Sung Hung Pagoda
Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Not only is it the oldest pagoda, Sung Hung Pagoda also owns the unique architecture, which has become one of the most popular spiritual tourist attractions in Phu Quoc. The pagoda yearly welcomes a large number of tourists to visit and worship.
Located in Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc district, Kien Giang province, Sung Hung Pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in Phu Quoc Island attracting numerous tourists to visit yearly. Sung Hung Pagoda was formerly two pagodas, namely Sung Nghia and Hung Nhan built in the early 20th century to worship and pray for the souls. These 2 pagodas then merged and renamed Sung Hung Pagoda as today. Situated in the mountain near the town center, the pagoda retains a harmonious architecture in an airy campus and gradually higher along the slopes. It is surrounded by numerous lush ancient trees creating the solemn and quiet beauty. This amazing architecture makes Sung Hung Pagoda become one of the appealing tourist attractions in Phu Quoc.
Although being one of the most famous Phu Quoc pagodas, it has not been known exactly the time the pagoda established as well as background of the founders and the first abbot of the pagoda. It is just known that the 5th and 6th abbots are respectively Monk Thich Dat Vinh and Monk Thich Minh Khiem who belong to "Lam te Chanh tong" (Rinzai school). In 1910, Monk Ming Khiem died, the abbot's successor was Monk Thich Tinh Nghia. Then it was the abbot lifetime of Monk Thich Hue Chanh in 1924. Currently, due to his old age and poor health, Monk Hue Chanh decentralized control and care of the Buddhist in the pagoda for Monk Hue Thong, who is also under Rinzai School. The pagoda has undergone two major restoration in 1924 and 1960 so far to reach the today's architecture. It is worth a tourist site for tourists when participating in Phu Quoc travel.
Outside the pagoda is three-gate entrance with wave-shaped tile roof and decorated by "2 dragons reaching the pearl" relief along with name-table of Sung Hung Pagoda in kanji and national language. Behind the imposing three-gate entrance is the statue of Avalokitesvara standing on the lake right at the pagoda's courtyard. Up to more ten sidesteps is other large courtyard with lotus pond and the gate built with four wooden pillars and ying-yang tiled roof. Both sides are flanked by 2 majestic unicorns which were offered from a generous donation nearly 100 years ago. These are relatively common architectural style in Phu Quoc pagodas in particular and pagodas in Vietnam in general deeply leaving impressions to tourists in mind.
Behind the gate is the sanctum which is constructed on masonry foundation nearly two meters high. Both sides of the sanctum are two house blocks with the quicklime-made wall, which are the places for tourists to stay. Inside the sanctum houses numerous statues made from wood, bronze and plaster extremely sophisticated sculpted. There is also a big bell and the system of horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences which are gorgeous red lacquer trimmed with gold. These unique architectures together with the ancient sacred atmosphere make Sung Hung Pagoda become an impressive tourist site in Phu Quoc tourism.
The center shrine is arranged in three floors. The highest floor is home to worship Buddha with the statue of Amitabha sitting in the center, the statue of Mahasthamaprapta standing on the right, the statue of Avalokiteshvara standing on the left. The second floor and third floor is next to. Behind the chancel is the altar decorated with a dragon masterpiece of the artist Cao Sanh. Scattering on the walls in the sanctum is the scene narrating the journey to the West of Tang Tang Master looking extremely vivid. Behind the sanctum is two paths including many sidestep leading to the upper pagoda. Soaking up the scenery of the ancient pagoda, forgetting the chaos, worries and the hustle of urban life, tourists will surely get great experiences when setting foot on Sung Hung Pagoda.
There are hundreds of tourists both at home and abroad going to Sung Hung Pagoda for sightseeing and praying for peace. Many people in Duong Dong Town also go to the pagoda to offer incense in the holidays and relax their souls after hours of stress labor. With its scale and unique architecture, Sung Hung Pagoda today is one of the famous tourist attractions in the island. Along with Duong Dong Temple, Dinh Ba (Ba Castle), Cau Castle, Sung Hung Pagoda becomes the continuous spiritual cultural cluster in Phu Quoc Island. Discovering Sung Hung Pagoda is one of the most unforgettable things to do in Phu Quoc.
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- Phu Quoc
- Phu Quoc tourism
- Phu Quoc Island
- pagodas in Vietnam
- attractions in Phu Quoc
- Phu Quoc travel
- things to do in Phu Quoc
- Sung Hung Pagoda
- Phu Quoc pagodas
- pagodas in Phu Quoc
