. Buddhism in Vietnam

As you know, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years. It is considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam

A. INTRODUCSION Doing projects play an important role in studying program of students who are in Faculty of Tourism, HOU. We also have each project for each course. It helps us improve our English skill and our knowledge very much. The main purpose of the HD3 project is helping students gain more knowledge about Hanoi as a tourist destination. We also practice the skills in the course such as: learning more about Hanoi tourism potentials, building up commentaries at many sites in Hanoi, dealing with tourists’ questions and solving problems. Moreover, this project gives us one more chance to work in group effectively and find out the way how to design a tailor-made city tour of Hanoi for a group of tourists with different interests. From that, we have to make our own mind about tourism in Vietnam. This project is not only writing for teacher who will give the marks and comments to help us find out the right way to make a good project but also make us practice our English, researching and collecting information, writing skill… Thank to this necessary lesson, we feel more confident to introduce for tourists about famous destinations in Hanoi. It is very good for students to have a chance to do project like that. My group has 4 members: - Lưu Thi Nhung: Tran Quoc Pagoda - Nguyễn Thị Hồng Nam: House No.87 Ma May Street; Edit and Print - Lê Phương Ly: One Pillar Pagoda. - Nguyễn Thị Minh Huệ: Lang Pagoda. 1 B. BODY Pre – departure information: Welcome to Hanoi! As you know, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years. It is considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam, where every dynasty has left behind their imprint. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors. Hanoi has more cultural sites than any city in Vietnam, including over 600 pagodas and temples. Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples. Today we have a tour to discover the traditional architecture of Hanoi. So we design this tour with some special pagodas and an old house in Hanoi. We hope that tourists who are interested in traditional architecture of Hanoi will satisfactory with them. Itinerary Tour: Searching the traditional architecture of Hanoi - 8:15 am: pick up tourists in the hotel - 8:45 am: Tran Quoc Pagoda The reason that it is considered a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism partly for it is the oldest pagoda and situated in the centre of the capital of Vietnam. - 10 am: One Pillar Pagoda Special and famous for its architecture, entire the pagoda is held up by only one pillar, imitating the feature of a lotus (symbol of Buddhism). All the building is situated in the middle of a pond of lotus. 2 The unique architecture is a whole column pagoda is set on a stone column. It is a combination of reckless imagination romantic poetical images through lotus and solution structure of wooden architecture in the system of foundation. - 11am: have lunch in restaurant in the Old Quarter and rest. - 1pm: House at No.87 Ma May Street The house at 87 Ma May Street is typical of architecture in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It has shown the technical and arts building traditional old town of Hanoi. It is the art of building with traditional systems for tractors decorated wooden carving stations, construction techniques under the brick walls, floor systems via wooden bricks. - 1:45 pm: come back to the bus to go Lang Pagoda. - 2:15 pm: Lang Pagoda Lang pagoda is one of the most ancient pagodas in Hanoi. The architecture design of the pagoda is harmonious, stretching from the three entrances to the worshipping house. The multi – layer architecture structure with a green courtyard makes the ancient and sacred atmosphere of a Vietnamese pagoda. - 3:15 pm: finish the tour and take tourists to hotel. 3 TRAN QUOC PAGODA I would like to introduce to you one of typical traditional architectures of the Hanoians is an old pagoda architecture. Today we will visit Tran Quoc pagoda: one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi. You know, Pagoda is the place to worship Buddhism and before introduce about the Tran Quoc pagoda’s architecture. I want to introduce to you briefly information about the Buddhism in Vietnam. 1. Buddhism in Vietnam Vietnam is the nation without own religion but Buddhism still played an important role in the life of Vietnamese with 90% populations. Buddhism came to Vietnam by the maritime route from India and from China by land. Those who first carried this religion to Vietnam seem to have been refugees from persecution in China and religious pilgrims from India. Buddhism could be found in Tonkin (North Vietnam) in the second century A.D. North Vietnam was the cradle of the ethnic Vietnamese culture as it was not until 1802 that the southern area, including the delta, was conquered and consolidated into the approximate area of Vietnam today. The North of Vietnam follows Dai Thua (Great wheel) and the South is Tieu Thua (Small wheel). Do you know what the wheel is?: This is one of the earliest symbols of Buddhism, and consists of a circle (wheel) with eight or twelve divisions (spokes). The circle denotes the Buddhist concept of repeated births and endless existence. Eight "spokes" signify the Eightfold Path to reach Nirvana; and twelve "spokes" denote either the twelve "Principles of Buddhism", or the twelve-year calendar within an endless cycle of time. 4 Throughout twenty centuries in the long history of VN, Vietnamese Buddhism has been closely linked with the survival of the nation, whether in its rise and fall. Since the early days of its introduction, the mind of Vietnamese Buddhists has been so well imbued with the Buddha‘s Teachings about love, tolerance and sympathetic understanding that Vietnamese Buddhism has been able to co-exist in peace with other religions for over 2000 years. On the one hand, generations of Vietnamese monks and nuns and lay followers, unknown or well-known, have somehow participated in making it a unique Vietnamese religion colored with Vietnamese ways and customs. On the other hand, Vietnamese Buddhism has had a great influence on Vietnamese literature, art, music, architecture and Buddhism, so to speak, has become a part of Vietnamese life. 2. Tran Quoc pagoda 2.1 Location Tran Quoc Pagoda is located beside the dazzling West Lake, on Thanh Nien Road, Hanoi. Particularly, it is seated on an island linked by a bridge to the causeway between the two most romantic lakes of Hanoi: West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. 2.2 History The construction of the pagoda started in 541 and was completed in 545 under the reign of King Ly Nam De (544-548) under its original name of Khai Quoc (National Founder). It was initially built on the bank of the Red River. Until the early 17 th century, under the reign of King Le Kinh Tong (1600- 1618), the pagoda was moved to the Golden Fish Islet due to the river bank crumbling and was renamed Tran Quoc (National Defence). 5 2.3 A cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism – the pagoda’s architecture You might ask yourself why among a number of beautiful pagodas in Hanoi, Tran Quoc should be visited. The reason is from the fact that it is considered a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism partly for it is the oldest pagoda and situated in the center of the capital of Vietnam Tran Quoc pagoda’s layout follows the "noi cong ngoai quoc" architectural style. This is the typical and traditional architecture of the pagodas in Vietnam with featuring three rows of buildings: three-compartment Thuong dien (Sanctuary), Thieu huong (Incense Burning House) and five-compartment Tien duong (Ancestor-worshipping House) ) connected to two corridors, bell tower, Ancestor House and Headstone House. There are remaining 14 stone steles carved much precious documentation and described sufficiently the constructive and repairing process. Especially, the Pagoda has a statue of Thich Ca Buddha made of gilt wood and Big Tower Garden. No one who has visited this significant pagoda of Hanoi does not take interest in its special and intricate style of architecture dated centuries ago. 2.4 A nice tranquil backdrop It must be said that the island and pagoda provide a beautiful backdrop, particularly when viewed at sunset. Standing at one end of Thanh Nien Road, one can see the towers of the pagoda rising above the lake’s surface. In the pagoda’s garden stands a Bồ Đề (Bodhi) tree, which is attached to a past story. The story tells that in 1959, on his visit to Vietnam, Indian Prime Minister Razendia Prasat offered the Pagoda a bodhi tree as a gift. The plant was grafted from the holy bodhi tree where Sakyamuni sat in zen (meditation) position and achieved enlightenment in India 25 centuries ago. Now the bodhi tree is easily recognizable from its heart-shaped leaves, taken from a cutting of its original 6 tree. Today, the tree green and luxuriant, shading over part of the pagoda's yard. These days, Tran Quoc Pagoda, as a religious relic with spectacular -surrounding scenery, is a favourite stopover of so many foreign visitors and pilgrims. 3. Bao thien tower As you can see the tower’s name is Bao Thien. It includes 11 floors, 15 high. Each floor has 6 small vaulted roofs, Adida Buddhist statue that made of rare stone and the total are 66 statues. The tower’s construction started in 1998 but there were some reasons so until in 2003 it has finished. Then I will tell you one small story about the tower in Tran Quoc pagoda’s garden that Kim Cuong Tu Buddhist monk leaded the pagoda and respond to build in XI century. He is the superior Buddhist, high position in Buddhism and always is delegate of national assembly. When building the tower, someone said that he built it to after he died his ash will put in this tower. However, some warmed-heart ones still understand and respect his work because there are many projects, restaurants and hotels growing up…it seems to swallow West Lake. Therefore, he knew that this tower’s building is to make harmony of the sacred land, of the pagoda. Then when he passed away, the tower of Tran Quoc pagoda keeps country, protects Thang Long citadel. Nowadays it becomes a very valuable and rare project.  Problem in Tran quoc pagoda: Your group comes into Tran Quoc pagoda. In front of pagoda, some tourists want to take photos but many sellers around there coming and ask them buying some things. They refuse buying anything but the sellers still ask with insistence, make noise and follow your tourists. - Solving problem: 7 Come closely with your tourist. Talk in a polite way with the seller that your tourists do not want to buy anything.  Questions: 1. What are the names of two lakes in front of Tran Quoc pagoda? - Ho Tay: West Lake - Truc Back Lake: White Soul Lake 2. What is the meaning of “noi cong ngoai quoc” architecture in pagoda? Internal attack with outside support 3. Why there often has tower garden? To keep the bone-ash of monks 4. Why does each tower have different height? It depends on the position of the monk. 5. What are four sacred animals? Dragon, phoenix, unicorn, tortoise 8 APPENDIX Bao Thien tower Tower garden 9 The gate of pagoda The roof of pagoda 10 [...] .. . rise in the population, particularly the increasing numbers of traders and sellers, and unplanned expansion and redevelopments have led to overcrowding in housing demand and an unhealthy living environment Due to this, the Institute for the Conservation of Monuments and Urban Solutions, a Dutch Firm specializing in urban heritage management have jointly organized a three month training course on integrated .. . kind of hardworking animal 32 In side this house, there are many pictures In Vietnamese, we call it Bích Họa It means drawing in the wall During the festival, the statue of Từ Đạo Hạnh is placed there 3 Main pagoda: The shape of main pagoda is “Nội công ngoại quốc” It means that inside part looks like letter “I” and outside part likes square shape This kind of shape is very popular in the North of Vietnam .. . during the French War in 1954 The new Vietnamese government rebuilt the temple in 1955 and still commemorates the legend of Emperor Ly Thai Tong This is an architecture 13 combine’s creative space architecture with high-low rhythm including stone sculpture, Painting, drawing touches corridors, the water is a symbol of culture, high art, and the deep ethnic lines It has been devastating; rebuilding .. . of the strong points in the spatial layout of traditional houses in Vietnam in general and the old town of Hanoi in particular to adapt and suit the local climate 2 Interior part of the house Interior part of the house by the items in wood especially the living room and bedroom With meaning room is where the page should set the owner of the altar and on the reception desk, a wall hanging a beautiful .. . dream in the honour of the Goddess of Mercy According to a theory, the pagoda was built in a style of a lotus emerging out of the water The pagoda was built in 1049 during the Ly dynasty At this time, the Buddhism was becoming popular in Vietnam 2 Architecture - Special and famous for its architecture, entire the pagoda is held up by only one pillar, imitating the feature of a lotus (symbol of Buddhism ).. . brick In the middle of the yard, it is a stone-carved bed, which is called Long Sàng in Vietnamese Long means dragon, Sàng means ornate bed for King and his family In the past, 31 it was used for mandarin kneeing to wait for the King while he prays inside the pagoda Nowadays, people use this place for preparing a sedan chair for festival  The second courtyard: This yard has meaning as the sky well in .. . sunshine, control the degree and atmosphere in the house This yard is very popular in Vietnamese pagoda In Buddhism, this yard has meaning as the middle part between the real world and the world of Saint and Buddha There are many mango trees For Buddhism and Vietnamese culture, mango trees are which protect the pagoda from the bad things They are also the place for homeless soul stay Especially, in the .. . way in pagoda 11 THE ONE PILLAR PAGODA The One pillar pagoda is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam It was built in 1409 under the Ly dynasty In Vietnamese, it has named “Dien Huu tu” which literally means “Long lasting happiness and good luck” The unique pagoda is located in the western part of the city, near Ho Chi Minh’s Museum, Ong Ich Khiem St, Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh District in Hanoi .. . the host decorating with plants in pots “bonsai” to bring more definition to the nature of space Field 2, a part where cooking (kitchen), the rest of the tank and rain water for cleaning house * Class in the end (of the 3) including toilet and storage 20 The detailed architecture of the house is very characteristic of the architecture of traditional towns Hanoi attention to the first main surface to .. . one part of Vietnamese pagoda This path is looked like a straight line separates this pagoda into 2 balanced parts It has the meaning like our spine column In the past, this path was only for King and his family when they visited the pagoda In addition, each side path was for mandarins and local people  The third courtyard: In the middle of the third courtyard, there is 8-side pavilion In the past, . want to introduce to you briefly information about the Buddhism in Vietnam. 1. Buddhism in Vietnam Vietnam is the nation without own religion but Buddhism. to Vietnam seem to have been refugees from persecution in China and religious pilgrims from India. Buddhism could be found in Tonkin (North Vietnam) in