Chen Kieu Pagoda - an ancient pagoda in Soc Trang
"Times New Roman";color:#232323">1. Introduction on Chen Kieu Pagoda
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Chen Kieu Pagoda is
another name of Sa Lôn, one of the ancient pagoda with unique architectures
located in Dai Tam commune, My Xuyen district, Soc Trang province, about 12 km
from the city center.
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Chen Kieu Pagoda in Soc Trang
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">The pagoda is called
Khmer Wath Sro Loun. This name is derived from the word Chro Luong, the name of
a canal running along the village road near the pagoda before and it is also
the official name of the pagoda. To make it easy to pronounce the locals often say
Sa Lôn in stead of Sro Loun
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">The pagoda was built
in 1815 with leaf trees. During the war, the place was heavily devastated. In
1969, the pagoda was rebuilt, including main hall, sala, tower, prayer books area...
This architecture is preserved till these days. During the construction process,
due to the lack of materials, the monks have called for donations of dishes
from relatives in the village to cover the walls, creating impressive
decorative motifs. Since then, the pagoda has been called by the local people
as the Chen Kieu Pagoda.
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Unique patterns made from dishes
"Times New Roman";color:#232323">2. Instructions to Chen Kieu Pagoda
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Chen Kieu Pagoda is
about 12 km from the center of Soc Trang city and right by the National Highway
1A, so moving here is quite easy. From the city center, you move along Tran
Hung Dao Street running through Bach Dang Park. Going straight on Tran Hung Dao
Street to the roundabout with National Highway 1A, then turn to QL1A, moving
about 3 km more to reach Chen Kieu Pagoda
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Instructions to the Chua Kieu Pagoda
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">The road is very easy
to be reached, you can use google map or ask people if you are afraid of
getting lost.
"Times New Roman";color:#232323">3. Unique architecture at Chen Kieu Pagoda
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Arriving at Chen Kieu,
you will be surprised with a fence decorated with a statue of a dancing Apsara
woman symbolizing peace and prosperity. The pagoda gate is designed with 3
towers carved and decorated according to the traditional architecture of the
Khmer people in the South. On both sides of the gate are 2 stone lion statues,
facing the highway. The entrance to the pagoda has 2 rows of Kayno (Kerno)
statues, these are statues with Apsara fairy face, Garuda bird body symbolizing
strength and eternal beauty.
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Buddha statue is located in front of the
pagoda
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">The pagoda yard is
paved with simple and clean glazed bricks. In the middle of the yard is a
flagpole with a solid image of the 5-headed god Nagar, an important ornament in
the sculpture of Khmer Buddhism. Moreover, the Khmer believe that their origin
is a solid mother, so they have a strong belief in worship.
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color:#232323">Flagpole at the middle of Chen Kieu Pagoda
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Beautiful patterns on columns, walls, stairs
and roofs
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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">The pagoda was built based
on Khmer architecture, the roof of three-level main hall has 3 folds, the
largest one at the bottom, and smallest one on the top. The roof is decorated
with beautiful patterns and colors. Inside the main hall is a solemn space with
about 20 large and small Buddha statues in various meditation positions. On the
wall are paintings depicting the life from birth until the enlightenment of
Shakyamuni Buddha.
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Space inside the main hall
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Behind the pagoda is
the garden of Buddha Shakyamuni preaching and entering Nirvana. This is a
unique architectural complex consisting of many large and small Buddha statutes
simulating the process of birth, seeking the truth, enlightenment and entering
the Nirvana realm of Shakyamuni Buddha.
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">A Buddha statue behind the pagoda
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Here, visitors also
admire a part of assets of Cong Tu Bac Lieu being a Can xa cu Cabinet, a set of
couch, 2 precious wooden beds acquired by the pagoda in 1947 with the price of 2,000
bushels of rice.
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Save the moments at Chen Kieu Pagoda
"Times New Roman";color:#232323">4. Discovering culinary beauty
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Arriving at Chen Kieu
Pagoda in Soc Trang province, you definitely want to explore the local special
dishes such as sausage, Pia cake, tube cake, cong cake, dry pork, dried buffalo,
fish-meal porridge, ba khia, bo hoc sauce…
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"Times New Roman";color:#232323">Famous Cong Cake in the locality
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#232323">In addition, in front
of the pagoda gate is a bustling market selling a variety of items, most of
which are local specialties. You can come here to visit and buy gifts for
friends, family or relatives during this journey!
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