A white Buddha looks out across the district of Tĩnh Gia with its new reservoir. On the horizon the China Sea can just be seen
The statue at the khu Tứ Phủ is one big mass of symbols - he commented provokingly not understanding them himself
This is the second of two pages on the Chùa Am Các pagoda complex near the town of Tĩnh Gia in northern Vietnam. The previous page featured the Hạ Pagoda, this page has three other pagodas: Thượng, Trình and khu Tứ Phủ.
The map
by Chùa Hạ shows their relative positions. Each of these has a feature of interest. For the khu Tứ Phủ it is the 10 metre Buddha that stands in front of the pagoda surveying the whole of Tĩnh Gia District all the way to the sea. For the Chùa Trình it is the multi-armed figure so familiar in Hindu temples, and for the Chùa Thượng the feature is a huge bell that hangs beside the tiny temple. Translating from Vietnamese the word pagoda is used for Buddhist institutions, while temple is reserved for secular buildings - usually dedicated to famous people.
Dragons loup along the roof ridge of the khu Tứ Phủ
From the entrance porch of the khu Tứ Phủ this is the panorama, across Tĩnh Gia District, that greets the eye
Looking into the khu Tứ Phủ
Looking out from the central door
Looking in at the central altar
The front veranda of the khu Tứ Phủ
Main area inside the khu Tứ Phủ
The left-hand altar
The right-hand altar
The khu Tứ Phủ Pagoda
The statue with its incense sticks, small attendants, and safe for donations
The tracks between the pagodas are less grazed and flowers can florish
The track to the khu Tứ Phủ - despite the heat visitors need to walk!
The diminutive Thượng Pagoda and, on the hill above, its bell which is nearly 3 metres in height.
Below, looking into the pagoda at the altar.
The somewhat playful roof beams of...
...the Thình Pagoda, which also has...
...these ornamental ventilation panels
A side view of the Buddha, but its not easy to count the arms from any angle - probably 24.
The main altar of the Thình Pagoda and its multi-armed sitting Buddha
This style is one often seen in Hindu Temples where the arms can be an expression of motion
In other statues the hands may hold items of significance, although here they are empty
The three altars in the Chùa Trình
The left guardian altar
The right guardian altar
Duyên about to fly off over Tĩnh Gia. A viewpoint near the pagodas and an excuse to take you to the next page which is about birds on the cliffs of Látrabjarg in north-west Iceland
Trailers...
The next page,
in the Picture Posting Section, is about birds that inhabit the cliffs at Látrabjarg, in the far north-west tip of Iceland.
The next page,
in the Mosaic Section, is entitled:- 'Parting Day'.
Or go to the contents of the Mosaic Section.
The last page introduced these pagodas at Chùa Am Các
A page on the Hindu temples at Mỹ Sơn in central Vietnam
A page on mosques in
