Thanh Hà Pagoda (Thanh Hóa City)

21/12/2024 39 0

The Ancient Pagoda with Deep Historical and Spiritual Significance

Thanh Hà Pagoda, located at 34 Bến Ngự Street, Trường Thi Ward, Thanh Hóa City, is an ancient pagoda with a long and proud history. Historical records from the Thần phổ cổ lục and Thần tích Thanh Hóa books indicate that the pagoda has existed since the Trần Dynasty, around the 13th century. During this time, King Trần Thái Tông visited Thanh Hà Pagoda to pray to heaven and earth before his campaign against the Champa Kingdom, making the pagoda one of the most significant spiritual sites in the region.

During the reign of King Thành Thái in 1889, Thanh Hà Pagoda also saw its importance recognized when the king issued a royal decree to restore temples and pagodas according to traditional customs, including Thanh Hà Pagoda. However, the key moment in the construction and restoration history of Thanh Hà Pagoda occurred in the 10th year of Emperor Bảo Đại’s reign (1935). The villagers united, and District Chief Hoành actively promoted the restoration work. The Venerable Abbot of Hương Dự Pagoda (Ninh Bình Province) sent Venerables Thích Thanh Trình and Thích Thanh Đức to assist in the design and rebuilding of Thanh Hà Pagoda. The inauguration of the pagoda became a major festive event, and since then, Thanh Hà Pagoda has continued to exist and develop into one of the most significant and historic pagodas in Thanh Hóa.

Through the wars of resistance against the French and Americans, many temples and pagodas in this region were destroyed by bombs and gunfire; however, Thanh Hà Pagoda has remained standing and has been restored after each conflict. Today, Thanh Hà Pagoda is a historical and cultural site, attracting visitors and Buddhist devotees. Tourists visit the pagoda to explore, learn, and pay their respects, experiencing its unique cultural and spiritual beauty, while also reflecting on the historical events and memories of the Lò Chum region and the people of Thanh Hóa.

Thanh Hà Pagoda still preserves traditional structures such as the Ancestor Hall, the Monk's Hall, the Mother Worship Hall, and the Tứ Ân Hall, along with couplets carved on stone and silk that carry profound moral meanings. On the full moon days and during the Tết festivals, Thanh Hà Pagoda attracts a large number of Buddhist devotees and tourists coming to visit, join in the Spring Festival procession, and pray for blessings for the people.

The Stupa Garden of Thanh Hà Pagoda exudes an ancient charm and honors the founding Venerable Abbots of the pagoda. Thanks to the attention and support from local authorities, government agencies, and community organizations, Thanh Hà Pagoda has been increasingly restored and beautified, becoming a place where villagers and tourists express their reverence and spirituality toward Buddhism. With its many contributions and beautiful landscape, Thanh Hà Pagoda was designated a Provincial Historical and Cultural Site in 1998, affirming its prominent position in the culture and spirituality of Thanh Hóa.

With its traditional architecture and tranquil surroundings, Thanh Hà Pagoda offers visitors a peaceful, otherworldly atmosphere. It is not only a place of worship and practice but also a destination where individuals can find inner peace, cultivate virtue, and spread humanistic values.

Here are some images of Thanh Hà Pagoda:

The grounds of Thanh Hà Pagoda

The Buddha Hall

The surrounding landscape of the fish pond within the temple grounds

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