Hang Pagoda, officially called Kamponnigrodha Pagoda (or Kompong Chray Pagoda), is located in Chau Thanh Town, Chau Thanh District, Tra Vinh. The main gate of the pagoda is built like a cave, so people often call it Hang Pagoda. This is an ancient pagoda among hundreds of Khmer pagodas in Tra Vinh.
Sculptures that attract visitors
Hang Pagoda has a beautiful architecture typical of the Khmer people, located in an area of about 2 hectares. Surrounding the pagoda are rows and rows of ancient star and oil trees, which are home to many species of birds. This makes Hang Pagoda a tourist attraction for many tourists when coming to Tra Vinh.
Monk Thach Suong next to the five sacred animals sculpture created from the roots of an ancient star tree . PHOTO: NAM LONG
Visiting Hang Pagoda with her friends, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai (living in Ho Chi Minh City) said she was truly overwhelmed by the unique beauty of the pagoda with its green trees and many species of birds. "More specifically, when entering the pagoda, visitors can admire the meticulously and delicately hand-carved wooden statues... It was even more surprising to know that these sculptures were created by the artisans who are monks in the pagoda. Therefore, I asked my friends to take pictures to keep," she said.
Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thao (living in Tra Vinh City) said that she is a Buddhist who often goes to the pagoda on the middle and end of the lunar month to pray for peace. "Hang Pagoda is famous for its wooden sculptures. People who come to the pagoda, if they want to see the monks' painstaking work creating these works of art, can go to the workshop behind the pagoda to see," she shared.
A monk of Hang Pagoda creates a Buddha statue . PHOTO: NAM LONG
Thach Chinh (24 years old, a monk at Hang Pagoda) said he has been studying sculpture for more than 3 years. At first, he found it difficult to learn, but thanks to the enthusiastic sharing of experienced monks, he has now been able to create difficult shapes. "At the pagoda, I not only learn for free but also get paid for sculpting. I will try to learn the craft well, so that I can stay and work for the pagoda in the future to earn more income," the monk said.
Asian record work
Mr. Son Soc (49 years old, living in Tra Vinh city), who has been involved in wood carving at Hang pagoda, said that he has studied and practiced wood carving here for more than 20 years. He is also the one who teaches the craft to many monks in the pagoda.
Master Thach Chinh is meticulous with his work . PHOTO: NAM LONG
"The work Nhat Long Giang has just been recognized as an Asian record. I consider this my lifetime work. With this work, I and 4 skilled monks at the pagoda painstakingly sculpted for nearly 2 years from the original stump of a 300-year-old oil tree, weighing 8.7 tons. The front is carved with 12 zodiac animals, surrounded by 12 doves symbolizing peace, prosperity and freedom. In the center of the front is a large clock, with an image of a map of Vietnam, including the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, the symbol of Ba Dinh Square and the image of Tra Vinh's welcome gate... Around the clock are images of 12 Lac birds, symbolizing the cultural traditions of the Vietnamese people. The back is carved with 70 species of animals living in 3 areas: on land, underwater and in space, symbolizing the richness of nature," Mr. Soc described.
Talking to Thanh Nien reporter, abbot Thach Suong, the abbot of Hang pagoda, said that this wood carving profession has existed for more than 20 years. Before that, the pagoda had many ancient trees, which would have been a waste if used as firewood, so the abbot thought of asking workers to carve statues to sell to raise money to build the pagoda and display them for people and tourists to admire. Seeing that this carving was interesting, the monks in the pagoda learned it and gradually became a profession, then taught it to the next class.
Panoramic view of the main hall of Hang Pagoda PHOTO: NAM LONG
"Young monks who practice at the pagoda are taught this wood carving craft so that when they complete the course, they will have the craft in hand and can support themselves and their families. The works at the pagoda are also sold to raise money to build the pagoda and cover the pagoda's living expenses. The pagoda's workshop has trained many sculptors, who are present in many provinces and cities across the country. In addition, the pagoda also accepts carving wooden blocks and creating shapes according to people's requests," said abbot Thach Suong.
Wood carvings are displayed throughout the temple for visitors to admire and take photos. Bird and animal statues made from the roots, trunks, and trunks of star trees and oil trees by monks and artisans in the temple are unique features of Hang Pagoda, creating a distinctive highlight, attracting visitors to the temple. (continued)
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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-nghe-doc-la-nha-su-lam-dieu-khac-18524102017451673.htm
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