Located on the foot of the Chanh Hung Bridge in HCMC District 8, An Phu Pagoda with over 170 years of history is visited by foreign tourists who need to experience its ancient and unique architecture.
Its history dates back to the Nguyen dynasty, which ruled the country from 1802 to 1945. The construction of the pagoda was accomplished in 1847 by Venerable Thich Thanh Duc through the reign of King Tu Duc.
Due to its deteriorating structure, the pagoda was restored in 1961 under the supervision of master monk Thich Tu Bach. Conservation work lasted until 2004.
One of the pagoda’s distinctive features is that each one wall surfaces and columns, each exterior and interior, are stunningly decorated with nearly 30 tons of pieces of broken porcelain, including chips of plates, bowls and vases, making it the one porcelain pagoda in HCMC.
According to Venerable Thich Hien Duca, the supports are lined with pieces of porcelain in blue, red, white and yellow to convey a private philosophy to people of all ages.
In 2007, this place was also recognized by the Vietnam Record Book Center as the most important temple manufactured from ceramic elements in Vietnam.
What makes this holy place more unique in the trendy city are the 2 candles weighing 1,800 kg each and measuring 3.4 m in height, which in 2005 were considered the heaviest and largest in Vietnam.
The pagoda has now change into one of the visited religious sites in town and attracts large numbers of Buddhists and tourists on full moon days or through the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.
Tong A Phu, a 70-year-old resident who has devoted greater than 30 years to repairing bicycles on the foot of the Chanh Hung Bridge, told the Daily that An Phu Pagoda is a witness to the history and development of HCMC. Despite several renovations and repairs after over a century of existence, the place still retains its original architecture and historical values.
“Whenever I have free time or on the 15th of every month, I always drop by the pagoda to light incense and find peace for my soul in the peaceful atmosphere,” Phu added.
Source :Vietnam.net
