A Khmer Buddhist festival at the Xiem Can PagodaKhmer pagodas of the Mekong Delta
25 January, 2008
Thanh Nien News (Hanoi)
"Archeologists have, however, discovered a stone stele engraved with Sanskrit words saying Vinh Hung was built in 892 CE."Seven kilometers southeast of Bac Lieu Town in the province of the same name is Xiem Can, a century-old pagoda with unique architecture and festivals that is at the center of Khmer Buddhist culture.
It has a stupa containing the ashes of monks, monks’ living quarters, and other small temples.
The pagoda also boasts a multi-layered roof and a pointed top that adds to its height and solemnity.
Inside the sanctum, the Great Buddha statues in various poses and sizes represent the Buddha’s reincarnation in several eras.
Reliefs on the pillars represent the religions philosophies of the Khmer living in the Mekong Delta.
Xiem Can resembles Angkor Wat somewhat from the architecture on its dome, stairs, and walls.
The walls of the pagoda’s main hall are covered in pictures showing the Buddha’s life from birth - as Prince Gautama, life in the palace, renunciation of his royal life, and becoming the Buddha.
Inside, visitors have to take off their hats and shoes.
Cultural center
Xiem Can also doubles as a hub of ethnic Khmer culture, offering classes in Khmer and Pali, an ancient Indian language.
The pagoda moreover is a storehouse of Khmer folk stories.
During major Khmer festivals like Ok Om Bok (The Moon Prayer Festival on April 13), Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year, April 12-15), and Don Ta (“Amnesty” Festival for the Dead, October 12-14), Xiem Can pagoda is filled with visitors who come to pray for luck and happiness as well as to celebrate.
Bac Lieu Province is home to another famous site - Vinh Hung ancient tower built by the Oc Eo Culture that flourished in the southern region of present-day Vietnam in the second and third centuries BCE.
The tower is in the middle of a swamp in Vinh Loi District.
It remains a mystery as to who built it and for what purpose.
Archeologists have, however, discovered a stone stele engraved with Sanskrit words saying Vinh Hung was built in 892 CE.
The tower measures 5.6 m by 6.9 m at the foot and is 8.9 m high.
It is built of three sizes of bricks - small ones for the top, medium-sized for the middle, and large for the foot.
Intriguingly, the bricks are held together by an unknown substance and not mortar.
Vinh Hung’s materials and architecture are the same as in other towers in the central region built by another Indic civilization, the Champa.
The 1,000 square meter tower may have survived immersion in rice paddy water for centuries - its rear is in good condition but the front and the top are slightly damaged - but it remains little-known among either local or foreign tourists.
Excavations and restoration have been going on at the site since 2002.
They have unearthed hundreds of relics like bronze statues, potteries, and yoni - representation of the female genitals - as well as Buddha statues.
Vinh Hung’s interior also has a deity’s hands and a Brahma idol made of bronze.
Reported by Diem Thu
6 comments:
What else that the VN did not stole from Khmer people "Cambodia", land, country treasures, and spirit? It's a mazing how the current Khmer government is still blind by this communist country.
It is not that they are blind. It is just the current government of Cambodia are mostly top Vietnamese agent that they blend in for almost 30 years of over. They can speak Khmer than the Khmer can. These pretend to be Khmer they are all over the place and every where inside the government of Cambodia. HUN SEN, CHEA SIM and HENG SAMRIN these trio need to be woke up and reveal how many top Vietnamese agent in their government. WAKE UP HUN SEN!
Hey khmer-moy roob,I really like your comment,everything you say about strok khmer,today it's so true.srok khmer in the future it not safe because ah youn-are starting to buying lands for a cheap price and soon we will have nothing left,their gorvernment is smart about helping their people.peace brother!!!"ANANIKUM AMERICA RULES!"
Cambodian intervention and anti-riot police in Phnom Penh is yuon 60%-70%. Police and military superiors officers are yuons 80%. Did you ever wonder why and how easy they can beat khmer monks in Phnom Penh or shoot on garment workers. Do you think khmer people will do that to the khmer people? NO! We have real khmer in the army and police as well in top command, but what can they do (especially if they are given money and girls (yuons of course) to fuck to close the eyes.... Politicians are sino-yuons 60%. Wife of politicians are sin-yuons 90%. You will see during the khmer new year that no activities in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh? Why ? Because most of the sino-yuons will closed their shop to celebrate sino-yuons new year....
It was really good the time where the Khmer Rouges killed all these rats.... Khmer or Kambujas people, we have a history of brave warrior. The violence is in our blood that allowed us to create a great empire and fighting-killing the ennemies. Why do we have to kill each other? Fight for you race and you land!
Post 3:23, 5:09, 7:56 Just to let you know that your comments are true and I agree with most of them. However, it seems that this finding will go unnoticed again. Communist Puppet Party (CPP) led by Ah Sen's government refused to accept the fact that Ah Youn Communist continues to swollow Khmer. These puppets just care about money, power, and pussies.
Vote the damm Govn. out in July!
Post a Comment