Standing tall on its large campus, the ancient Hue Nghiem Pagoda on Dang Van Bi Street in Thu Duc City attracts visitors with its emerald green glazed roof tiles. It is among the city's oldest pagodas.

Documents at the pagoda show that it was built by Zen Master Thiet Thoai - Tanh Tuong in 1721. During his travels, Zen Master Thiet Thoai was charmed by the local landscape and decided to settle there, establishing a grass cottage to spread Buddhism.

After Zen Master Thiet Thoai passed away, Zen Master Te Ly - Quang Duc succeeded him. Noting that the temple was located on low land near a Saigon River section, Zen Master Te Ly - Quang Duc decided to relocate the pagoda.

At that time, Nguyen Thi Hien, a rich woman in Linh Chieu Dong village in Thu Duc City today, offered a land plot on higher ground for the pagoda. So the pagoda was moved to its current location.

Over the last 300 years, Hue Nghiem Pagoda has undergone several renovations. However, it has maintained traditional architectural beauty of Southern Vietnamese pagodas, with yin-yang roof tiles with elegantly curved ridges.

The roof of the pagoda is adorned with lotus flower patterns and stylized wheels of reincarnation. The decorative motifs at the pagoda are gilded on a vibrant red background.

The pagoda has a spacious courtyard with large greenery and harmoniously arranged miniatures, including the Buddha Shakyamuni meditating under the Bodhi tree, Prince Siddhartha renouncing his royal life to become a monk, and an Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva worship tower.

Hidden among the ornamental flowers is a stupa garden containing old stupas of the Zen masters and monks who established the pagoda.

Hue Nghiem Pagoda also is associated with the magic legend of Lady Hien, a wealthy woman who, after death, was reincarnated as a Qing Dynasty princess in China.

Monks at Hue Nghiem Pagoda said Lady Ho Hien refers to Nguyen Thi Hien, the woman who donated land for the pagoda. She was renowned for her wealth and frequently helped the poor and supported community projects. She was also a devout Buddhist, and given the Buddhism name Lieu Dao.

In a document about the history of Buddhism in Vietnam, Nguyen Hien Duc recounted that during Emperor Daoguang reign (1821-1850) in China, a consort gave birth to a princess who clenched her fists tightly upon birth.

After monks chanted, the princess opened her fists. In her palms, red letters appeared: “Lieu Dao, Hue Nghiem, Gia Dinh.”

Ha Nguyen