Description
Van Thien pagoda is located in Dien An commune, Dien Khanh district, Khanh Hoa province. Along with the continuous development of Vietnamese Buddhism, the land of Khanh Hoa in the 18th century had Zen master Thiet Dieu Lieu Quan - the 35th ancestor of the Lam Te Zen sect in Central Vietnam, his disciple was Venerable Thiet Vinh. - Buu Hanh followed the line of Southern people to advance Thuan Hoa to the new land of Phu Dien Khanh, setting up a monk painting monastery at Phung Thuy Son pagoda (now Van Thien pagoda).
Based on the original Dharma eye organ (dharma book) of To Thuet Vinh - Buu Hanh blessed his disciple Te Cam Dao with the name Linh Phu in May of the 9th year of Canh Hung (1749). According to folklore, after the completion of the Dharma for his disciples, To Thuat Vinh - Buu Hanh received terrible news, the master monk, Most Venerable Minh Hoang Tu Dung, passed away. He immediately returned to An Tong temple (Hue) to take care of the funeral and succeed the abbot, and soon passed away due to old age and weakness.
Mr. Te Cam - Linh Phu is the next disciple in the Southern process to build Phung Thuy Son pagoda to spread the Buddha's teachings, he was passed on by the 36th Lam Te sect to succeed the abbot of Phung Thuy Son pagoda.
The pagoda was built to worship Buddha, to worship Quan Thanh De Quan, and the Holy Ancestors.
The pagoda has undergone many restorations and repairs with the current architecture. The pagoda was built on a campus with a total area of 1,576.2m2.
From the outside to the inside, the relic includes the following architectural works: Tam Quan, lotus lake, two sides are the worshiping hall, pagoda, stupa located about 10m from the temple.
The semicircular lake places an open-air statue of Quan Am in the middle. The pagoda architecture is designed with three compartments and two wings, the neck of the 8th floor has a roof, the front is a drum and bell tower, the right side worships the protector, the left side worships Tieu face.
The main hall is designed in the style of four ancient pillars, decorated in the style of "Pre-Saint after Buddha". In the middle is the statue of Amitabha Buddha; On the left is a statue of Quan Thanh, on the right is a statue of Quan Am Buddha. After the altar of Amitabha is the altar to worship the Patriarch.
Guan Yin Buddha Station at Van Thien Pagoda
Every year, Van Thien pagoda organizes worship on the 1st and full moon of every month. Besides, the pagoda also makes large offerings on January 15, April 15; July 15 and October 15 every year.
Historical events related to the monument: In February 1946, the French army expanded the war to capture Dien Khanh Citadel and the whole province. Khanh Hoa Provincial Resistance Committee met to discuss resistance division to suit the actual situation, South Phu Khanh was divided into 4 zones. Comrades Nguyen Kim Toan, Truong Tan Ca are in charge of general; Comrade Nguyen Chanh specializes in intelligence and the Special Forces Platoon, these comrades had a meeting to agree to choose Van Thien Pagoda as the headquarters of the resistance, to be used as the headquarters to welcome cadres in Nha Trang town. The page about reporting the situation and the place where revolutionary cadres met.
Later, due to changing resistance conditions, comrade Nguyen Chanh had to move to Dai Dien Tu hamlet, however, comrade Nguyen Chanh still regularly arranged people to return to Van Thien Pagoda to contact local facilities to understand the local situation. direction.
During the resistance war against the US: The pagoda still maintains contact with local delegations of officials such as: Comrades Ngu Huu Tam, Ngu Huu Loi, Nguyen Thi Luom... operating locally and providing logistical support. .
In 2008, Van Thien Pagoda was issued by Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Decision No. 709/QD – People's Committee ranked it as a provincial historical and cultural relic.