Thiên Bửu (hạ) Pagoda

Thiên Bửu Pagoda (Lower), also known as Sắc tứ Thiên Bửu Tổ Đình (Patriarchal Monastery of Imperial Bestowal), or Tổ Pagoda, Kỳ Pagoda, is an ancient pagoda located in Bình Thành hamlet, Ninh Bình commune, Ninh Hòa town, Khánh Hòa province, on the right bank of the Dinh River, as described in the following two verses:

Thanh thủy đoạn phiền não

Cô thôn hiện già lam

Provisional translation:

Clear water ends afflictions

In the quiet hamlet appears the monastery

Phạm Đài (Mr. Cửu Ba)

Thiên Bửu Pagoda (Lower) is among the oldest pagodas in Ninh Hòa.

In 1653, Lord Hiền Nguyễn Phúc Tần conquered the land of Champa from Đèo Cả to the Phan Rang River, establishing the Thái Khang administrative centre, which is present-day Khánh Hòa, comprising two prefectures: Thái Khang (Ninh Hòa) and Diên Ninh (Diên Khánh), and brought settlers to inhabit the area. To meet the spiritual needs of the settlers, Zen master Tế Hiển, dharma name Bửu Dương, a 36th-generation successor of the Lâm Tế (Linji) School, Thiền Liễu Quán branch, left Thiên Mụ Pagoda (Huế) and came to this land (Khánh Hòa) to found Thiên Bửu Pagoda (Upper) on the right bank of the Lốt River and Thiên Bửu Pagoda (Lower) on the right bank of the Dinh River around the years before 1763.

In the 16th year of Minh Mạng (1835), Venerable Liễu Bửu Huệ Thân, the fourth abbot of the pagoda, was invited to the capital to participate in the "Thủy lục Đạo tràng" (Water and Land Ritual Assembly) to pray for the souls of soldiers who died in battle during the Ghost Festival (seventh lunar month), and passed the examination held by the Ministry of Rites, receiving the imperial certificate of ordination and ceremonial sword. These relics are still preserved at the pagoda today.

In the central hall of the Main Sanctuary stands a large, gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, along with many other Buddha statues such as Amitābha Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, etc. The left chamber is dedicated to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, while the right chamber is dedicated to Ông (Lord), that is, Guan Yu. The Western Hall venerates the First Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, as well as the ancestral tablets of Patriarch Tế Hiển-Bửu Dương and previous abbots.

The pagoda was renovated during the years 1950–1962 and 2001–2002. Thiên Bửu Pagoda (Lower) is considered the most beautiful pagoda in Ninh Hòa today. It is also the patriarchal monastery (tổ đình) for most pagodas in Ninh Hòa.