Minh Thanh Pagoda - unique architectural feature in Gia Lai

(CLO) Gia Lai is famous for its many majestic natural landscapes, coffee fields as far as the eye can see or poetic lakes. Not only that, this place also has Minh Thanh Pagoda with ancient and unique features, a destination for those who want to find a peaceful and profound space.

(CLO) Gia Lai is famous for its many majestic natural landscapes, coffee fields as far as the eye can see or poetic lakes. Not only that, this place also has Minh Thanh Pagoda with ancient and unique features, a destination for those who want to find a peaceful and profound space.

Minh Thanh Pagoda is less than 2 km from Pleiku city center. The temple is located on a gentle hill, enveloped in the mist of the mountain town. Minh Thanh Pagoda is not only the pride of mountain town residents but also an attractive tourist destination of Pleiku.

The pagoda was built in 1964 by Venerable Thich Giac Dao and became a place of worship and incense offering for Buddhists in the area. Through historical upheavals, many parts of the pagoda were damaged. By 1997, the pagoda was renovated and a number of new buildings were built. Currently, Minh Thanh Pagoda has a very unique new look. The highlight of the pagoda is its Japanese and Chinese style architecture. All that architecture makes the temple more ancient and impressive. From a distance, it looks like a miniature palace in the foggy mountain town of Pleiku.

From a distance, Minh Thanh Pagoda looks like a miniature palace in the foggy mountain town of Pleiku.

Arriving at this place, what catches the eye of visitors is a 9-storey high relic stupa standing majestically. The relic tower is designed extremely impressively with a unique red cinnabar color. This is a respectful color often used in Buddhism.

The stupa is 72 meters high, inside are placed 4 Thien Thu Thien Nhan carved meticulously and vividly in every detail. The stupa is painted in red and gold, looks extremely prominent and eye-catching from a distance, and is one of the tallest architectural works in Pleiku city.

The unique feature of the relic stupa is that it was built in Japanese architectural style, with a clear curved roof. According to a monk, this stupa was built from the top to the base, going against the usual construction method. When the groups of workers were invited by the abbot to accept the contract, everyone shook their heads and said it was difficult, how could they do it, but in the end, Mr. Sau's team - who had built many temples here - bravely accepted the contract. Besides, this stupa is also a place to store more than 10,000 extremely valuable Buddhist scriptures.

The unique feature of the relic tower is that it was built in Japanese architectural style, with a clear curved roof.

Entering the pagoda, the most striking thing is the statue of Guanyin Buddha placed in the middle of the door, with a gentle and kind face like a gentle mother welcoming her child back from afar. Next, we can mention the architecture of the two towers, the Bell tower and the To Khai Son tower in front of the main hall, creating symmetry and harmony.

Inside the temple grounds, the Guanyin Buddha statue is placed in the middle, surrounded by rows of trees and stone pillars. On the way to the hall, you will see large paintings about the teachings of Buddhism for Buddhists and sentient beings. The spacious and airy pagoda yard is dotted with lovely miniature landscapes, in addition to lakes, trees, and flowers, creating a harmonious and peaceful space for the solemn space of the pagoda.

Talking about his feelings when coming to Minh Thanh pagoda, Hong Anh - a Hanoi tourist said: "This is the first time I come to Gia Lai and I am so lucky to know about this Minh Thanh pagoda. Coming here, being able to visit and experience and learn about the history of the temple gives me a lot of emotions."

Entering the pagoda, the most striking thing is the statue of Guanyin Buddha placed in the middle of the door, with a gentle and kind face like a gentle mother welcoming her child back from afar.

Every detail and angle in the temple has its own unique features. According to a bricklayer in the pagoda, the pagoda's door set is made of wood with a height of 6 meters and a thickness of 4 inches, considered the second largest set of doors in Vietnam. The carved lines of the Four Heavenly Kings look quite sophisticated.

The architecture of the pagoda is built in a simple form of Mandala - Da - La. The circle symbolizes a fully bloomed lotus – which is fundamental in Tantric cosmology. The carved patterns here are based on the foundation of Tantric philosophy.

The center is the 16 meter high main hall, the roof is covered with precious Central Highlands pomu wood. In front of the main hall are stone statues of 18 Arhats, 18 statues with 18 different gestures and designs, representing 18 different emotions of human life. The 18 statues also enhance the strong dignity of the temple. On both sides are architectural works such as monks' quarters, main hall, lecture hall, meditation hall and sutra hall. The relic stupa will be located on the right side of the main hall..

The carved lines of the Four Heavenly Kings look quite sophisticated. The architecture of the pagoda is built in a simple form of Mandala - Da - La.

Tu An Tower worshiping the founder of the mountain is also located on the left side of the main hall. The tower has three floors of roof, roofed with dragon scale tiles, decorated with stylized dragons and lotus flowers. The exquisitely carved stone statue of Amitabha Buddha, 7.5m high, weighing 40 tons, is majestically placed in the middle of Lien Tri lake, a lotus pond with rows of willows surrounding the lake surface. Here, monks and Buddhists often come to chant sutras and worship Buddha. The elaborately and exquisitely carved statues in the sanctuary bring people to a peaceful realm.

On the left side of the main hall, there is also a bell tower decorated with a large bell weighing 4 tons. There is a staircase going up to the bell tower to admire and enjoy the scenery around the temple. In addition, Minh Thanh Pagoda also has the largest bronze incense burner, 4 meters high and weighing up to 4 tons, located in front of Lien Tri Lake.

As a child of Gia Lai land, friend Le Dieu Ngoc shares: "In the midst of the chaos, fatigue or stress of life, I often stop by here. The sound of temple bells and the resounding chanting of sutras in the main hall make people's hearts feel peaceful. I usually visit the temple on weekdays, because on Tet holidays or the full moon and first days, there will be a lot of Buddhists, while on weekdays it is more deserted and quieter."

The bell tower is decorated with a giant bell weighing 4 tons

A tourist named Minh Chau shared: "I am a person who likes to visit temples. This time I came here and saw the unique architecture of this place. I lingered by the stone steps, sat down to draw in my diary, and recorded interesting moments and experiences. This is the most beautiful temple I have come across."

Another impressive thing about Minh Thanh Pagoda is the space filled with green, extremely fresh. Trees are planted alternately and arranged in harmony and sophistication with miniature lakes. The graceful rows of willows cast shadows on the lake surface, then the winding paths between two rows of shady green trees, the interlaced walls of vines... look very beautiful and interesting.

If you come to Pleiku, you should visit Minh Thanh Pagoda to immerse yourself in a peaceful, peaceful space where precious cultural values ​​are preserved.

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Update day : 29/11/2023