Old fisherman Le Van, over 60 years old, came to the table to write down the names of his fellow fishermen and lit a half-meter-high incense stick to pray for safety. When leaving the shrine, Mr. Van shared: “Every year, on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, my fellow fishermen and I go to Ba Pagoda to pray for safety, pray for the dead, and hope for favorable weather and wind for a smooth fishing trip.
Not only my boat, but dozens of other boat owners in Phu Hai and neighboring localities on the first days of spring before setting out, they all come to burn incense and pray for a safe trip. We consider Lady Thien Hau as a deity who always protects and helps fishermen when they encounter difficulties at sea…”.
There are many fascinating and fascinating stories about the history of Thien Hau Pagoda that have been passed down through many generations. There is a story that says: “In the past, Phu Hai seaport (Phan Thiet) was a gathering place for merchants to trade and do business. They always prayed for smooth sailing for their ships and boats, so boat owners worshiped Thien Hau. One day, the owner of a fishing boat had a broken engine and had to anchor on Phu Hai River for repairs. The boat owner temporarily moved the statue of the Lady to shore. After the boat was repaired and carried back to its original place, the statue suddenly became so heavy that it could not be moved. Seeing the omen, the people built a temple to worship Thien Hau here in 1725.”
The main shrine worships Thien Hau, with gods on both sides.
Next to the main door of the main hall, the story of Lady Thien Hau is clearly recorded: Born in the North, from a young age she was like a mortal. She knew all the books she read by heart. Growing up, she only did good deeds to help people and often studied medical theory, treated people, and instructed people on how to prevent epidemics. She was very knowledgeable about meteorology, astronomy, and water currents. Fishing boats in distress were rescued by her... Later, people at sea told each other that they saw her wearing a red robe "flying" over the ocean to help people in distress. Therefore, fishermen in coastal fishing villages all drew or carved statues of her to worship, praying for blessings for a peaceful life and prosperous business. During the resistance war against the French, the temple was completely destroyed. It was not until 1995 that the temple was rebuilt into a larger temple and in 2003 that the construction of Lady Thien Hau temple was completed. Every year on the day of the Lady, Phu Hai people in particular and residents of neighboring coastal areas in general come here to commemorate her merits. Not only that, the good reputation spreads far and wide, tourists from all over the world when coming to Phan Thiet to relax on holidays and traditional New Year often come here to pray for peace and good things in life. Especially fishermen in the early days of spring before going out to sea often come to the pagoda to burn incense and pray for peace and the souls of the deceased.
On spring days, visitors to Thien Hau Pagoda not only pray for peace for themselves, their families and close friends, but also admire the unique cultural architecture. The Tam Quan gate is meticulously carved by artisans; the vermilion and gold-plated strokes make us feel sacred and respectful. The images of dragon and phoenix statues are carved extremely delicately by many artisans, adding to the beauty and majesty of the pagoda and carrying spiritual meaning in the Mother Goddess worship. The pagoda also preserves intact Han-Nom artifacts through parallel sentences, horizontal lacquered boards, sculptures or stone steles... creating unique historical and cultural values.
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