As one of the famous temples in Da Nang, Linh Ung Pagoda in Bai But, dressed in the wild beauty of the mountains and forests, is the ideal destination for you to both pray and visit.
With its importance in religion and as a sightseeing destination, we will introduce you to more details about this pagoda, including its location, history, and more.
Let’s explore it now!
Linh Ung Pagoda
Linh Ung Pagoda, also called Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda or Linh Ung Son Tra Pagoda, is a temple located on the top of a mountain in Bai But, Son Tra peninsula, Da Nang City.
This temple is also one of three pagodas under the same name, Linh Ung, in Da Nang. All three temples are situated in prime locations, forming a sacred triangle that covers this city.
These three pagodas include:
- Linh Ung Non Nuoc Pagoda is situated on Thuy Son Mountain, one of the five mountains that comprise the Marble Mountains.
- Linh Ung Ba Na pagoda towering on the high Ba Na mountain, and
- Linh Ung Bai But pagoda is situated halfway up Son Tra Mountain.
Among them, the Linh Ung Bai But pagoda is the biggest, newest, and most beautiful one. When mentioning only the name of Linh Ung, it means the Linh Ung pagoda in Bai But of the Son Tra peninsula.
The legends of the Linh Ung Bai But pagoda
It is said that during the reign of King Minh Mang (1820–1842), a Buddha statue appeared out of nowhere on the sand. Coastal fishermen discovered and considered it a good omen, so they established a temple to worship it.
One day, Avalokitesvara appeared to save people from overcoming difficulties and to help calm the sea. Fishermen could conduct their business safely, and life gradually became full and prosperous.
Since then, the old sandy beach where the Buddha image washed up was named Bai But, or “Buddha in the middle of life,” and it was the location where Linh Ung Pagoda was later built.
About Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda
Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda, under the abbotship of Venerable Thich Thien Nguyen, was built within six years. The pagoda was constructed between 2004 and 2010. It was officially inaugurated, and to this day, many new items are still under construction.
The birth of Linh Ung Pagoda is recognized as a significant milestone in the development of Vietnamese Buddhism in the 20th century.
Linh Ung Pagoda is situated in a prime location on the Son Tra Peninsula, at an elevation of 693 meters above sea level. So, wherever you stand in the Da Nang area, you can see the tall statue of this temple.
On a turtle-shaped hill and spanning a land area of 20 hectares, Linh Ung Pagoda rests at the summit of Son Tra Mountain, where a vast primeval forest teems with birds and animals, facing the East Sea.
On the left is Cu Lao Cham island, on the right is Hai Van mountain, shielding. Exactly the position of birds and animals coming to live around, which fully converges with the spirit of heaven and earth.
Bringing a beauty that is both modern and ancient, it is very suitable for the inherent temple architecture in Vietnam. The serene Linh Ung Pagoda, situated amid the mountains, is a popular destination that attracts a large number of Buddhists to visit every year.
The main hall of Linh Ung Pagoda is huge and pure. In the center of the main temple is the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. On the right is Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and on the left is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. All three statues are made of bronze.
On both sides of the road, there are four Dharma Protectors and 18 Arhats in a straight line. Each Arhat has a distinct face, characterized by extremely delicate and meticulous features, which convey happiness, anger, love, and hate.
In addition, the highest statue of Quan The Am (Lady Buddha) in Vietnam, standing at 67m, is also one of the famous attractions in Da Nang for tourists from all over the world to gather at Linh Ung Pagoda to visit and pray.
The Lady Buddha statue leans back against the mountain, facing the sea; the diameter of the lotus is 35m.
Inside the statue, it is 17m wide and 17 floors high. Each floor features an altar with a total of 21 Buddha statues, each with a distinct facial expression and posture. This design is called “Buddha inside Buddha”.
In addition to the ventilation doors, the top 17th floor features a staircase that leads to the summit of the statue’s head. This level is a holy place, so this story is used to clean the statue; no tourists are allowed to come to this height.
When visiting the Linh Ung Pagoda, you can come around this tall Lady Buddha statue to take a picture. You can see a panoramic view of the surroundings in the most comprehensive way, of the city, the forest, and the sea. That gives you a vivid landscape picture rarely found anywhere else.
Linh Ung Pagoda in Bai But, located on Son Tra Island, has become a popular tourist destination. You can expect to spend around an hour visiting this site to enjoy the natural and sea views.
Don’t forget to bring a camera to take pictures to share with your friends!
And share with us what you think about this pagoda!
> See more:
