Unique temple in the West

03/03/2023
According to the Vietnamese Buddhist association, as of July 10th 2020, the country has 18,491 pagodas, temples, viharas, monasteries, and ashrams with 54,773 monks and nuns. In which, there are 12,912 Northern pagodas; 1,332 Southern and Khmer pagodas.

According to the Vietnamese Buddhist association, as of July 10th 2020, the country has 18,491 pagodas, temples, viharas, monasteries, and ashrams with 54,773 monks and nuns. In which, there are 12,912 Northern pagodas; 1,332 Southern and Khmer pagodas.

Some pagodas are only a few hundred square meters, but others are hundreds of hectares. There are simple pagodas while others are splendid as palaces. The architecture of each pagoda is different. In Hau Giang, there is a unique pagoda. It is Gia Lam pagoda (Gia Lam ancient pagoda), also known as Con Ngua pagoda, with only one abbott, 145 statues, Northern pagoda but with Indian architecture.

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ESTABLISHMENT

It was built in 1940, it is not exactly an ancient pagoda, but it was established differently. At that time, Pham Huu Vinh, a farmer, was from Soc Trang. Because of his poverty, he had to go to many places and rent land for farming. He worked hard every day. In the evening, he provides medical herbs to help the poor. In 1940, he made a mind to take refuge in a pagoda in An Giang with the dharma name Thich Hue Duc, then returned to Hau Giang, founded Quan Thanh (Quan Thanh De) pagoda to worship Quan Vu.

At first, the pagoda was built with cassava and nipa leaves. He invited artists to make three statues of Quan Vu and two adopted children, Quan Binh and Chau Hung. Each statue is nearly 3m high, weighs a ton, and is made of sand and cement. When the statue was done. Hundreds of young men in the area came to help, they used all means but they still could not lift any statue.

For several days, the abbot tried to put the three statues on the pedestal, but was unsuccessful. One night, in desperation, he knelt in front of the statue and prayed, "If the saints help to move the statues smoothly, I will chop off a finger to show my respect." The next day, people move the statues on the pedestal easily.

Remembering the oath, he waited until night time and carried a knife and kneeling in front of the holy statue. As he swung his knife, intending to chop off his finger as an oath, a strong wind blew. He fainted and dreamed that Quan Thanh appeared, shouting: "The body is born of your parents, you have no right to destroy it". He was startled to awake and sweat like a bath.

ITS NAME

When it was built, the pagoda was named Giai Hanh Gia Lam. Gia Lam is an ancient word, meaning "quiet place", the residence of monks to practice. In 1970, the name was changed to “Già Lam cổ tự” pagoda. Since 1964, people have called Gia Lam Co Tu as Con Ngua Pagoda. The only Buddhist temple in the world named after useful, loyal, wise cattle; It is a good fighting force (cavalry) when there is no machine.

It is said that Quan Thanh De has been blessed to help people many times. On one occasion, he said, “I am in need of a horse. Whoever helps me, my family is blessed for 3 generations." In early 1964, a woman from afar brought 1,000,000 dong (50 taels of gold at that time) as a donation and found someone to cast a statue of Red Hare.

Artisan Ba Dem, famous throughout the region, specializes in building temples and pagodas, falling in love with and being asked to build a statue. For more than a month, wholeheartedly practicing vegetarianism, working day and night without rest, the Red Hare was completed. The statue is made from cement mixed with natural colors, about 3m high, nearly 4m long. The internal organs are also cast, painted red and inserted into the horse's belly, before being covered.

Each horse's heel has a tuft of hair, called a ponytail which is a unique feature of Quan Cong's Red Hare. The Red Hare is 4m long, 8m tall, has a fiery red color, has no stray hairs, travels thousands of miles a day, climbs mountains and crosses streams with no horse as good as it. Horse statues in pagodas, temples and communal houses in Vietnam are not rare, but the horse statue in Con Ngua pagoda is unique. 

The Red Hare of the Gia Lam pagoda is dark pink; The posture is head up high, ready to fight, more alive than a real horse. In particular, the horse's eye seems to be able to speak. The quartet poem is hanging on the side of the horse. It means as follows:

"The Red Hare sound echoes in Eastern morning,
 It's famous for being strong.
The thousand-mile is not tired,
It fights hundreds battles as not".

The statue has been there over nearly 60 years. This has never been restored, Red Hare still has its original color and style, regardless of time. Many people want to build the Red Hare statue, so they find famous architects and sculptors to help. When they visited the pagoda and “observed with their own eyes”, they all refused because they couldn't sculpt like that. The Red Hare of Gia Lam ancient pagoda is unique.

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The Red Hare statue in Gia Lam pagoda. Photo: Nguyen Dat.

The pagoda has an area of 2,376m2. From the outside, the pagoda stands out in a typical Indian style. The interior blends pure Vietnamese architecture, traditional sects, and Northern Buddhism.

It has been located in Xeo Vong C hamlet, Hiep Loi commune, Nga Bay city, Hau Giang, next to National Highway 1, the pagoda has a green, pure and peaceful space. Visitors pass by, as if they are attracted by the eyes of Red Hare. Anyways, they have to stop to admire, take selfie photos and wander around the pagoda with many interesting experiences.

Since 1987, after the death of Thich Hue Duc, the pagoda has only an abbot, Thich Hue Sanh, 75 years old, who has been practicing at the pagoda since 1956. He takes care of this place alone. This is the only one-monk pagoda. Master Hue Sanh is the one who came up with the idea of designing, choosing colors, arranging harmonious statue decorations, concurrently explaining, introducing the pagoda and performing some traditional musical instruments.

The main hall worships Buddha, Quan Cong, the tablet of the founder, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, Eighteen Arhats, King of Ten Palaces of Hell and many other statues. The pagoda yard has many items such as: 8 stages, stupas, 8 unicorns and 25 censers. The most prominent ones are the 14m statue of Shakyamuni Buddha entering Nirvana, the 12m Guanyin Buddha statue, the Buddha preaching statue, the Lumbini garden... There are 145 statues in total. Every statue is sophisticated and lively.

Nguyen Van My

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