Century-old pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City linked to the legend of buffalo-herding children

Phuoc Thanh Pagoda in Long Truong Ward, built in the 19th century, is also known as Muc Dong, a name linked to the legend of buffalo-herding children molding Buddha statues and releasing them into a pond.

A stele at Phuoc Thanh Pagoda recounts that the site was once a wild field. Children herding buffalo in the area often molded clay into Buddha statues and released them into puddles. According to records, these statues consistently floated. Observing this phenomenon, local elders established the Muc Dong hermitage for worship, interpreting it as a good omen.

Villagers later renovated the Muc Dong hermitage, renaming it Long Thanh Pagoda. In 1943, French colonialists killed the abbot, who was involved in the resistance, and subsequently burned the pagoda. The ancient pagoda was rebuilt in 1955 and renamed Phuoc Thanh. It later suffered burning and damage by American forces before its current reconstruction.

Phuoc Thanh Pagoda, spanning about 1,000 square meters, features a main hall at its center, fronted by a spacious courtyard and a protective screen. The pagoda's current architecture and layout were rebuilt in 1998, following two destructions during wartime.

A small hermitage adjacent to the main hall contains a memorial stele and a statue depicting a buffalo-herding child riding a buffalo and playing a flute.

The spacious courtyard recreates a section of Lumbini Garden, considered the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, over 2,500 years ago.

A miniature Lumbini Garden at Phuoc Thanh Pagoda recreates the Buddha's birth. The infant Buddha statue stands on a lotus, his right hand pointing skyward, his left to the earth, recalling the saying, "In heaven above and on earth below, I alone am the World-Honored One." Figures of Queen Maya and attendants surround him, representing sacred sculptures at Buddhism's inception. Other nearby statues depict Buddhist narratives, including Prince Siddhartha cutting his hair and renouncing royal life to seek liberation for all beings.

The wide entrance to the pagoda is lined with green trees. On both sides of the path stand 18 statues of arhats, the highest saints among the Buddha's disciples. Each statue, with its distinct form and expression, symbolizes different states of spiritual practice and qualities.

Opposite the Lumbini Garden are shrines dedicated to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, alongside stupas containing ashes. The complex also houses shrines for Emperor-Buddha Tran Nhan Tong, Ba Chua Xu Nuong Nuong, and Quan Thanh De Quan.

The shrines display traditional architecture, characterized by red tiled roofs, dragon motifs, and various Buddhist symbols.

The pagoda's main hall is the primary ceremonial space for monks, nuns, and Buddhists. A revered statue of Siddhartha Gautama stands at the center, flanked by Bodhisattvas and smaller statues symbolizing various manifestations of the Buddhas.

Both the interior and exterior of the pagoda are adorned with numerous statues and bas-reliefs of Buddhas. A prominent feature is the 4-meter-long reclining Buddha statue, depicting his entry into nirvana, which is the largest in the pagoda.

The pagoda currently has no abbot; three monks oversee its ceremonies and management. Not a crowded spiritual destination, the site maintains a quiet atmosphere, primarily welcoming local residents for daily Buddhist worship.