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Minh Thanh pagoda, a majestic Buddhist architectural structure

Located on a hill in the foggy mountain city of Pleiku, Minh Thanh is the most gorgeous pagoda in Gia Lai province with unique architecture portraying the philosophy of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Minh Thanh pagoda, which was built in 1964 and renovated in 1997, has typical oriental architecture with majestic structures which bear the philosophical and literary essence of Vajrayana Buddhism.

The pagoda’s beautiful architecture includes its 16-meter central chamber with a roof made from Fujian cypress and a set of doors made from African mahogany on which are sophisticatedly carved figures of the Four Heavenly Kings.

The pagoda’s central chamber has two stories, which are Dai Hung Buu Dien and Dai Bi Dien. The chamber is arranged in the shape of a mandala which represents the universe. Inside the chamber is a Buddhist altar which is 6 meters long and 1.2 meters high. In the four corners are four statues of the Bodhisattva of Compassion.


The overall view of Minh Thanh pagoda seen from above.


Located at No. 14 Nguyen Viet Xuan road, Hoi Phu ward, Minh Thanh pagoda
is a large Buddhist architectural complex on a hill about 2 km southwest of Pleiku’s center.


The pagoda’s central chamber.


The nine-story Xa Loi tower in Minh Thanh pagoda.


A closer look at the architectural details of 70m-high Xa Loi tower.


The pagoda’s doors, made of African mahogany, are sophisticatedly carved with the figures of the Four Heavenly Kings.


Stone Arhat statues in the pagoda.


The sculptures in the pagoda are created based on Vajrayana Buddhism philosophy.


These works of art carry the ideological and literary quintessence of Vajrayana Buddhism.


Minh Thanh has an architecture similar to that of Japanese temples with an upward curving roof.
 
Minh Thanh pagoda has over 3,000 Buddhist statues, including 18 Arhat statues made of jackfruit wood. It also has stone Arhat statues on its premises.

On the left and right sides of the central chamber are the bell tower and To Khai Son tower. The pagoda also boasts the nine-story Xa Loi tower with a height of 70 meters.

In front of the pagoda is Lien Tri lake in the middle of which is a statue of Amitabha. The stone statue is 7.5 meters high and weighs 40 tons. A four-meter-high brass incense burner is placed in front of Lien Tri lake. With a weight of four tons, it is the largest brass incense-burner in Vietnam.


The pagoda was built on an area of 20,000 m2 in 1964 by monk Thich Giac Dao.


Inside the central chamber.


Stone Arhat statues in the pagoda.


Old wind chimes in the pagoda.


The pagoda appeals to visitors with its fanciful beauty.


Beautiful scenery of the pagoda.

Visiting Minh Thanh pagoda, one can easily leave behind their daily worries, feeling calm and relaxed in a tranquil green space.
Minh Thanh pagoda is cared for by Venerable Monk Thich Tam Man who left home to follow Buddhism at the age of six. The venerable monk studied in Taiwan and earned a master’s degree in Buddhist fine arts and Buddhist temple architecture. He is the first Buddhist monk in Vietnam to study this discipline.
By Cong Dat

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