Bot Xuyen Pagoda

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Introduction

Bot Xuyen Pagoda was rebuilt in the 4th year of Bao Dai's reign (1929); after many restorations, it has its current appearance and bears a strong traditional architectural style.

The pagoda's courtesy name is Linh Quang, meaning sacred light that illuminates the path of practice and enlightenment of Buddhists. Over time, the pagoda has become an important spiritual anchor for local people and pilgrims from afar.

Not only a sacred place of Buddha worship, Bot Xuyen Pagoda also marks heroic pages of Vietnamese revolution. During the pre-uprising period (1941–1942), the pagoda became a secret base of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Bot Xuyen Pagoda is also associated with the event that Comrade Van Tien Dung – former Politburo member and Minister of National Defense – once lived and operated secretly at Bot Xuyen Pagoda, posing as the abbot to avoid French colonial pursuit.

After many restorations, the pagoda has become spacious and large-scale, with newly built architecture; it currently includes: Tam Quan Gate, Tam Bao Hall, Mother Goddess House, Ancestor House, Memorial House, and Stupa Garden.

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Story

01Tam Quan Gate

The pagoda's Tam Quan Gate was rebuilt in 2021 on a large scale, consisting of a central Tam Quan gate and two side gates. The central gate has three tiers of overlapping roofs, with the roof tiers gradually shrinking upward, creating an elegant look. On both sides of the central gate are staircases leading to the second floor, and the railings are decorated with soft coiling dragon motifs. Inside the second floor hangs a bronze bell.

The two side gates each have two roof tiers; the second tier consists of two overlapping roofs. All gate pillars have raised couplets in Han characters; the roof corners are attached with dragon, phoenix, and stylized floral motifs; the roofs are covered with traditional fish-scale tiles; the eaves curve softly; and on the roof top is a raised cement motif of two dragons flanking the moon.

In addition to Tam Quan, there are two side gates near Tam Quan; these gates are often used by Buddhists. Each side gate has two tiers, and on the upper second tier is a raised inscription of October 10, 2021, the time this structure was rebuilt.

Beyond Tam Quan is a concrete road running into the pagoda courtyard, with trees planted on both sides.

02Tam Bao Hall

Tam Bao is the main worship area of the pagoda, built on a high foundation with seven steps leading up. The structure consists of three main bays and two side wings; the three central bays form the entrance with folding wooden doors, while the two side bays are walled and have longevity-character windows. In front, at the ends of the porch, are two tall ornamental pillars; the overall architecture follows the Dinh-style layout.

Inside the Front Hall, the three central bays form the main worship space, notable for its gilded and lacquered curtain doors, with a structure of stacked beams, corbels, and continuous braces. Here is a large Dharma Protector statue seated majestically on a pedestal; on both sides are altars to Duc Ong and Duc Thanh Hien.

The Rear Palace connects to the Front Hall at the back and consists of two bays, arranged with multiple tiers of statues: the Three Buddhas of the Three Times, Nine Dragons, Maitreya, and others. The statues are small and all seated on pedestals. The Tam Bao space is further decorated with horizontal plaques and couplets carved with Han characters, creating a solemn and ancient appearance.

The roof of Tam Bao Hall is covered with traditional fish-scale tiles; the roof corners are attached with kìm figures, and at the center of the ridge is a tiger-face motif carrying the Dharma wheel.

03Ancestor House

The Ancestor House is located behind Tam Bao Hall, across a small courtyard, and is a place to commemorate the abbots of the pagoda who have passed away. The structure consists of two parallel single-row buildings on the same foundation, with a drainage groove between them. The foundation is built high, with a system of square stone columns at the porch; the entrance doors are upper-panel lower-board doors decorated with floral patterns.

The Ancestor House has seven bays, of which the three central bays serve as the worship space, and the side bays are used as resting and living quarters for the abbot.

Inside, the central bay worships the Bodhisattva, the left side worships the Patriarch Sangha, and the right side worships Guanyin Bodhisattva; the worship statues are all new, seated on shelves.

04Mother Goddess House

In addition, on the left and right sides of Tam Bao Hall are two rows of buildings, each with seven bays; on the left is the Mother Goddess House with Dinh-style architecture, and on the right is the Memorial House. The structure has simple architecture without decorative patterns. Bot Xuyen Pagoda was recognized by the State as a national-level historical relic on August 12, 1993, affirming the pagoda's great historical and cultural value.

Bot Xuyen Pagoda

Introduction

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04Mother Goddess House