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Ton Thanh Pagoda is a famous site associated with the literary career of the patriotic poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu, whose name is forever remembered in history. It is also one of the oldest historical relics recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a national heritage site. When you step foot in the pagoda, you will feel the tranquility as well as the distinctive Southern culture reflected in the architecture. To learn more about this place in detail, do not hesitate to follow our article below.
Exploring Ton Thanh Pagoda, we are immediately impressed by its long and winding formation and development journey. The pagoda has unique features that leave a strong impression, making everyone want to visit when they come to Long An.
Ton Thanh Pagoda is located in Thanh Ba hamlet, My Loc commune, Can Giuoc district, Long An province. This place possesses a unique ancient beauty, impressing visitors with its traditional architecture combined with significant historical values, creating a rich material culture. Many tourists who visit the pagoda often hear stories of the nation's heroic past. Notably, the pagoda is also associated with the name of a cultural figure of Vietnam, namely Nguyen Dinh Chieu.
Perhaps, generations of students from the past to the present have read the work "Van Te Nghia Si Can Giuoc" by him, an immortal poem praising the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people who were not afraid to sacrifice their lives to protect the "inch of land, inch of gold" of their ancestors. Surprisingly, this poem was composed by him during his time living in this pagoda.
The landscape around Ton Thanh Pagoda
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Currently, Long An does not have an airport, so to reach Ton Thanh Pagoda, visitors need to land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (in Ho Chi Minh City), especially if coming from distant northern provinces. After that, you can continue to the pagoda by bus or taxi as you wish. If you live and work in Saigon, everything will be easier as this pagoda is not too far from the mentioned city.
The road to Ton Thanh Pagoda is easy to travel
Ton Thanh Pagoda is associated with many heroic and pivotal historical periods of the country, drawing attention due to the imprint of Zen Master Vien Ngo. Specifically, he played a significant role in enlightening and spreading the noble ideas of Buddhism to this place. At the time of its establishment, the pagoda was named Lan Nha, built by the aforementioned Zen Master in 1808. After several name changes, this pagoda officially became known as Ton Thanh in 1841, and it is still called that today.
According to official historical documents, the land of Long An in 1820 experienced a smallpox epidemic that quickly spread, causing many severe cases and deaths. Faced with this disaster, Zen Master Vien Ngo established a prayer altar to eliminate the calamity, making a vow to practice lifelong purity (meaning not eating for life) to exchange for peace for the surrounding people. It seems that his sincere heart moved the heavens, causing the dreadful epidemic to gradually decrease and eventually disappear.
By 1846, the esteemed Zen Master fulfilled what he had committed to the "higher being," deciding to renounce water and then passed away on February 12, 1846. His departure was as vast as the sky and as deep as the water, as it saved many lives from a spiritual perspective. To commemorate his noble act, the people of Long An built the pagoda as a sign of respect, offering prayers annually.
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The place marking the sacrifices of Zen Master Vien Ngo
Moreover, Ton Thanh Pagoda is not only a place preserving profound spiritual values but also marks pages of heroic history. As mentioned above, this is where Nguyen Dinh Chieu lived during the period when the country was resisting French colonialism. According to historical records, his time living in the pagoda was approximately from 1859 to 1861.
Outside, he opened classes to teach the locals and provided medicine for healing. Inside the pagoda, he engaged in creating many beautiful poems imbued with patriotic sentiment while also leading the local militia, encouraging the people to rise up and fight against the colonial invaders.
The reality was often tragic at that time, as the local people lacked combat skills and their weapons were very rudimentary. Therefore, during the raid on the French soldiers' outpost in Tay Duong on the full moon night of November 1861, 15 sons of this land fell, heroically sacrificing their lives to protect the country.
Deeply moved by this event, Nguyen Dinh Chieu composed the poem "Van Te Nghia Si Can Giuoc" to mourn and praise these heroes. Additionally, it was at this pagoda that the epic poem Luc Van Tien was born, forever remembered in history.
The pagoda was once the residence of Nguyen Dinh Chieu
When visiting Ton Thanh Pagoda, how can visitors not be impressed by the unique architecture of this place.
Without needing to go too deep, just stepping into the gate of Ton Thanh Pagoda is enough to be immediately impressed. The name of the pagoda is engraved right on the gate, creating a solemn entrance, welcoming everyone to the "tranquil and peaceful realm." Along the path leading to the pagoda, visitors can feel the cool breezes blowing away the scorching heat of the sky.
From a high vantage point, the pagoda appears with a striking architecture in the shape of a nail, with a spacious facade leading to the main hall, creating an unusually majestic grandeur. The lecture hall and two East-West corridors are symmetrically placed on either side, creating balance and harmony for the overall architecture. Looking up at the roof, a bright red color shines down along with the ancient-colored brick walls, as if imprinted with the dust of time, carrying a timeless beauty.
The path to the pagoda is shaded by many green trees
In the grounds of Ton Thanh Pagoda, three majestic stupas located to the left of the main hall also impress many visitors. Two square stupas are about 3 meters high, serving as the resting place for Hoa Thuong Dat Dong and To Su Tac Thanh. Next to them, a three-tiered stupa over 4.5 meters high was built to commemorate Zen Master Vien Ngo, designed in a hexagonal shape, unique with the inscription Nam Mo A Di Da Phat at the top.
Entering the right side of the grounds, visitors will encounter two stone tablets erected in 1973 and 1997 to commemorate the contributions of cultural figure Nguyen Dinh Chieu.
The grounds of the pagoda impress with solemn structures
The main hall of Ton Thanh Pagoda is not too spacious, yet the treasures preserved inside are invaluable. The impressive treasures for visitors include the pillars designed in the four-symbol style with intricate carvings. Notably, the statue of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, 110cm tall, is entirely cast in bronze.
This statue is also associated with a half-true, half-legendary story, as Zen Master Vien Ngo, seeing a crack on the back of the statue, was so worried that he cut off one of his fingers and put it into the bronze melting pot. After that, the crack gradually healed with some supernatural power.
Inside the pagoda is a place that preserves many precious treasures
Unlike typical entertainment destinations, visiting Ton Thanh Pagoda requires tourists to pay special attention to their demeanor and appearance. Below, NVK travel will summarize some important points to help make your trip more complete.
When visiting Ton Thanh Pagoda, the first thing tourists need to pay attention to is their clothing. It is best to wear modest clothing, avoiding overly bright or revealing colors, such as short pants or skirts. This is because the surroundings are filled with a solemn atmosphere, and wearing revealing or disrespectful attire is prohibited; if violated, you are likely to be asked to leave the pagoda.
At the same time, if you are used to the hustle and bustle, try to adjust your demeanor a bit when coming here. Tourists should avoid making noise or causing loud disturbances, especially whispering in the main hall. For the ancient artifacts inside the pagoda, visitors should limit touching, as even a small scratch can cause significant damage.
Visitors need to pay attention to clothing and demeanor when visiting the pagoda
In the past, Ton Thanh Pagoda recorded instances of tourists littering around the structures, especially in areas for worship. Whether intentional or unintentional, this has diminished the beauty of the pagoda's landscape. Therefore, alongside sincerely directing towards Buddha, you should also pay more attention to your actions and comply with the regulations for protecting the pagoda's communal hygiene.
Visitors need to respect the cleanliness at Ton Thanh Pagoda
Don't think that when you arrive at Ton Thanh Pagoda, visitors can only worship and ask for blessings. Stepping into the main hall in particular and the pagoda grounds in general is also when your soul is cleansed. The airy space surrounded by many trees will refresh tourists, helping you feel an unprecedented peace.
After reading this article, your passion for travel to Long An must be rising. However, before you grab your backpack and go, don't forget to contact NVK travel for quality travel services and to lead Long An tour at the most affordable cost.
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