Hải Sơn Pagoda (Chùa Hang, Kiên Giang)

Hải Sơn Pagoda, commonly known as Chùa Hang (Cave Pagoda), is located at the foot of An Hải Sơn mountain, in Kiên Lương commune, An Giang province, Vietnam (formerly Bình An commune, Kiên Lương district, Kiên Giang province). This is a heritage site, a pilgrimage destination, and also a tourist attraction of the province.

Because the mountain is limestone that has been eroded for thousands of years, there is a large cave behind the pagoda that leads all the way to the sea, where Hòn Phụ Tử is located. Currently, Chùa Hang is part of the system of pagodas managed by the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

The stone cave behind Hải Sơn Pagoda runs along a northeast-southwest axis, with a length of more than 50 metres, and the cave entrance faces the sea. The cave extends for 40 metres, with the narrowest point allowing only about 3-4 people to pass through at once. Inside the cave, there are bizarre shapes formed by water erosion.

Hải Sơn Pagoda was discovered in the 18th century by Thai monks and fishermen who came here to reclaim land and settle. (A brief history of the pagodas in Kiên Giang.) Afterwards, these monks established the pagoda, which at first had no name.

In 1771, the Siamese army invaded Vietnam and withdrew in 1774; the monks had to return with them. Seeing the pagoda abandoned for a long time, the local people invited a Khmer monk to become abbot. Later, Khmer monks (whose Dharma names are not yet identified) built an additional hermitage outside, not far from the old pagoda, and named it Thái Lùa Pagoda (Prakchaokia) or Ba Trại Pagoda. It was called Ba Trại Pagoda because it was located in the base area of the insurgent forces led by Nguyễn Trung Trực.

In 1800, two brothers, Võ Thường Lễ and Võ Thường Nghĩa (Dharma names not yet identified), restored the old pagoda and named it Chùa Hang (Cave Pagoda). The next abbot of Chùa Hang was a Vietnamese monk with the Dharma name Thiện Tông.

In 1920, Venerable Thiện Tông passed away in the Buddha Sleeping Cave, and Venerable Thượng Tố became the abbot.

From 1939 to 1944, the abbot of Chùa Hang was Venerable Chí (surname unknown, affectionately called Sư Chưởng by the local people). He passed away at the age of 70.

In 1953, the local people invited a nun, commonly known as Cô Sáu (Dharma name not yet identified), to take care of Buddhist affairs.

In 1975, Nun Sáu passed away. Venerable Thiện Hóa (Thầy Tư) continued as abbot until his passing in 1999, at the age of 79. During his 45 years as abbot of Chùa Hang, Venerable Thiện Hóa carried out many renovations, especially a major restoration in 1962 that gave the pagoda its current appearance. The pagoda was recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a historical and scenic site in 1989.

From 1999 to 2002, the pagoda was managed by Venerable Thích Minh Hải. Afterwards, Venerable Thích Minh Nhẫn became abbot and continues to serve in this role to the present day.

There are many worship statues in Chùa Hang, made from various materials. Notably, there are several precious statues, such as the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara statue in the main hall. The worship statues here clearly belong to the Southern (Theravāda) Buddhist tradition.