Discover the unique decor of the 'junk temple'.

Kha Ninh

16:49 | 27/12/2024

Linh Phuoc Pagoda is one of the most unique cultural and spiritual destinations in Da Lat, featuring countless impressive artifacts and ceramic paintings.

Located at 120 Tu Phuoc Street, Trai Mat Ward, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, Linh Phuoc Pagoda is also known as the "Glass Shard Pagoda" because its architecture is mostly decorated with pieces of pottery, porcelain, and glass shards, creating a vibrant and impressive atmosphere. (Source: Vinpearl)

The unique decorations have impressed visitors and become a highly memorable photo spot in the land of a thousand flowers. (Source: Mia.vn)

Linh Phuoc Pagoda was built in 1949 and completed in 1950. In 1990, the pagoda was renovated by Venerable Thich Tam Vi; during the renovation process, several new structures were also added. (Source: Wikipedia)

The restoration process involved contributions from Buddhists from all over, along with the combined efforts of generations of monks in the temple. Therefore, this project also carries profound significance regarding the value of unity and the creative labor of humankind. (Source: Wikipedia)

The story of collecting scrap metal to repair the temple, still recounted by the monks, is a remarkable feat in itself. To gather enough broken glass, porcelain, and pottery pieces for the repairs, the monks had to go to people's homes, factories, and workshops producing glass bottles and ceramics in the surrounding area to collect them. (Source: @louistran1412)

Once the fragments are brought back to the temple, the monks have to clean, cut, and grind them into pieces of suitable shapes for use. Every step is done manually and requires a great deal of effort. (Source: Wikipedia)

Visiting Linh Phuoc Pagoda, tourists feel as if they have entered a spiritual world created with countless ceramic images and paintings of all sizes. These fragments are embedded everywhere: on the pillars, on the dragons, on the walls, and on the decorative patterns throughout the pagoda. (Source: Wikipedia)

The first impressive artwork is Long Hoa Garden, featuring a 49-meter-long, winding dragon made from 12,000 bottle caps, creating a sparkling cluster of light in the sunlight. (Source: Wikipedia)

Opposite Long Hoa Garden is the 7-story Linh Thap Tower, 36 meters high, designed with many distinctive statues. The highest floor of the Linh Thap Tower houses the Dai Hong bell, cast in 1999, weighing 8,500 kg and standing 4.3 meters tall. This is the second largest bell after the bell at Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh . (Source: Wikipedia)

The inner sanctuary is further enhanced by 324 statues of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva; most notably, two statues of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva hold Vietnamese records. (Source: Mia.vn)

One sculpture, made of reinforced concrete, is recognized as the largest statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in Vietnam. Another equally famous sculpture, made from 650,000 everlasting flowers, stands 17 meters tall, weighs 3 tons, and was completed in 36 days with the contributions of 300 Buddhist followers and 30 artisans. (Source: ivivu)

The most striking highlight is undoubtedly the 18-level hell-themed viewing area, stretching up to 300 meters. Within this area, the temple will explain and discuss karma, cause and effect, and filial piety in life, aiming to guide people towards greater goodness. (Source: Vinpearl)

The temple hopes this area will help Buddhist followers and tourists achieve enlightenment, thereby gaining valuable lessons for themselves. And it will certainly be an interesting and meaningful experience for visitors. (Source: ivivu)

Within the grounds of Linh Phuoc Pagoda, there are many sculptures, each with its own unique characteristics. The most unique is the lifelike wax statue of the Venerable Grand Master Minh Ha Duc, who presided over Linh Phuoc Pagoda from 1959 to 1985. Information from Linh Phuoc Pagoda indicates that after his passing, Venerable Master Minh Ha Duc was buried within the pagoda grounds. (Source: ivivu)

In 2010, when monks at the temple began constructing a new stupa and relocated the remains of Venerable Minh Ha Duc, they were astonished to discover that his remains were still intact. Since 2011, a wax statue of Venerable Minh Ha Duc has been placed in the main hall; combined with images of the excavation of his remains still preserved at the temple, this has inadvertently created an even more intriguing legend surrounding this already unique temple. (Photo: Khong Van Tien)

It can be said that Linh Phuoc Pagoda is one of the most unique cultural and spiritual destinations in Da Lat. Besides its unique architecture and decoration, the pagoda also stands out for holding many records such as: the pagoda with the tallest bell tower in Vietnam; the pagoda with the tallest indoor concrete Buddha statue in Vietnam; the pagoda with the most ceramic pieces used in its construction; the largest Buddhist scripture collection contained within a cypress tree stump in Vietnam; and the "Twin Pines and Cranes" artwork, which holds a Vietnamese record... (Source: Vinpearl)

From Linh Phuoc Pagoda, visitors can easily connect to tourist attractions in Da Lat such as Da Lat train station, Da Lat flower village, Cau Dat tea plantation, Lang Biang mountain... Perhaps that is why, amidst the many attractive tourist destinations of Da Lat, Linh Phuoc Pagoda still holds a unique position that is neither overshadowed nor blended in. (Source: @kahee0910)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/da-lat-kham-pha-loi-trang-tri-doc-dao-cua-ngoi-chua-ve-chai-298431.html