son Pagoda
Old pagoda (original original temple)
Ancient Coc Pagoda is considered to be the largest natural temple in the historical site in Do Son , because it penetrates into the mountain bed about 25m, the entrance is 3.5m high, 7m wide but the deeper it goes inside, will be low and small with a height of 1.2m and width of only 1.3m.
The pagoda is also divided into 2 main steps, with an outer terrace about 23m2 wide and the inner one 7m wide and 0.5m high. Moreover, because the face of the pagoda faces the immense sea, the overall view forms a complex with extremely diverse and unique shapes and shapes.
Inside the old Do Son Hang Pagoda , there is a cool air wearing the hot, sultry outside and dedicated to worshiping Patriarch of the Name of the Buddha Quang – one of the four immortals in Vietnam, who taught the religion to Chu Dong Tu. .
In addition, in the cave, there is also a stone altar, a 0.6m-high green stone statue of Adida Buddha, located on a lotus bowl of stone incense and a fresh water well – where the Patriarch Ban often drank during his spiritual practice. Along with that are other poems of bays and pagodas on the cliffs, but through the ravages of war, they are blurred and difficult to see.
New pagoda
Through many times of restoration due to degradation, now the new Hang Pagoda in Do Son has been moved to a location about 100m away, with 3 massive floors, different from the traditional pagoda in Vietnam. In it, the first floor is for cooking, the second floor is the Three Jewels worship Buddha, Bodhisattva, Anan and Thanh Ong, and the third floor at the top is the Western shrine of Adida Buddha.
The temple is impressed by the landscape of the country, the green and peaceful trees in the front, attracting many white pigeons to the park. But the most prominent is probably still the image of the compassionate Guan Yin Buddha standing on the rock of the mountain as if sending the most friendly greetings to visitors.
In addition, just to the right of the Bodhisattva statue, there is also a 7-storey sacred tower representing the 7 ancestors who have completed the fruitfulness at Hang Do Son Pagoda . There are countless statues of Arhat stone with many different poses and nuances of expressions, or the four spirit dragons – li – quy – pho, scattered scattered on the cliffs, looking like a fairyland. bare dust contamination.
Moreover, basically the worshiping architecture of the pagoda is still in the style before worshiping Buddha, after worshiping the typical deity of Tam Daoism, so next to the To Church there is the Mother Church, which is where the 3 Saints are worshiped: Heavenly heaven governs the sky, wearing red clothes in the middle, the model Chang Thousand who governs the mountains and forests wears green clothes, the mother of the river, the ruler of the river, wears white clothes, and the five princes.
In addition, in the palace there is also the altar of Duc Thanh Tran Hung Dao – the person who defeated the Mong Nguyen invaders three times and the first true disciple of Patriarch was Chu Dong Tu, with a conical hat and a tree. Dharma sticks – a familiar treasure passed down by the ancestor, so that visitors who come to Hang Do Son Pagoda can come and burn incense to express gratitude.
Memorable experiences at Hang Do Son Pagoda
It is considered the most sacred spiritual place in Do Son, so every day, especially on important holidays and New Year, such as the first day of the year, lunar month, the beginning of the new year, the Vu Lan festival, the full moon of January or the full moon of July On the other hand, the pagoda welcomes many visitors to pray, making the incense smoke feel comfortable, covering all over the place like heaven.
Not only that, visitors can also write their wishes on the silk cloth and then hang up the tree of wishes in the middle of the yard, if sincere, your wish will surely come true.
In particular, Hai Phong Hang Pagoda also has a picturesque scene, with brilliant pink cherry trees, eye-catching red and yellow lanterns hanging all over the path and many beautiful virtual living corners such as : a pink heart-shaped gate, a circular rattan chair or a giant colorful cartoon garden … for you to unleash impressive pictures.
If you are looking for a peaceful and poetic place like a fairy tale place, Hang Do Son Pagoda is the ideal place for you.
