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Linh Phuoc pagoda is
located at 120 Tu Phuoc – Ward 11 which is in the northeast, 8km from the city
center. Taking the train to Trai Mat to visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda in the
chilly cold of the central highlands city of Da Lat is an exciting adventure
for those who seek the sanctuary of a worshipping place and the unique
architecture of Asian pagodas.
History of Linh Phuoc
pagoda
Linh Phước Pagoda, also
called Về Chai Pagoda, was built from debris of glass, pottery bowls and
porcelain between 1949 and 1952 in a remote residential area of Đà Lạt City.
The pagoda has been led by many Buddhist monks and was renovated by Monk Thích
Tâm Vị in 1990.
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The pagoda was
built in 1949 and finished in 1952. It had being managed by 4 Buddhist monks,
including Mr. Thich Minh The (1951 – 1954), Mr. Thich An Hoa (1954 – 1956), Mr.
Thich Quang Phat (1956 – 1959) and Mr. Thich Minh Duc (1959 – 1985). Since
1985, Mr. Thich Tam Vi has managed this pagoda and it had a big restoration in
1990.
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The front of the pagoda is lined with
meticulous sculptured pillars in the shape of flying dragons which were made
from glass debris. A 4.8-meter-tall statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni is a
striking work of art which sits between 12 glaze works in relief which
respectfully illustrate the legend of the Buddha Sakyamuni.
Visitors can contemplate a 49-meter-long
winding glaze dragon which stands near a pond. The scabs of dragon are made
from 12,000 empty bottles, the head of dragon is 7m high. Here, at the
Long Hoa Vien (Dragon Flower Park), tourists can sense the tranquility and the
poetry of the nature and talent of human beings. In front of the sanctum, there
is Da Bao tower with 27m height, is a seven-tiered-27-meter-tall-tower
made from thousands of pieces of broken bowls. On two sides of the tower,
bell and drum are put. In the tower, there are some statues of Quan The Am
Bodhisattva. This is really the ideal place for visitors to learn more
about Buddhism as each floor of the tower is for the worship of each of the
gods and goddesses.
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The second floor of the
tower holds the largest bell in Central Vietnam, named Dai Hong Chung. The
bell, 4.38 meters in height and 8,500 kilograms in weight, is carved in
meticulous detail and includes the four words “Linh Phuoc Tu Chung”, statues of
Buddha and sceneries of One Pillar Pagoda, Thien Mu Pagoda, Linh Phuoc Pagoda
and Bo De Dao Trang Tower (India).
Almost tourists at the
tower of pagoda will do this:
As the bell turns, it
presents images of the four seasons. Tourists are advised to turn the bell to
the season they are in, write their wishes on a piece of yellow paper, stick
the piece of paper onto the bell and then chime the bell three times to send
their prayers the Buddha. This is a sacred experience that should not be missed
in the flower city.
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