Pháp Hoa Pagoda (Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh)

In Hồ Chí Minh City, there are many Buddhist establishments named Pháp Hoa. This article, however, only discusses two prominent Pháp Hoa Pagodas in the city, located in Nhiêu Lộc Ward and Đức Nhuận Ward.

Pháp Hoa Pagoda in Nhiêu Lộc Ward, also known as Pháp Hoa Pagoda Lê Văn Sỹ, is situated at 220A Lê Văn Sỹ Street and 870 Trường Sa, Ward 14, beside the Nhiêu Lộc canal. It is a Northern School Buddhist monastery and one of the 500 famous landmarks of Vietnam.

In 1967, it was built by Most Venerable Thích Tuệ Hải. Established during a time when the country was still facing many difficulties, the pagoda lacked significant support from the lay community, so all construction elements were very simple. The initial architectural space was only intended for worshipping the Buddha and as a residence for the Sangha.

In 1982, the Most Venerable passed away, entrusting the pagoda to novice monk Thích Tâm Thông. Bearing the responsibility of the monastery as he grew older, the novice monk managed it for 16 years before passing away.

In 1999, the Vĩnh Nghiêm Monastic Lineage and the Buddhist faithful of Pháp Hoa Pagoda invited Venerable Thích Thọ Lạc to succeed as abbot. Having undergone many historical ups and downs, the pagoda had deteriorated from its founding until the Venerable took over as abbot. The Venerable mobilised Buddhists to join hands in building the pagoda in the architectural style of Northern Vietnamese Buddhist culture.

In 2004–2005, the construction was completed and inaugurated.

In 2020, the current management of the monastery was handed over by the Most Venerable to Venerable Thích Quảng Minh, who became the fourth-generation abbot of this Pagoda.

Pháp Hoa Pagoda has architecture similar to some other Northern School pagodas in Vietnam. The total area is 620m², comprising a central building constructed with three floors: the ground floor is multi-functional, often used for meetings, ceremonies, and communal meals; the second floor is dedicated to worshipping the founding patriarchs and venerable spirits; the third floor is the Buddha Hall, arranged in a solemn manner. The central hall venerates the Original Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha, while the two side halls are dedicated to Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Quan Âm) and Kṣitigarbha (Địa Tạng). The statues are carved from jackfruit wood, covered in gold paint, and proportioned to fit the worship space. Next to the main hall are two three-storey buildings serving as accommodation for the Sangha, monks’ rooms, guest rooms, the Standing Office of the Central Committee for Culture, and other activities of the pagoda.

The lantern festival is the most prominent and largest festival of Pháp Hoa Pagoda – Nhiêu Lộc Ward, as it attracts the greatest number of participants. Traditionally, the festival is held on the 12th day of the 4th lunar month, with several tens of thousands of lanterns prepared by the pagoda in advance and distributed to Buddhists and visitors from afar. Each participant receives a lantern on which they write their wishes, their best hopes for luck and peace for themselves and their loved ones. At exactly 6:00 pm, the spiritual ritual according to Buddhist tradition is conducted under the blessing of the Sangha and the protection of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. A series of lanterns are then successively released onto the Nhiêu Lộc canal.

Pháp Hoa Pagoda in Đức Nhuận Ward is a pagoda founded by Most Venerable Đạo Hạ Thanh from Quảng Nam in 1928, the year of the Dragon (Mậu Thìn). Previously, the pagoda only had a thatched roof and wooden walls, built in a rural area of Đông Nhì hamlet, Phú Nhuận commune, Tân Bình district, Gia Định province, now Đức Nhuận Ward, Hồ Chí Minh City.

In 1932, the pagoda was renovated with a tiled roof and lime-plastered walls. Most Venerable Đạo Hạ Thanh became well-known among the people for providing herbal medicine, attracting many to study with him. During both the Indochina War and the Vietnam War, some Việt Cộng operatives secretly operated within this pagoda. There was a secret bunker built in 1945 to shelter revolutionary cadres, and a portrait of President Hồ Chí Minh painted during the national mourning days. Notably, this place houses the grave of the monk-soldier Thiện Chiếu and a memorial stele for the Quyết tử commando fighters of the Sài Gòn – Chợ Lớn special zone.

In 1962, Most Venerable Đạo Hạ Thanh passed away.

In 1965, the pagoda was once again renovated thanks to contributions from Buddhists from many places, under the management of his disciple and successor Như Niệm. Since then, the pagoda has continued to be improved to its present state. Currently, Most Venerable Thích Như Niệm is the abbot of the pagoda.

In 2015, Pháp Hoa Pagoda was recognised as a historical site in Hồ Chí Minh City by the Centre for Monument Conservation – Department of Culture and Sports of Hồ Chí Minh City and the City’s Monument Appraisal Council.