The Chùa Hạ (Hạ Pagoda) is the principle among the group of pagodas that form the Chùa Am Các on a hilltop in Tĩnh Gia District
In front of the Chùa Hạ is this map of the site, rather necessary as the roads between the pagodas are, in places, bare hardly identifiable tracks. The Hạ pagoda is dead centre of the map
On the top of a hill near the town of Tĩnh Gia are a number of buildings known collectively as Chùa Am Các - this is probably best translated as the Pagodas of the Hermits. The hill is a couple of thousand feet above the surrounding country with splendid views across to the sea. The two mile ascent from the new large reservoir below is taxing, in the heat, for both humans and vehicles. This is the first of two pages on these buildings. The central building is the Chùa Hạ (Hạ Pagoda) and is the subject of this page. The next page has pictures of the other three pagodas on the site. While the site is very ancient, the actual buildings and artefacts within them are modern.
Wayside flowers on the road up to the pagodas
The little knoll on the centre of the skyline is the area of the pagodas, and from where the next shot was taken
And that last picture was taken from the bridge you can see in the view above
A view from near the pagodas with Tĩnh Gia town to the right, and beyond it the hotels on the beach.
The sea is about 10 kilometres away. This was taken two years before the other picture
and before the bridge was finished. (The well positioned motorbike with its
be-hatted woman was a happy accident only noticed on reviewing the image)
Rocks, either natural and adorned, or assembles, play an important...
...part in the landscaping of areas around Buddhist centres...
...these examples are on the road leading up to the pagodas
The area in front of the main Hạ Pagoda provides an open space with the opportunity for the sale of...
...flowers and incense which is then placed by visitors on this altar at the entrance to the pagoda
This is the main altar in the centre of the building with its two Buddhas on raised plinths surrounded by offerings of flowers and fruit
Looking in through the right-hand door, the main altar is just to the left of the vertical Chinese banner; the right side altar is ahead
The left corner's guardian and altar
The Buddhas on the central altar
The right corner's guardian
Looking from the left-hand end towards the right - the main altar is at the left where the blue and then the red carpets point
Looking from the right-hand end towards the left - the main altar is at the right where the blue carpet points
Three side altars. Right end wall
On the right side
On the left end wall
A large bronze bell hangs from a tree 50 metres from the pagoda
The outside altar
An excavation of older buildings is in progress
The Chùa Họ
Trailers...
The next page
of the Picture Posting
Section:- A second page on the Am Các Pagoda complex near the town of Tĩnh Gia.
The next page
in the Mosaic Section is entitled:- 'Signposts'.
Or go to the contents of the Mosaic Section.
The last page had pictures of parties and food at the Hân Duyên restaurant
A page on a visit to the Đền Cờn Pagoda in Vietnam
Go to a page on Samye Ling the Buddhist centre in Southern Scotland
