Description

Long Son Pagoda is located in Phu Cang 1 village, Van Phu commune, Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province (at the beginning of the Nguyen Dynasty, it was a part of Tien Cang village, belonging to Ha canton, Quang Phuoc district, Binh Hoa province). ].

The pagoda was built before the 10th year of Thanh Thai (1898). In the past, the relic was called Thanh Kinh Pagoda, worshiping Quan Thanh De Quan. Currently, Long Son pagoda worships Buddha, Quan Thanh De Quan, five abbots and Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc.

In 1902, in the 13th year of King Thanh Thai's reign, Mr. Nguyen Nhu Dat, self-proclaimed Giai Nghia, with the title Hoang Tham (Teacher of the pagoda) and the village god and the nine products Vo Trung contributed to rebuilding the pagoda on Beo mountain. After the construction was completed, the villagers assigned Venerable Hoang Tham to be the abbot.

Long Son Pagoda is located on Mot mountain, with an area of 6,949.9m2, the pagoda turns to the Southeast, including the following works: Tam Quan, front hall, Buddha hall, ancestral house, Quan Thanh temple, Bodhisattva statue Thich Quang Duc, Quan Am station.

Since its inception, the pagoda has been renovated in the following years:
- In 1907, in the 2nd year of King Duy Tan's reign, To Hoang Tham merged the Sacred Scripture temple into Long Son pagoda and cast a common rose;
- In 1964 and 1972, the pagoda was restored[2].
- In 2001, building the East house, fence wall, Tam Quan;
- In 2004, overhauled the main hall, built the Western house, the Quan Am temple and the statue of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc.

The main hall of Long Son Pagoda

Since its inception, the pagoda has undergone 6 generations of abbots: Patriarch Nhu Dat (Hoang Tham), Patriarch Thi Han, Patriarch Thi Dieu, Patriarch Thi Thanh, Patriarch Nhu Ly and Master Thich Thuong Tin. Currently abbot of the temple.

Long Son Pagoda is a relic commemorating Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc when he came to ordained and studied with Most Venerable Thich Hoang Tham from 1903 until he became the administrator of Long Son Pagoda in 1921.

Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc, alias Lam Van Tuat, was born in 1897 in Hoi Khanh village, Van Khanh commune, Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province. When he was 7 years old, he was allowed to be ordained by his parents to be taught by Most Venerable Nhu Dat (his biological uncle - his mother's third brother), belonging to the Chuc Thanh Zen lineage, he was adopted by the Venerable Master and officially changed his name. their name is Nguyen Van Khiet.

Receiving the teachings of Patriarch Hoang Tham, he was also taught about the methods of cultivation according to Tantric Buddhism. While at Long Son pagoda, in addition to studying the classics, the Buddhist scriptures, the thoughts of famous Zen masters in the lineage such as To Phap Than - Minh Dao, To Quang Nhat - Minh Dai... He also participated in the study. engaged in farming and raising cattle.

At the age of 15, he was ordained as a novice; at the age of 17, he was sent to Linh Son pagoda in Cam Ranh to study meditation with Zen master Thien Tuong; At the age of 20, he was ordained as a bhikkhu, dharma name Thi Thuy, dharma self Hanh Phap, dharma name Quang Duc. When he finished his ordination, he was in charge of the Trial duty of Long Son Pagoda[3] to help his old master at that time.

When the master passed away in 1921 and after his funeral, he vowed to do a three-year retreat on Dat mountain in Ninh Hoa. After that, he left Dat mountain, wandering alone with a bowl according to the first momentum.

After many years of saving sentient beings, succeeding generations of missionary patriarchs, taking care of merit, promoting the Dharma, in 1953, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Administrator and Head of the Church Ritual Committee. South Vietnamese Sangha; At the same time, he was the abbot of Phuoc Hoa pagoda in Ban Co, where the first headquarters of the Nam Viet Buddhist Association was located.

In 1963, in the Southern Buddhist struggle movement for freedom of belief and religious equality, despite his old age, he still actively participated. The policy of religious discrimination and suppression of Buddhists by Ngo Dinh Diem became increasingly heavy and fierce. In order to wake up Mr. Ngo Dinh Diem and his corporation who are immersed in ignorance, and at the same time to show the world that the struggle for freedom of religion of Vietnamese Buddhists is justified, His Holiness decided to burn body to make offerings to the Buddhas and protect the Dharma.

On June 11, 1963, during the parade of over 800 monks, monks, nuns and Buddhists from Phat Buu pagoda to Xa Loi pagoda, the procession came to the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung and Le Van Duyet streets. (now Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Cach Mang Thang Tam streets), he soaked himself in gasoline, sat cross-legged on the road and lit a fire among hundreds of monks and nuns and Buddhists around, clasping their hands to pray. When the fire died down, he fell down, his hand still determined to seal the Samadhi.

His body was taken to the funeral at Xa Loi Pagoda for more than a week. On June 20, 1963, the Inter-sectarian Committee for the Protection of Buddhism together with all monks and nuns and Buddhists held a procession to bring them back to the sanctuary and solemnly celebrated the cremation ceremony.

To remember his merits, in 1964 the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam honored him as a Bodhisattva. After the day of national reunification, the State named the old Nguyen Hue street running in front of Quan The Am pagoda as Thich Quang Duc street - Phu Nhuan district.

During his years of practice, he opened and restored 17 temples. The last scene of the pagoda he resided in was Quan The Am pagoda in Gia Dinh - Saigon. Thus, he was instrumental in building and restoring all 31 temples in central and southern Vietnam. In which, Khanh Hoa alone has 14 temples related to the life of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc.

Every year, Long Son Pagoda organizes the following major holidays:
- Buddha's Birthday (the full moon of the first lunar month);
- Buddha's Birthday (Full moon of the fourth lunar month);
- Vu Lan Festival (the full moon of the seventh lunar month);
- Ceremony on the 19th day of the fourth lunar month to celebrate the day of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, the Dharma cremator;
- Cavalry ancestor opening ceremony (November 23 of the lunar calendar).

With the above typical historical values, Long Son Pagoda has been classified as a historical-cultural relic of the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province, issued by Decision No. 2732/QDCT-UBND, dated September 30, 2015. conscious.

[1] Translated by Nguyen Dinh Dau, (1997), Research on the Nguyen Khanh Hoa dynasty, Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House.
[2] These renovations are not clear what the restoration is so we do not mention.
[3] Tributor is a relatively important position in the temple, second only to the Abbot or Priest, taking care of the economic life from the daily meals of the monks to the anniversaries of the temple.