Pho Chieu Pagoda
Hải Phòng(Chùa Phổ Chiếu)
Overview & history
Pho Chieu Pagoda stands in Du Hang Kenh ward, Le Chan district, about 1.5 km from central Hai Phong. Although founded only in the 1950s, it has the solemn, ancient look of an old temple with several distinctive structures in its grounds.
History
In 1953 the monk Ngo Chan Tu from Thai Binh founded the temple, initially called the Tam Giao Hall, devoted jointly to Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism as an expression of religious and national harmony. In 1954 Venerable Thich Thanh Quang of the Lam Te (Linji) Zen school became abbot, converted it into a purely Buddhist pagoda and renamed it Pho Chieu. Heavily damaged in wartime, it underwent a major restoration from 1985.
Revolutionary relic
The pagoda's grounds secretly sheltered revolutionary fighters in 1929–1930 and 1939–1940. In 1954–1955 the city Trade Union Federation used it as a meeting place to direct struggles against the removal of machinery and forced migration to the South. During the war against the United States it housed one of four command bunkers of the municipal Party Committee, People's Committee and police headquarters. On 24 October 2005 it was recognized as a city-level resistance-history relic.
Photos
📷 Contribute photosVisiting 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: 20.84248, 106.67731
🧭 Directions on Google MapsReferences
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