As the owner of Hung Ky Brick Factory, Tran Van Thanh used colorful glazed bricks, tiles, and mascots to construct the 3,000m2 pagoda, making it unique in Vietnam.
The pagoda gate consists of two floors and eight roofs, with the upper floor serving as the steeple. The main gate has four pillars adorned with symbols of four supernatural creatures (dragon, unicorn, tortoise, and phoenix). Two outer sides of the side gate are embossed with images of elephants and horses.
Another special feature of the pagoda is the parallel sentences glazed by ceramic on the gate. Passing the yard, we will reach the Three Refuges and the Buddha hall. The pagoda roof is shingled with tube-tiles, and the two ends are attached with the word “Tho” (longevity). In the middle of the roof, there is a small bottle containing holy water. The collar-beam is decorated with themes related to the story “Journey to the West.”
The Three Refuges building has seven compartments with 12 main columns. In the middle of the Buddha hall is a statue of Amitabha placed on a lotus in a meditating position. On the two gables of the hall are the two statues of Diem Vuong (King of Hell) made from fired and glazed clay by artisans of Bat Trang village. “The entire structure of columns and trusses is made of reinforced concrete, decorated with ceramic images and patterns. Through the patterns on the hammock doors, couplets and reliefs, the talent and sophistication of the potters are shown. The architecture of the pagoda has been preserved until now by generations of abbots,” said Thich Tu An, abbot nun of Hung Ky Pagoda.
Behind the Buddha hall is a square epitaph, with four pillars and two roofs. In the collar-beam between the upper and lower roofs are embossed images depicting the scene of Tang Seng (a character in story “Journey to the West”) going to get the Buddha scripts. In the lower part of the roof are continuous symbols representing the Sakyamuni Buddha attaining enlightenment and the Quan Am Thi Kinh tale. The epitaph is made of 2.7 meters solid stone with a curved roof and the top is attached with a lotus flower.
The pagoda’s history and the land area left by Hung Ky are recorded on the steles. Every day, the pagoda welcomes Buddhist followers coming for religious practices.
“The temple is located in the city center, so it’s convenient for Buddhist followers to visit and worship. This is also the place where we participate in ceremonies to pray for peace, wisdom and diligence, spread positive values in Buddha’s teachings,” said Nguyen Dieu Hong, a Buddhist follower in Hoang Mai, Hanoi.
Hung Ky Pagoda is described as a unique and artistic architecture. It preserves plenty of ceramic artifacts that are colorfully enameled, which emphasizes the beauty of this pagoda.
Hung Ky Pagoda is also the evidence for the talent of Vietnamese ceramic artists in the early 20th century. In 1992, it was classified by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now known as the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism) for conservation. Thanks to its diverse artistic architecture, the 100-year-old pagoda is a special attraction for tourists and Buddhist followers.
Translated by Tra My - Duy Phuong - Mai Phuong - Hoai Phuong