Built in 1839 (under the reign of King Minh Mang), Tam Son Pagoda (Tam Son Assembly Hall) is one of the oldest Chinese pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City. It is a famous place for childless couples to pray for children.
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General information about Tam Son Pagoda
Location: 118 Trieu Quang Phuc Street, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
CLICK HERE to see the location of the street.
Year of establishment: 1839.
Architecture of Tam Son Pagoda
Tam Son Pagoda has a 口 shape, it is a complex of four sides of a hollow square. The sky well is in the middle of the front hall, left hall, right hall and back hall (main hall). There is a hall in the sky well, it can be called center hall. The facade of the front hall is also the pagoda’s facade. Tam Son Pagoda has a simple main gate and a fence, the front yard is rather spacious.
Front hall
The front hall has no curved roof like other Chinese pagodas in Saigon. However, it is not less beautiful than others. The roof is covered with red tiles, decorated with green glazed ceramic tiles, dragon, wave, lotus and cloud patterns. It is topped with ceramic figurines of people, two dragons facing a pearl, phoenixes, carps turn into dragons, houses, palaces.
Two big lanterns with Chinese characters are hung on the ceiling. The front wall is in light red color, there are two round windows, two parallel sentences carved on two side of the main door.
The signboard read the name of Tam Son Assembly Hall in Chinese. The wall painting depicts a forest, deers, birds, butterflies, flowers, bamboo trees, pine trees.
One of two lanterns and the wall painting depicting life in the countryside.
Inside the front hall, pillars, purlins (đòn tay), rafters (kèo) and horizontal panel are in red color. Black vertical panels with golden Chinese characters are highlights of the hall. Incense coils are hung on metal strings in the sky well.
Center hall
Jade Emperor altar.
Guanyin altar.
Left hall
Văn Xương Đế Quân (Wenchang Wang) is a Taoist deity, known as the God of Culture and Literature.
Tiger and Thạch Cảm Đương stone stele which drives evil spirit away.
Thần Tài (God of Wealth).
Right hall
Quan Vũ (Guan Yu, Văn Thánh Đế Quân) altar.
Long Vương (Dragon King).
Back hall (Main hall)
Mazu, known as the Sea Lady usually helps people who call her in the sea for support. Mazu or Bà Thiên Hậu is worshiped in a splendid altar with delicate wood carvings, embroidered curtain with phoenix patterns. The lady wears colorful costumes and hats and is flanked by her two assistants.
Phúc Đức Chính Thần (Ông Bổn) – God of the soil and ground who was a eunuch named Trinh Hoa during the rule of Yongle Emperor (1403-1424), traveled and helped overseas Chinese people .
Hoa Phấn Phu Nhân, Mẹ Sanh Nương Nương and 12 Bà Mụ who are responsible for the bear in the earth and forming bodies of human beings. Childless couples usually ask the deities to give them children.
Beautiful reliefs depict two dragons facing a pearl and flowers Tam Son Pagoda.
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