Bửu Hưng Pagoda

Bửu Hưng Pagoda (commonly known as Cả Cát Pagoda) is located in Hòa Long commune, Đồng Tháp province, Vietnam. This is an ancient pagoda of high historical and artistic value, which was recognised as a "National Monument" on 3 August 2007.

Around the latter half of the 18th century, Zen Master Nguyễn Đăng (? - ?) came from Central Vietnam and built a thatched hermitage to worship the Buddha here. The life and activities of this monk are unknown. However, based on a five-character poem engraved on his tomb, it is likely that he was from Thuận Hóa, travelled south by land (Vạn lý kinh đô biệt,..Dạ nguyệt độc chinh Nam), and practised according to the teachings of the Fifth Patriarch Hoằng Nhẫn (Tâm ấn-Phục Hoằng Mai).

After Zen Master Nguyễn Đăng passed away, Zen Master Tịnh Châu (? - ?), while travelling to spread the Dharma, arrived here and stayed to practise. Afterwards, the hermitage was renovated and enlarged, but still only built with simple wood and leaves. During his time, there were 10 monks who came to study the Dharma. Therefore, to provide them with a place to practise and study, the master had an additional monks' hall (tăng đường) built from wood and leaves on the western side, and also had a pond dug on the eastern side to provide water for the monks during the dry season.

In 1803, Zen Master Tiên Thiện Từ Lâm (1780-1859, 37th generation of the Lâm Tế school), from Sắc Tứ Long Tuyền Pagoda (renamed Sắc tứ Linh Thứu Pagoda in 1830) in Thạnh Phú (Châu Thành, Tiền Giang), came to serve as abbot.

Also in this year, the pagoda was granted the title Sắc tứ Bửu Hương Pagoda by Emperor Gia Long. According to legend, on one occasion (year unknown), Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) was pursued by Tây Sơn troops and had to take refuge in the pagoda. In gratitude, after ascending the throne, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh bestowed the imperial plaque (sắc tứ) upon the pagoda and conferred upon Master Tiên Thiện Từ Lâm the title Từ Dung Hòa thượng. Subsequently, the master gradually rebuilt the simple pagoda into a grand temple constructed from precious timber.

It was not until the time of the 8th abbot, Great Master Như Lý Thiên Trường (1887-1969), that the pagoda underwent major renovations. Between 1909 and 1911, the master had the Main Hall (Chánh điện) repaired, and added intricately carved bao lam (decorative wooden screens), Thần vọng (guardian screens), altars, horizontal boards (hoành phi), parallel sentences (câu đối), etc. At the same time, the master also renovated the stupa area and planted more ornamental trees, making the pagoda more beautiful and majestic. Afterwards, he handed the pagoda over to his disciple Nguyên Nghiêm Thiện Truyền (? - ?), and returned to practise at Bửu Lâm Pagoda (now in Ward 3, Mỹ Tho City).

During the resistance against the French, on 3 July 1947, the pagoda was heavily damaged by a French air raid, in which the Hậu Tổ Hall was completely destroyed.

In 1950, the monks contributed labour and resources to restore the damaged areas, rebuild the Hậu Tổ Hall, and at the same time, consolidate the East and West corridors (Đông lang and Tây lang).

The current abbot (15th generation, in office since 1993) is Venerable Thích Minh Trí. From 1992 to 2012, the pagoda has been renovated and many new structures have been built under his guidance, such as the construction of the Quan Âm Pavilion (1990), the erection of the Tam quan gate and the building of the Hậu Tổ Hall wall (1998), the renovation of the main hall, levelling of the grounds around the pagoda, and building of the perimeter wall (2009), etc.

Bửu Hưng Pagoda is currently situated in a spacious garden, with a small canal in front. The pagoda is built in the shape of the character "tam" (三), 15 metres wide and 50 metres long, comprising the Front Hall (Tiền đường), Main Hall (Chánh điện), and Hậu Tổ Hall.

The Front Hall and Main Hall are connected. The Main Hall consists of three compartments and two side wings in the tứ trụ (four-pillar) style, with intricately and elaborately carved bao lam and Thần vọng featuring the four sacred animals. In the centre of the Main Hall is a 2.5-metre-tall wooden statue of Amitābha Buddha, donated by the Nguyễn dynasty court in the 2nd year of Minh Mạng (1821).

Behind the Main Hall is an open-air courtyard (sân thiên tỉnh) in the shape of the character khẩu (口), with corridors on both sides (East and West corridors) connecting to the Hậu Tổ Hall.

In the bamboo garden beside the pagoda is the ancient stupa area. This is where the remains of monks who practised at the pagoda are enshrined. At the entrance to the stupa area is a pair of Han-script couplets:

苾草凋殘猶未死

曇花落去有餘香

Transliteration:

Bật thảo điêu tàn do vị tử

Đàm hoa lạc khứ hữu dư hương.

Within the stupa area, there still remain the stupa of Zen Master Nguyễn Đăng (founder of the pagoda), the stupa of Zen Master Tịnh Châu (2nd abbot), and 10 Bảo đồng stupas of the 10 monks who came to practise during Master Tịnh Châu's time, etc.

Although it has undergone many repairs both large and small, Bửu Hưng Pagoda still retains the appearance of the major renovation carried out in 1909-1911.

In addition to the ancient Buddha statues (Amitābha Buddha statue, two Dharma Protector statues, a set of Ten Kings of Hades statues, etc.), intricately carved bao lam, horizontal boards, parallel sentences, etc., the pagoda still preserves more than 100 large and precious wooden columns, and three sets of large wooden doors (each with four panels) carved with dragons and flowers in a highly artistic manner. These three sets of doors were made in the early 20th century and installed on the rear wall of the Main Hall during the 1909-1911 renovations.