Đức Hậu Pagoda

Đức Hậu Pagoda – Thiên Linh Tự (part of the Đức Hậu Complex) is located in Đức Hậu Village, now comprising the three hamlets of Xuân Hoa, Xuân Đồng, and Xuân Đức – Nghi Đức Commune, Vinh City, Nghệ An Province.

Đức Hậu Village is a large village with a very populous community, situated in an extremely important location of Chân Phúc District – Cửu Đức Prefecture (formerly Hoan Châu, then Nghệ An Châu) – Nghệ An Administrative Division, later known as Đức Hậu Village, Chân Phúc District, Đức Quang Prefecture, Nghệ An Region. Today, it comprises the three hamlets of Xuân Hoa, Xuân Đồng, and Xuân Đức under Nghi Đức Commune, Vinh City.

Within the Đức Lân area of Đức Hậu Village, there is a "Three Teachings in Harmony" complex consisting of: chùa (pagoda), đền (temple), đình (communal house), and miếu (shrine) (now located in the western-northwestern part of Xuân Hoa hamlet, bordering Xuân Đồng hamlet, Nghi Đức Commune – Vinh City, with an area of nearly 10 hectares, though now only about 4 hectares remain intact). This was once a spiritual, political, and social cultural site for Xuân Lộc Commune (now divided into four communes: Nghi Đức, Nghi Ân, Nghi Kim, Nghi Phú – Vinh City).

About 50 metres north behind Đức Hậu Communal House is Đức Hậu Pagoda. Đức Hậu Pagoda's ancient name is Thiên Linh Tự, and it is said to be very old (built around the 12th–13th centuries). Even the village elders recall hearing their grandparents speak of the pagoda's sacredness.

Currently, the abbot of Đức Hậu Pagoda is Venerable Thích Định Tuệ. The pagoda has undergone many changes and is becoming a centre for Buddhist activities for devotees in Vinh City, Nghi Lộc District, and neighbouring districts.

On 20 March 2016, a grand ceremony for casting the great bronze bell was held. Content and images can be viewed at this link: GRAND CEREMONY FOR CASTING THE GREAT BRONZE BELL (archived on 27 March 2016 at Wayback Machine)

VIDEO CLIP OF THE BELL CASTING CEREMONY (archived on 26 March 2016 at Wayback Machine)

Previously, the pagoda was roofed with thatch and had only two compartments. In 1943, the people contributed to renovate it into a tiled pagoda and added another compartment called the Muống House. Notably, this Muống House has square columns. According to the Hoàng family (the Hoàng family in Nghi Phú Commune, Vinh City), this lineage has had a tradition of serving as monks at this pagoda for many generations. It is remembered that when Elder Hoàng chư Cách was the monk, his son Hoàng Hào Kiều served as the caretaker; when Hoàng Hào Kiều became the monk, Hoàng Canh Kho became the caretaker, and after Hoàng Canh Kho became the monk, he was also the last monk of this pagoda and passed away many years ago. Another unique feature is that this pagoda has a dual-worship system, meaning it worships both Buddhas, Saints, Mother Goddesses, and even Sacred Animals. The people of the three hamlets recount that the pagoda is responsive – especially effective in healing illnesses.

Within the sanctuary are altars to the Three Jewels, Buddha Shakyamuni, and Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. Additionally, the pagoda venerates Saint Mother Liễu Hạnh, Bà La Sát, Chức Nữ, Đức Vĩnh Thiện, and the sacred animal Cửu Long (nine dragons in attendance). In front of the pagoda is a screen wall with the motif "Ten Kinds of Sentient Beings". The pagoda has two ancient casuarina trees, over 30 metres tall, replacing the gate pillars, which are said to be places for imprisoning ghosts and demons. The only relic recently found at this pagoda is a stone statue about 60 cm tall, although according to local people, before 1965, the pagoda had nearly 100 stone and wooden statues.

Currently, the pagoda is being restored. The wooden compartment in the Main Hall today is the oldest original structure; this is the incense-burning hall of Đức Hậu Temple, a temple dedicated to Cao Sơn – Cao Các located to the west of Đức Hậu Pagoda, built in the 14th century. On 20 March 2016, the pagoda organised the casting of the great bronze bell with the participation of thousands of monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers. The worship and ceremonial areas are still temporarily set up with corrugated iron roofs and steel frames. The People's Committee of Nghệ An Province has allocated the full 10 hectares of land for expansion towards the Cửa Đình field of Xuân Hoa hamlet, Nghi Đức Commune, covering the former land of Đức Hậu Communal House and Đức Hậu Temple. Although not the original land, it is spacious enough for the development of the pagoda and to facilitate ceremonies for monks, nuns, and devotees.

First lunar month: Nguyên Đán Festival: 8 a.m. on the 1st, Tịch Chủ Ceremony: 2nd, End-of-Tết Ceremony: 3rd, lowering the New Year pole – Khai Hạ – peace-praying ceremony: 7th, Nguyên Tiêu Festival: 15th.

Second lunar month: Ceremony to the God of Agriculture praying for favourable weather from the 12th to the 15th.

Third lunar month: Thanh Minh Festival (at the pagoda there is also the Kỳ Yên Tam Bảo ceremony)

Fourth lunar month: Buddha's Birthday: 8th (only at the pagoda)

Fifth lunar month: Đoan Ngọ Festival, 5th

Sixth lunar month: Grand Lục Ngoạt Festival every three years from the 11th to the 14th, minor Lục Ngoạt Festival annually on the 13th

Seventh lunar month: Trung Nguyên Festival from the 14th to the 15th

Eighth lunar month: Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th

Ninth lunar month: Thường Tân Ceremony (new rice offering)

Eleventh lunar month: Đông Chí Ceremony (end of harvest)

Twelfth lunar month: Year-end Ceremony on the 15th, Kitchen Gods Farewell Ceremony on the 23rd, New Year's Eve Ceremony on the night of the 30th, and on ordinary days at the pagoda there are ceremonies for bán khoán (child dedication) and chay (requiem).

Ceremonies at the pagoda usually take place before those at the temple by one session and are often held at night.