Special pagodas in Truong Sa

Despite the limited land fund, the pagodas on Truong Sa archipelago still have a three-door gate, a temple yard, and a bell tower. The pagodas are often arranged in a Dinh (丁) shape, with the main hall connecting directly to the front hall. The sloping, tiled roofs with curved edges are unique to any pagoda in other Asian countries.

Over the years, the Party, the State and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha have always paid attention to taking care of the spiritual and cultural life of cadres, soldiers and people of Truong Sa. The construction and restoration of pagodas here has met the aspirations of the soldiers and people on the island.

Thanks to the contributions of Buddhists, people and organizations across the country, Truong Sa archipelago now has 9 large and beautiful pagodas. The main facade of all pagodas faces the capital Hanoi .

Big Truong Sa Pagoda

The stone statues in the temple can last forever, but the wooden and tile materials that make up the temple's silhouette cannot withstand the harsh nature of the sea and islands. Therefore, despite many difficulties, the temples on remote islands still receive attention, repair, and protection against termites and damage.

The ancestral house in the large Truong Sa pagoda

These pagodas are not only places for traditional religious activities of the residents of Truong Sa archipelago, but also vividly demonstrate the cultural and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people on the islands. The core is the spirit of patriotism and sense of responsibility, determination to protect and maintain the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Pure Vietnamese architectural landscape, buildings in harmony with green trees in the large Truong Sa pagoda

All temple names, horizontal lacquered boards, large characters, and parallel sentences use Vietnamese characters.

Temple on Da Tay A Island

The temple on Da Tay A island is located next to the gate, next to the pier leading to the island.

Tay A Stone Pagoda was built in traditional Vietnamese style. The pagoda name, horizontal lacquered boards, large characters and parallel sentences all use Vietnamese characters.

The three-entrance gate of Tay A Stone Pagoda

The pagoda's architecture is built in traditional Vietnamese style with an odd number of compartments (usually 1 compartment, 2 wings or 3 compartments, 2 wings), curved roofs with gable ends, using many types of precious wood, able to withstand the salinity of seawater...

Working groups coming to Da Tay A Island all spend time going to the temple to burn incense.

In addition to worshiping Buddha, in the grounds of pagodas in Truong Sa archipelago there are altars to heroic martyrs - those who heroically sacrificed their lives to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Despite limited land, every pagoda has a three-door gate, a temple yard, a bell tower, a main hall connected at right angles to the front hall, a sloping roof, tiled roof and curved roof edges.

Incense bowls and worshiping objects at pagodas on Truong Sa archipelago are all printed with the Vietnamese national emblem. Every time the delegations visit the pagodas, they perform ceremonies and ring the bells.

The three-entrance gate of Sinh Ton Dong pagoda stands majestic with a pair of antithetical sentences expressing the spirit of Vietnamese sovereignty: "Virtue equals the universe, illuminating the Southern sky alone/Power covers the universe, illuminating the Vietnamese land for all people" and "The sea and islands together vow to devote themselves to preserving the homeland's foundation/The mountains and rivers seem to have an appointment, holding hands and determined to fulfill our pure hearts".

Study and living documents on the desk of Venerable Thich Chuc Thanh

Venerable Thich Chuc Thanh is the abbot of Sinh Ton Dong Pagoda. Although he is only in his 30s, the abbot has been doing Buddhist work on the island for many years, identifying himself as a soldier on his homeland's islands and keeping his wish to continue to be attached to this place.

Venerable Thich Chuc Thanh said: “The pagoda is not only a place to worship Buddha but also a bright light in the middle of the ocean, a spiritual support for soldiers and fishermen on the outpost island. We preserve not only faith but also love for the ocean, for our homeland and country. Under the roof of this pagoda, although far from the mainland, people's hearts are always warm and peaceful. And we vow to give more strength to the officers, soldiers and people on the island.”

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nhung-ngoi-chua-dac-biet-o-truong-sa-2403793.html