Hi there,
The end of the year is the time when people look to their homeland, family, and find peaceful and familiar things. For me, going to the temple is one of the things that makes me feel meaningful and sacred to close the year. Because of that, I would like to introduce to everyone a very unique temple in Hoi An Ancient Town: "Chuc Thanh Pagoda"
That Pagoda in Hoi An was built in the late 17th century when the old town was still a busy trading port. Every year, the pagoda attracts a lot of tourists to visit and admire the architecture of the temple. Visitors to Chuc Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An will feel the sacredness and quiet atmosphere of the land of Buddha, combined with ancient architecture with meticulously and vividly carved motifs.
Chuc Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An has located about 2km from the old town along Huynh Thuc Khang Street. The temple grounds are surrounded by a fence of trees about 3m thick. Therefore, Chuc Thanh still retains the calm atmosphere of an ancient temple even though the outside is bustling with urbanization.
In the temple garden, there are a few dozen stupas, where the bodies of the founders of the mountain are kept as well as the monks of the sect. At present, the pagoda still preserves many rare ancient statues as well as ancient scriptures of great historical and academic value. This also partly shows us the spirit of study of the monks in the patriarchal place so far.
From the outside, the temple lies quietly under the shady old trees, creating a calm and peaceful appearance. Around the pagoda is surrounded by a series of trees of all kinds, four seasons bear fruit, bees and butterflies come and go, birds nest. This peaceful scene is a combination of nature and people, it has settled so many sorrowful thoughts of people who have failed in the field of fame and fortune and is also the cradle that has raised many talented actors who contributed to building the Dharma and the nation, influencing nowadays.
On nights with a cool moon and cool breeze, the scenery of the pagoda becomes more immense, and lonely. Chuc Thanh Pagoda in Hoi An stands out with the typical architecture of the temples of that time, influenced by Chinese architectural style quite a lot. It faces the southwest, nestled under the shady old trees, bearing a majestic but ancient appearance.
The pagoda has the architecture of the letter Tam - a common architectural style of pagodas in our country, with a combination of sculptures and carvings typical of Vietnamese culture. The temple has a system of statues carved meticulously and delicately, worthy of beautiful works of art. As soon as entering the temple, visitors will feel the space of the temple is extremely sacred.
The Tam Quan gate appears with a mossy tiled roof, on the top are two lions facing each other with extremely sophisticated patterns. On the Tam Quan gate, there are 5 words "Sacred Four Chuc Thanh self-monitoring" and a pair of couplets on both sides. Through Tam Quan are a flower bed, an ancient tower area a screen, and a row of mountains with a statue of Quan Am above.
The three-way gate bears the colors of previous buildings. The top of the gate is the image of 3 lotus flowers, an image associated with Buddhist culture. In the temple grounds, there are many statues of gods and buddhas, delicately carved and full of life. Next is the main hall, located majestically in the middle, which is built with a solid truss system to bring an airy space.
The roof of the pagoda is covered with yin and yang tiles, above are a pair of dragons and phoenixes with meticulous and delicate patterns. The porch has carved images of Buddha Shakyamuni from birth to death. Stepping inside, in the middle, there is a statue of the Three Worlds at the top, on the bottom table is a statue of Maitreya Buddha, on both sides, are Ananda, Kasyapa, Bodhisattva Manjushri, and Universal Worthy, statues of 18 Arhats. On both sides are 1m70 high statues of Protector and Tieu Dien. Moreover, inside the main hall, there is also a system of large and small drums, big and small red drums along with many parallel paintings. Next to the main hall is the front hall, there are 4 large steles recording the restoration of the temple, naming the pagodas and friends who contributed to the construction of the pagoda. In the innermost area are the post-mortem area, the Eastern statue, the Western statue, and the Ancestral hall.
The two sides are the Eastern statue - the residence of the Sangha and the West statue worshiping the spirit. Going through an open-air courtyard with many precious ornamental plants will come to the road. The Ancestral House was built quite simply as a place to place the long-standing of the patriarchs and abbots of the pagoda through generations. The system of dragons and tablets is also very delicately carved, showing the talented hands of ancient artisans.
Since the half of the 17th century, the Lords of the Nguyen Dang Trong treated Buddhism in general and Mr. Minh Hai in particular, so when he founded the temple, Mr. Minh Hai wanted to show his affection for the Nguyen lords by naming them for the temple is Chuc Thanh (that is, wishing the Holy Spirit all the best).
Although today, outside the Chuc Thanh Pagoda, there are no longer sandy beaches and green pine hills fluttering in the wind anymore, to the temple you no longer have to cross the sandy roads, but instead are housed massive and hard dirt roads because of population needs and urban development.
But inside the temple garden still retains its ancient appearance, the old trees are still there, the image of the temple is still ancient and mossy, the dust layers of time cannot be erased.
Hoi An Flower Market on Tet holiday
When the cold begins to creep in everywhere, the pace of life also becomes rushed, everyone seems to be more urgent to try to finish everything off the old year and enter the new year.
When an apricot branch closes to bud or opens the first bright yellow petals on sale at the corner of the market, we know that the time for the TET market. Everyone is born and raised with a homeland. There are attached so many deep feelings, meanings, and human values that can never be forgotten in the mind of each person. Especially, every time Spring comes, we have many things to remember. For me, the Tet market in the countryside is a characteristic and clear memory of indelible poetic days.
This is also a cultural living space of the rural people. On the streets of the Tet market, there are carts packed full of foods for Tet. Especially, the yellow color of marigolds and apricot flowers is indispensable - flowers that are sold everywhere on Tet holiday and are popular for decoration in the house.
In the country market, perhaps the yellow color of these two flowers is the most remembered image in everyone's memory. In the memory of children in the past about a Tet market, it was the time when they were absent from school and every day followed their mother or sister to the Tet market. The feeling of waiting for Tet, waiting to wear new clothes to show off with friends, to wear new sandals, or to eat delicious food that only Tet can… And the feeling of going to the market, seeing the colors of Tet is so happy.
The children seem to be satisfied. Sometimes by chance, they meet their classmates, sometimes they meet friends from the neighborhood... and they call each other, echoing around the corner of the market. Sometimes they are allowed to play at fairs with their parents with games such as catching ducks, throwing rings... brought by guests from far away.
The Tet flower market has long become one of the features of Vietnamese traditional Tet. People go to the flower market not only to choose a peach branch, apricot pot, but also an opportunity to find moments of relaxation in their souls, hoping for a warm and happy spring, and together to welcome a peaceful and prosperous new year prosperity. Flowers are the soul, the beauty of nature that bestows makeup on life. Without flowers, there is no meaning of Tet.
Therefore, displaying flowers and decorations on New Year's Day is the beauty need of our grandparents since ancient times. Each flower has a unique color with unmistakable meanings.
From marigolds, raspberry chrysanthemums, begonias, rhododendrons, sunflowers, fortune-tellers, coins, apricot flowers, peach blossoms... hundreds of blooming flowers mean that they will bring luck and fortune. Therefore, the Tet flower market is always crowded with people to visit and shop.
It is a place to help farmers spend many days fertilizing trees and flowers to have more income to eat Tet more fully with their families. In particular, this is also a place for young people to "check-in", take pictures to show their friends their best moments.
After a busy year with work, the New Year holidays are the time when people and families all want to choose for their family a brilliant peach branch, a luxuriant kumquat tree or simply walking around the Spring flower market. Take souvenir photos or enjoy the feeling of being immersed in all kinds of blooming flowers.
In the warm atmosphere of Spring, hundreds of species of flowers are blooming brightly.
The Spring Flower Market is right in the heart of the bustling city with buyers, sellers, and people going out to play Spring, adorning the appearance of an old town on the banks of the Thu Bon River. I don't know when the Tet flower market has become one of the traditional cultural features of people in all regions.
Every year around December 23 - the New Year of Mr. Cong Mr. Tao, when the weather is dry and cold, the Spring flower market is busier than ever. Walking in the joyful atmosphere at the flower markets, we will feel a vitality overflowing everywhere, be amazed at the brilliant beauty of many colors and flowers and be amazed at the diversification. The varieties of ornamental flowers under the talented hands of flower and plant lovers have created a very unique and eye-catching look.
At the end of each Lunar year, the Spring Flower Fair becomes a familiar address, attracting a large number of people to visit and shop. At Hoi An spring flower market these days, the atmosphere is busy and vibrant with buyers and sellers. The stalls from the gardeners inside and outside the city... brought to the flower market brilliant colors.
Besides the rows of apricots and kumquats, the Spring flower market also sells hundreds of flowers, ornamental plants of all kinds, and indispensable pots of chrysanthemums, orchids, lilies, poinsettias, gladiolus, auspicious and even roots.
Each type of tree has a different beauty, but all bring a message of peace, warmth, and prosperity to the owner. In particular, this year the flower market displays many interesting items such as fine arts, ceramics, decorations, five fruit trays, etc. Looking at the smiles of both sellers and buyers, I can feel the atmosphere of Tet coming, Spring coming all the way, although the economic situation this year is not as positive as in previous years.
As for small traders, the flower market is not only a place to trade and do business with the desire to have more income for their families in the last days of the year, but also an opportunity to study, exchange experiences, and take care of themselves take care of flowers and ornamental plants together.
According to the concept of Vietnamese people, on the Lunar New Year day, each family must have decorated flower pots and ornamental plants at home, with the desire to bring fortune into the house, healthy family, business, work, life. Live, the study will meet a lot of luck, happiness, and prosperity for the next year.
For these reasons, the flower market has been maintained and developed year by year, gradually creating a beautiful traditional culture of the Vietnamese people.
Thanks for looking, hope my post has brought more color to your new day.
Have a great weekend!!!
From Vietnam with love <3