Tang Chon Cave, Da Nang

Behind Linh Ung Pagoda, passing by the side of two ancient tombs and Lady Buddha is a narrow passage which leads to this cave. This was the last cave we visited and attracts a lot of tourists.

King Minh Mang (1791-1841) who was the second emperor of Nguyen dynasty of Vietnam named it Tang Chon cave meaning treasure or "the place where the treasure is stored".

Passing by these ancient tombs at the back of Linh Ung pagoda, you see the direction for this cave

sign directing to the cave

stone carving on the wall

History of cave:

Cham people used to live and worship the gods here in the 12th century. During the reign of Le Canh Hung (1740-1786), they left and started living in Phan Rang which is 95 kms south of Nha Trang.

Vietnamese rediscovered the caves, settled in the area and worshiped Buddha.

entrance to cave

Three words, Dong Tong Chon are written on a white stone which means: contains all truths of the universe.

entering under the arch of rocks

admiring the three trees in Chon Tien cave

There are three trees lined together.

plants covering the rocks

Thien Long Coc entrance is in front through which we enter the caves. The ceiling of the cave is open letting in plenty of sunshine and air circulation.

 

There are five caves inside:

Thien Long Coc Cave:

This is the first cave on entering. There is a Vietnamese style shrine, Thai Thuong Lao Quan in the center of the cave. The cave is vast and airy.

Surrounding this cave are other small caves with open spaces in between rocks which lets in air and a lot of sunlight.

The shrine has three compartments with image in each section. In the center is Lao Tu altar, the right compartment of which is to worship Linh Son Thanh Mau, and the left to worship Bat Bo Kim Cuong.

Lao Tu altar

Thai Thuong Lao Quan

An image of sitting Buddha graces the shrine.

Linh Son Thanh Mau

Bat Bo Kim Cuong 

 

Ban Co Tien Cave:

On the left side of shrine is a semi-circular cave with two marble figures in white. They sit with a chess board between them. According to the legend, gods came down to play chess and talk. Maybe, it involved money exchange or gamble so was called Ban Co Tien Cave.

The expression of both players looks very natural with one thinking of the move to make.

game board 

 

Di Da Buddha cave or Amitabha cave:

On the right side of central shrine, stairs lead to a cave of Di Da Buddha or Amitabha cave.

In this huge and high rise cave, Buddha stands on top of rugged rocks. A hole at the top, lets in the rays of sun.

Standing posture of Buddha in vitarka mudra. This gesture represents transmission of teachings of Buddha.

 

Chiem Thanh cave:

Chiem Thanh cave also called the Cham Pa cave is next to the Di Da cave. The entrance to cave is very narrow.

Straight ahead must be the altar during the Champa kingdom.

temple guardian outside the main altar

There is nothing in there but probably it was a place to worship Shiva. People came here to pray for fertility.

 

 temple guardian

 

 temple guardian on the other side of entrance

 

Tam Thanh cave:

Looking straight ahead on entering the cave, is the Tam Thanh cave. There are two guardian statues erected at the entrance to the cave.

At the entrance to cave, two brightly guardian statues of Cham stand on both sides. In the past, Cham people worshiped 3 immortal gods: Thuong Thanh, Ngoc Thanh, and Thai Thanh( Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).

Now, those images have been replaced by Sakyamuni Buddha in meditative state or dhyaan mudra.

 Guanyin sits below the main image

The entrance has remnant of Shiv yoni.

There is a huge cave behind the image, but it is impossible to go beyond the altar.

From the left side of image, a path goes up. One needs to be careful, I twisted my ankle while coming down.

a golden Buddha in one cave

 

 

Small spaces in the cave wall have small shrines. Two horses also a part of shrine.

a rugged path but visitors prohibited to go further

sunlight penetrates through a hole

another image in a space

We retrace our steps to outside of this cave.

writings on wall on the way out

a stele on one side

A very interesting cave which attracts a lot of tourists, specially the Ban Co Tien cave with chess players.

Linh Ung Pagoda, Da Nang

Also known as the Non-Nuoc pagoda, Linh Ung pagoda is the first place one sees if coming up by gate number 2.

It is one of the holiest and the oldest pagoda in Da Nang. It is situated in Ha Thai which has the lowest peak in Thuy Son. We climbed up the elevator so visited the place while going down.

 

History:

Overlooking the Non-Nuoc beach, this pagoda built in 1825 was named "Ngu Che Ung Chan Tu". It was renamed in 1841 to Linh Ung Pagoda. Since, it overlooks Non-Nuoc beach, it is also called Non-Nuoc pagoda

Linh Ung means "wishes answered miraculously".

Special feature of this pagoda:

All the names and decorations in this pagoda are made from small broken pieces of porcelain. Look at them closely. Even the Guanyin pavilion is decorated this way.

There are two ways you can reach this pagoda: one is climb from gate number 2 and the other coming down from Van Thong cave.

 

Entrance gate when approaching from gate 2:

The entrance gate to pagoda is equally impressive.

Entrance gate to temple is flanked by two roaring lions and dragons on the steps.

dragon on side of steps

 roaring lion holding a ball

the name written in porcelain pieces

 entrance gate as viewed from pagoda side 

Entrance when coming from Van Thong cave:

Passing under the gate of Heaven and taking the path down is another way of reaching this pagoda.

going towards pagoda, passing under the heaven gate

coming down the stairs from Van Thong cave

Here, if one decides to go to Xa Loi tower or go down elevator, then you take a right turn. Turn left for  Linh Ung pagoda.

entrance guarded by lions

The roof of pagoda is very similar to Tam Thai pagoda. It is decorated with Dhamma chakra in the center flanked by dragons. In Tam Thai below the roof are scenes from Buddha's life but here it is decorated with trees and flowers. The sides too have beautiful dragons.

name of pagoda at entrance

 marble incense burner

Main Sanctuary:
The main sanctuary is not very big. There are three images in front and three Buddhas are worshiped here.

The three Buddhas worshiped here are: Thich Ca Mau Ni (Sakhyamuni Buddha) in the center, on the right is Avalokiteshwar Boddhisattva and on the left is Kshitigarbha Boddhisattva.

Thich Ca Mau Ni (Sakhyamuni Buddha or Siddhartha Gautam), Buddha of the Present

Avalokiteswara Bodhisattava (Goddess of Mercy)

Kshitigarbha Boddhisattva

temple guardians outside the shrine

pillars outside the shrine decorated with porcelain tiles and chips

coiled serpent around the pillar

seated lion

Temple guardians:

Dwarpala( dwara: door, pala: ) are guardians outside a temple or pagoda in Hinduism and Buddhism. They stand either in human form or demon form and are fierce looking.

Vajravira and Garbhavira stand outside the pagoda

In Tang Dynasty, guardians were derived from yaksha of Indian mythology. They are in white marble stand outside the pagoda.The fierce looking guardians have muscular bodies, glaring eyes, and have weapons in their hands. Their torsos are pulled inwards, showing good abs and hair tied in a top knot. Only their lower body is covered. Ribbons circle around their heads forming a sort of halo.

 

 Garbhavira

Garbhavira in Sanskrit and  Mật tích kim cương in Vietnamese stands on the right side of entrance. He is the guardian of the Garbhadhatu Mandala or the Mandala of the Womb World.

His mouth is open as if making a "ah" sound.

He holds a vajra or vajra pani (a diamond club or thunderbolt) in his right hand. His left hand is lowered with fingers outstretched.

Vajravira

Vajravira in Sanskrit and Na la diên kim cương standing on the right side of entrance is the guardian of the Vajradhatu Mandala, that is the Mandala of the Diamond World and symbolizes latent power.

His mouth is closed meaning the end of life.

In his left hand, he holds a vajra thunderbolt. His right hand is raised and fingers spread out. 

Both these guardians together symbolize the cycle of birth and death. Humans are born with mouth open uttering the sound "ah" and die saying "hoo". They both together form the word Aum which means "The Absolute" in Sanskrit.

 

Pavilion of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy:

Just beside the pagoda is a beautifully decorated pavilion.

Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin

Flight of small steps lead to the center of pavilion.

pair of lions guarding the entrance

the pavilion stand on four decorated columns

two ancient tombs behind the Guanyin pavilion

Monuments of Prince Tran Quang Khai's mother( Queen Ly Thai), and Ngoc Lan (King Minh Mang's younger sister)

Prince Tran Quang Khai was a politician, military leader and a member of royal family of Dai Viet during the Tran dynasty.

Beside the pagoda is another shrine of Buddha with 9 heads

Phra Kao Na (Buddha with nine heads)

In front of pagoda by the side of main entrance, sits a huge 10 meter image of Buddha

The image sits with his back to mountains.

In front of the pagoda is a place with views over the sea.

Before going down the stairs from gate number 2 or for those climbing up, is a 600 year banyan tree under which are beautiful stone dragons.

stone dragons

Also, are few marble figures

 

 

 

We went down the steps and proceeded to Am Phu caves.