There are some reasons: my very first time was...quite long in the past when I just started my corporate career and during our New Year some of my old colleagues asked me to join them to visit this Temple. My first impression at that time : so crowded, so smoky, it was very hard to breath, tears in my eyes...I did pray anyway but can't recall what I prayed. The second time to this Temple when I accompanied two friends visiting Saigon, one from Taiwan, another from Malaysia. They told me…even in Taiwan they hardly find the temple like this - all new, so this place is unique. But another reason could be most important to me is I'm really fascinated by the porcelain diorama on the roof of this temple. I wish to have a better look at them.
This temple is one of the popular tourist spots…but as far as I guess we still have some other places - old and probably also unique but maybe a bit far, not like this one, right in the heart of Chinatown.
This is the oldest Chinese temple in Saigon, built in 1760 by a group of Kuang-chou immigrants, the temple has been renovated many times in the past. Here we call "Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu " or simply "Chùa Bà" in brief, literally means Pagoda of the Lady of the Sea as the main altar is dedicated to a legendary character, named Mi Chau, born in 1044 in Fukien (China).
There is some legend circulated about this Lady of the Sea, back to 11th century, at the very young age with the magical power she got from Goddess, her spirit tried to save life of her father and two brothers in the turbulent sea while her body was staying at home, but she failed to keep her father alive and later the fishermen in her hometown considered her a Spiritual Protector for them, before the trip to the big seas.
As I said I was always impressed by the porcelain figurines that decorate the roof. These figurines were produced by two most famous factories in China in early 1900s. To be honest I have no idea about these figurines, their related stories or legends, but look at the details we may find many interesting things.
Some figurines have been damaged after over 100 years up on that roof, someone already tried to fix but very poorly as you see in the picture, I don't know - with many sponsors, maybe the authorities would look at this issue more seriously and to find the better way as all this diorama in need of better restoration, not only this unique porcelain works, but also the temple as it's a part of Saigon's development history.
The locals keep coming here to pray, to bring the offerings, those pink leaflets that I found on the wall
dedicating to the sponsors…so hopefully it helps to maintain this Temple, its access always in good conditions despite the cruel time.
In this Temple you will find some display of precious items, like the huge burners behind, dated back to 18th century or those items in the glass display as below.
I notice in front of the Temple, across the street there is a small garden, I don't know is there any connection back to hundred years ago…but now the garden with fence seemed abandoned without attention, street vendors take the space to sell either drinks or these birds for 'Give Life", i.e Phóng Sinh (?!) a tradition that has been criticised by the media and public for long as it's cruel to these birds.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for your post , it helps me alot with my job .
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