One Pillar pagoda in the South is located in Nguyen Van Bi Street, Thu Duc District. Nam Thien Nhat Tru (The Southern One Pillar) is not only well known by the public for its unique architecture but also as the place patronized by many southern monks and Buddhists.
With an area of one hectare, Nam Thien Nhat Tru Pagoda was built in 1958 by Superior Buddhist monk Thich Tri Dung following the design of architect Nguyen Gia Duc. It is based on the architecture of the Dien Huu Pagoda (One Pillar pagoda in Hanoi) which was built during the Ly Dynasty
Nam Thien Nhat Tru pagoda is a place for both people, and southern monks and Buddhists to contemplate and worship the Buddha, recall their ancestors, and pray for safety and prosperity for the country and people. Coming into the pagoda through the three-door temple gate, you can see the square and wide Long Nha Lake which occupies the middle of the pagoda yard. Carps and tortoises live there and the surface of that transparent and tranquil water is embellished with lotus and white petals. Young and tender leaves rise the water along with lotus to show their beauty. Prominently located in the middle of the lake is the one-polar pagoda with a brown tile-roof and curved domes making it very majestic and ancient. The post of pagoda was casted with reinforced concrete. Additionally, the bridge leading into the pagoda looks quite strange with pots of yellow apricot blossoms and white porcelain along its sides.
Coming into the pagoda, Bodhisattva Goddess of Mercy is worshipped on the altar by burning incense. Turning around in the pagoda, the main palace is solemnly arranged with a Sakyamuni Buddha statue in the middle and other Buddha statues, Bodhisattvas and Colossuses surrounding it. Behind the main palace is the Nam Thien guard tower and memorial house chich stores autographs of the Superior Buddhist monk Thich Tri Dung. There are more big open statues of Buddha Amitabha, Mitreya Buddha and Kshitigarha Buddhist. The pagoda is completely shaded with green leaves and trees. Any daily worries and noise of the world outside shall be left behind once you enter it.
Standing in the noisy city, Nam Thien Nhat Tru looks imposing in a green space, making an impressive feature of the city, and one of landscapes for Southerners to contemplate. Together with other pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, Nam Thien Nhat Tru is considered one of the fine architectural works bearing the unique features of Saigon citizens’ cultural and spiritual lives.
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