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The architectural style during the Ly – Tran dynasty at the largest temple in the Mekong Delta leaves a profound impression and a sense of peace in the early days of the new year.
Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery was inaugurated on May 17, 2014, after nearly a year of construction. It is located on nearly 4 hectares in My Khanh commune, Phong Dien district, Can Tho city. The monastery is situated in the Historical Site of Lo Vong Cung, just a few hundred meters from My Khanh tourist village and about 15 km from the city center.
Upon arrival, visitors immediately notice the unique architecture. The main gate of the monastery features curved roof arches with stylized dragon heads, and the doors are made of glossy brown precious wood. On either side of the gate are two tall golden statues: on the left is the statue of Vajrasattva (Ong Thien) protecting the Triple Gem, and on the right is the statue of the Great Physician (Ong Ac) specializing in rescuing beings from demons and ghosts.
Behind the main gate is a vast brick courtyard, meticulously arranged to create a sense of spaciousness and tranquility. On either side are two floating lotus-shaped altar houses on the surface of a round, colorful pond. A red bridge leads visitors to the altar house to admire the statue inside. In the altar house on the left is a wooden statue of Maitreya Buddha, while in the altar house on the right is a white marble statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, standing at 2 meters tall.
On either side of the main entrance to the main hall are rows of granite stone statues, each side with 9 meticulously carved statues representing folk beliefs. To the right of the main hall is a bell tower with a soaring curved roof and a bronze bell weighing up to 1.5 tons. To the left of the main hall is a drum tower with a wooden frame supporting a finely carved, exquisitely artistic drum platform. Both structures are modeled after the bell tower of Keo Pagoda in Thai Binh province. Next to the drum tower is also the symbol of One Pillar Pagoda for visitors to admire.
After a leisurely stroll around the exterior, visitors enter the main hall (also known as Dai Hung Buu Dien) to pay their respects and are greeted by the impressive solemnity and serenity here. The red brick floor, the main hall roofed with eight tiles in the style of the Tran dynasty, and the smooth, polished frames of large lim wood pillars all exude grandeur. All 44 pillars are ceremoniously placed on gray stone slabs with cloud vein patterns, adorned with intricate lotus flower carvings.
Seated tranquilly in the center of the main hall amidst lotus motifs is a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni made of gold-plated bronze, approximately 2 meters tall and weighing 3.5 tons. To the right of the main hall is the altar: statues of Bodhisattva Manjusri, and Lord Buddha. To the left is the altar with statues of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra and Holy Master. All are crafted from 800-year-old Du Sam wood, intricately carved. Visitors can also see black inscriptions on a gold background on each pillar.
With all the distinctive features mentioned above, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is regarded as one of the unique artistic works in the Western land. Moreover, the monastery is constructed on the land of Can Tho, the center of the Mekong Delta region, to fulfill the desire to revive and develop the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect founded by Emperor Tran Nhan Tong. Therefore, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery also holds significant cultural and spiritual value.
A visit to Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery to admire the scenery and pray for peace will be a memorable pilgrimage for you in the early days of the new year. The cultural and spiritual values permeating every corner of the monastery will undoubtedly provide visitors with a sense of inner peace to start a prosperous new year.
Behind the main hall, there is an exhibition area displaying beautiful artistic photographs of the Zen monastery. Visitors should take the opportunity to appreciate these artworks. Additionally, young visitors can capture beautiful moments in the monastery's garden with flowers and bonsai trees, besides offering prayers.
According to Ngoisao.vn
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourJanuary 14, 2016
