Phuc Son Pagoda: The rustic beauty of a bamboo pagoda in a Thanh Hoa cave

Located in Tong Son commune, Phuc Son pagoda impresses with its architecture made entirely of bamboo, from the main gate to the abbot's residence, creating a peaceful space.

Unique architecture from rustic materials

Nestled in Huong Dam village, Tong Son commune, Thanh Hoa province, Phuc Son pagoda, also known as Khoang pagoda by locals, is a spiritual destination with rustic and peaceful beauty. The pagoda has a long history but no one knows when it was built. The special highlight of the pagoda is the architecture, which is restored mainly with familiar materials such as thatch, bamboo, and leaves.

Phuc Son Pagoda was built with bamboo and thatch to worship Buddha.

Right from the entrance, visitors will encounter a gate made entirely of bamboo and thatched roof, creating a familiar and close feeling to the Vietnamese countryside. In 2023, after being appointed abbot, monk Thich Phap Khong and Buddhists built a Buddha worshiping room made of bamboo and thatch and made steps from the foot of the mountain to the cave for convenient worship.

The gate to Phuc Son Pagoda is made of bamboo and thatched.

Spiritual space in the heart of the mountain

The main part of Phuc Son Pagoda is located in a natural cave halfway up the mountain. This is where the Tam Bao worship area is located, which has been restored by local people since 2007. The space inside the cave, although simple, exudes solemnity and serenity, completely separate from the noise outside.

The temple is located in a cave.

The Buddha altar is decorated simply and without any fuss, bringing a sense of peace to those who come to visit. For the local people, the pagoda has long been a familiar place of worship on full moon days, holidays and Tet.

The Buddhist altar is empty.

The abbot's place of practice

Another special feature of Phuc Son Pagoda is the residence and practice place of monk Thich Phap Khong. It is a small hut made of bamboo and thatch, only about 5 square meters wide, perched precariously on the mountainside. To get here, the monk had to cling to the cliffs. Inside is a minimalist living space, expressing the spirit of ascetic practice and closeness to nature.

The bamboo and thatched house is located halfway up the mountain, where the abbot lives and practices.

Monk Thich Phap Khong shared his wish to build a more spacious pagoda in the future to become a solid religious center for people in the area.

Guide to visiting Phuc Son Pagoda

Location

Phuc Son Pagoda is located in Huong Dam village, Tong Son commune, Thanh Hoa province. This is a suitable destination for those who seek tranquility and want to discover a different spiritual beauty.

Notes when visiting

• This is a solemn place of worship, visitors should wear polite and discreet clothing.
• The path up to the temple includes steps along the mountainside, requiring good health to move.
• Maintain quiet and general hygiene to respect the temple's practice space.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/chua-phuc-son-net-moc-mac-cua-chua-tre-trong-hang-da-thanh-hoa-398267.html