Vietnam Pagodas

Long Huê Pagoda

TP. Hồ Chí Minh(Chùa Long Huê)

Overview & history

Long Huê Pagoda (common name), formerly known as Sắc Tứ Long Hoa Tự, Sắc Tứ Huệ Long Tự, and Ngự Tứ Quan Long Tự, is an ancient pagoda belonging to the Northern (Mahāyāna) Buddhist tradition. It is currently located at 131/27 Nguyễn Thái Sơn Street, Gò Vấp District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

History

According to a wooden plaque carved by Mr Thiện Ngọc in 1912, which is still preserved at the pagoda, Long Huê Pagoda was founded by Zen Master Đạo Thông (? - ?, from Quảng Nam), who established a small hermitage for practice in Cai Hạt village (Gia Định) in 1798.

However, according to the book 'History of Buddhism in Đàng Trong', the person who established the hermitage was Đạo Nham (? - ?, from Quảng Nam), and the hermitage was founded in Gia Định during the reign of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Khoát (ruled: 1738-1765).

Later, the hermitage was gradually expanded into a pagoda, and was named Long Hoa Pagoda.

During the time when Lord Nguyễn Phúc Ánh was restoring his family's fortunes, he once had to temporarily hide in Long Hoa Pagoda while being pursued by Tây Sơn forces. Therefore, after ascending the throne and taking the reign title Gia Long (1802), the king bestowed the title of "sắc tứ" (royally conferred) upon the pagoda. From then on, the pagoda was known as Sắc Tứ Long Hoa Tự (in Chinese characters: 敕 賜 龍 華 寺).

During the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng, due to the taboo on the name of Empress Hồ Thị Hoa, the pagoda was renamed Sắc Tứ Long Huê Tự.

During the period when the French colonists invaded Cochinchina, the pagoda was damaged by war. In the reign of Emperor Thành Thái, the pagoda was restored.

In 1966 and 1972, the pagoda underwent major renovations, giving it its present appearance.

The book 'Directory of Pagodas, Tịnh xá (monastic residences), Tịnh thất (hermitages), and Niệm Phật Halls in Ho Chi Minh City' records that the previous abbots of Long Huê Pagoda were: Zen Master Đạo Thông, Most Venerable Thích Từ Huệ, Venerable Thích Bổn Viên... The current abbot is Venerable Thích Nhật Hiếu.

On the 23rd day of the 2nd lunar month each year, the pagoda holds a memorial for the founding patriarchs. At present, the pagoda has a charitable medical clinic and a compassion class (free school for disadvantaged children).

Precious Artefacts

Currently, Long Huê Pagoda still preserves quite a number of precious artefacts, notably:

- The plaque "Sắc tứ Long Huê tự" bestowed by Emperor Gia Long.

- An ancient set of statues of the Amitābha Trinity (Amitābha, Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta) carved from jackfruit wood.

- An ivory seal, with a kylin carved on the top, and the seal face engraved with four Chinese characters (in seal script) "Phật Pháp Tăng Bảo" (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, Treasure), made in the 24th year of Tự Đức (Tân Mùi, 1871).

- A great bronze bell weighing about 1,000 kg, 1.70 m high, 0.95 m in diameter; cast in 1987, etc.

Photos

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Visiting tips

  • Dress modestly; remove hats and keep quiet inside the main hall.
  • Incense, flowers and offerings are usually sold right outside the gate; light an odd number of sticks (1 or 3).
  • Most pagodas open from early morning to evening and are free to enter (some major sites charge a small scenic fee).
  • Full-moon days, the 1st of the lunar month and Tet are very crowded; visit on weekday mornings for a quiet experience.
  • Ask permission before photographing inside shrines; do not touch statues or altar objects.

Read more & references

Useful links to learn more before your visit:

Location

Coordinates: 10.83535, 106.67403

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

References

Other pagodas in TP. Hồ Chí Minh

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