The mystery of the sacred temple 'carrying' hundreds of winding dragons: A story that touches people

This is an ancient temple with a history of more than 300 years, one of the most special temples in the city. Ho Chi Minh.

History of Phu Chau Temple formation

Phu Chau Temple, also known as Mieu Noi Phu Chau (Mieu is the word locals use to call the small temple) is located in Ward 5, Go Vap District, City. Ho Chi Minh.

Phu Chau Temple has an area of ​​about 550 square meters, built on a small foot-shaped dune on the Vam Thuat River (a branch of the Saigon River). Because of the temple's special location, it is called "floating temple". If you want to go to the floating temple, you have to go by boat.

Regarding the history of its formation, the temple was built during the reign of King Gia Long with one side being the ferry wharf and the other side being An Phu Dong ward of District 12. Before 1975, this was a popular pilgrimage site for people. After a long time, it was abandoned. It was not until 1989 that the temple was repaired and restored by a Chinese-Vietnamese named Luc Cau.

According to local people, this place has a legend associated with an extremely touching story. A fisherman while fishing discovered the woman's body. After bringing him ashore, the fisherman buried this person carefully and built a small temple here. From then on, the lives of poor fishermen in the area suddenly became better. Many people who heard the sound also came here to pray for the family. Gradually, the temple was built spaciously to worship the Five Elements and Dragon Mother.
Speaking of the legend about the sacredness of Phu Chau temple, according to information published in the magazine Young Intellectuals, citing Gia Dinh past and present: "Legend has it that more than ten years ago, on the Ben Cat river before The temple often has a pair of giant cotton fish floating lazily on the water. Everyone who sees them thinks they are his grandmother's pair of magic fish. People around the area do not dare to say anything. Every time they appear like this, they are in trouble. There is chaos in the village, or there is an order for someone to drown in the river."


Unique architecture that combines Vietnamese and Chinese cultures

Also according to Young Intellectuals, Phu Chau Temple faces south, built in the Tam style, consisting of three buildings connected by two roofed courtyards. The roof here is covered with shiny emerald green glazed yin and yang tiles. Each roof is decorated with motifs of dragons flanking pearls, dragons flanking lotuses, dragons flanking Nine-product towers, and dragons flanking scrolls. The curved blades on the roof are attached to the four sacred animals Dragon, Ly, Quy, and Phung.
In addition, details of chrysanthemums, grape leaves, rivers, and fish shapes are decorated everywhere. The surrounding walls are painted with dark pink lime, the door lids are painted red - a typical Chinese style feature.

The space of Phu Chau Temple is divided into 3 main worship areas: Front Dien, Middle Dien and Main Dien. Each area will worship different gods. Right in the center of the Tien Dien area is the place to worship Maitreya Buddha, flanked by Mother Earth and Buddha Tathagata.

In front of the altar, there is a statue of Chuan De Buddha sitting on a large lotus, next to an Arhat statue.

The Central Palace area is the space to worship the statue of Qi Thien Dai Thanh. Surrounded by wooden statues engraved with 4 words "Holy Gia Bao Dien". In the Main Hall area, next to the statue of the Five Elements Holy Mother worshiped in the front position, in front of the altar there is also an incense table of the Goddess of Chau Doc and Cuu Huyen.

In addition, the area on the right is the place to worship Bao Cong - Quan Cong, Dia Mau, Kim Mau, Dragon Than and Dharma Protector.

The interference and intertwining of worship systems in this place shows the coming together of folk beliefs and Buddhism on the basis of Vietnamese goddess worship.

The most prominent feature of Phu Chau Temple is that looking down from above, everywhere you look from the outside is filled with dragon images. On the roofs of the temples and the main gate are statues of dragons flanking the two dragons competing for pearls, dragons flanking the Nine-Rank tower, dragons flanking the scroll... The temple hall also has two large dragons covered in porcelain, following the "two dragons playing water" pose. .
In the temple, there are many dragon-shaped reliefs, according to estimates, there are hundreds of large and small dragons, covered with eye-catching colorful porcelain pieces. The dragons curl up on the pillars of the sacred temple with sophisticated, meticulous designs.