Khai Nguyên Buddhist temple - Doai Phuong Commune - The Buddhist temple with the Largest Buddha Statue in Southeast Asia.

 Khai Nguyen Buddhist temple: formerly known as "Cổ Liêu Tự" (Ancient Buddhist temple Deserted) commonly known as Cheo Buddhist temple, located in Tay Ninh Village - Doai Phuong Commune - Hanoi City, close to the historical relic of Măng Sơn Temple. This grand Buddhist temple is home to the largest statue of Buddha Amitabha in Southeast Asia. Khai Nguyen Buddhist temple has a history dating back to the early 16th century during the Later Le Dynasty. Through the years of rain and sun, the Buddhist temple has been restored and embellished many times by the people and Buddhists. Currently, the oldest historical relics of the Buddhist temple are two stone steles: one was carved in the 19th year of Cảnh Hưng (1759); one was carved in the 14th year of Gia Long (1816) and the bronze bell was cast in the 22nd year of Tự Đức (1870).

The architecture of Khai Nguyen Buddhist temple blends modern and traditional styles, characterized by concept. The worship halls follow a “Buddha in front, Ancestors in the back” arrangement. The both sides of the Buddhist temple houses the Monk House, left and right wings, the Gratitude tower, the bell tower, and the drum tower. Additionally, a large rectangular pond in front of the Buddhist temple remains clear like jade throughout the year. Atop the pond sits a pavilion mimicking the design of the One Pillar Buddhist temple. Inside the pavilion, there is a shrine to the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and a collection of precious Ksitigarbha Sutras, attracting many Buddhist followers.

According to the historical inscription: In 1759, under the order of Ly Truong Phung Cuong Dinh, the people and Buddhists from all over the country renovated the Buddhist temple and cast a large bell for worship. Because of the concern of Ly Truong, the people donated a lot of money and land to expand the construction area as well as to create a fund for incense offerings to Buddha (the entire area of Cheo Buddhist temple mound and rough Cheo is about 9 - 10 hectares). Because there was no abbot for a long time, the landscape of the Buddhist temple became more and more degraded. From 1964 to 1985, most of the Buddhist temple land was taken by the Elderly Association of the commune and Tay Ninh Cooperative to plant trees. In 1981, with the consent of the local government, the nuns, at that time, more than 10, went to collect donations from the people and Buddhists from all over the country to repair the roof and repaint the statues of the Buddhist temple. After 1985, most of the land of the Buddhist temple was divided among the households in the commune to grow crops and rice, leaving only about 5,000m2 of land in the Buddhist temple. In 1990, the Son Dong Commune Cooperative continued to cut the land and gave it to the Women's Union to bid for funds, so the land of the Buddhist temple only had about 1,000m2 of land in the inner temple. At this time, the Buddhist temple was seriously degraded and almost became a ruin. The entire landscape of the majestic and splendid Buddhist temple of the past only had 5 main halls to worship Buddha and 3 kitchens.

 

   In 2003, with the consensus of the authorities at all levels, accepting the invitation of the people and local Buddhist followers, the Ha Tay Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee appointed Venerable Thich Dao Thinh to take care of, preside over, build and serve the beliefs at the Buddhist temple. With the prestige and enthusiasm of a Buddhist, Venerable Thich Dao Thinh has mobilized organizations and people to voluntarily donate the land of the old Buddhist temple to create a project - dossier - planning to ask the relevant authorities of Hanoi City to expand the campus of Khai Nguyen Buddhist temple to renovate, renovate, invest in rebuilding the landscape of the Buddhist temple to meet the needs of monks and nuns, as well as Buddhist followers from all over.
Since Venerable Thich Dao Thinh came to preside over the Buddhist temple until now (2024), organizations such as the Women's Association, the Association of the Elderly, and households assigned land for cultivation, growing crops, growing rice, planting grass, and raising fish have voluntarily handed over the land use rights to the Commune People's Committee and the Buddhist temple so that the Buddhist temple can create a dossier - planning, submit it to the competent authorities of Hanoi City for consideration, approval and construction permits in accordance with State regulations.
   Since 2006, Khai Nguyen Buddhist temple has been restored by the People's Committee of Son Tay Town. After more than 10 years of construction, the Buddhist temple has built the following items: Main hall, Gratitude tower, Guest House, Path to Rebirth, Library, One Pillar Buddhist temple, Translation and Editing Building, Dharma House, Monk House, Release Pond (Fish pond), Bell Tower. Projects under construction include: Tam Quan Gate (Main Gate) or 三官门, Great Statue of Amitabha Buddha for World Peace, Multi-purpose House, and several other auxiliary projects. Since 2015, Khai Nguyen Buddhist temple has been a familiar destination for many Buddhists from all over the country and people throughout the country. Every year, the Buddhist temple often opens Buddhist teachings courses for monks, nuns, and Buddhists from all over the country to study and practice, each course has thousands of Buddhists participating. Especially short-term training courses for young people who are students, these courses are often associated with volunteer and humanitarian programs such as blood donation, charity... Through each training course, thousands of young people have changed in a positive direction, becoming more obedient, more polite, knowing how to respect elders, loving friends, giving up evil, doing good... especially they have become aware of the good traditional moral values ​​of the nation to apply in life, contributing to ensuring long-term social security for the country.
    In order to meet the needs of serving beliefs as well as propagating the Dharma to benefit living beings in the spirit of compassion and salvation of Buddhism, Venerable Thich Dao Thinh has asked for permission from the authorities of Doai Phuong Commune to establish a design project, a master plan to submit to the competent authorities in Hanoi City for approval and licensing in accordance with the procedures and regulations of the state on the construction and management of religious worship facilities.

Address: Tay Ninh Village - Doai Phuong Commune - Hanoi City

 

Khai Nguyen Buddhist temple, Doai Phuong Commune - The Buddhist temple with the Largest Buddha Statue in Southeast Asia.

Khai Nguyên Buddhist temple in Doai Phuong Commune - The Buddhist temple with the Largest Buddha Statue in Southeast Asia.