Jade Emperor Pagoda

Jade Emperor Pagoda
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Location
Location	Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Architecture
Type	Taoist Pagoda
Creator	Cantonese community

Chùa Ngọc Hoàng (The Jade Emperor Pagoda) is a Taoist Pagoda located at 73 Mai Thi Luu Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is also known as the Tortoise Pagoda.

Built in 1909 by the Cantonese (Quang Dong) Congregation, the lade Emperor Pagoda (Phuoc Hai Tu or Chua Ngoc Hoang; 73 Mai Thi Luu) is one of the most colourful pagodas in HCMC, filled with statues of divinities and heroes made of reinforced papier-mache representing characters from Buddhist and Taoist traditions. The smoke of joss sticks fills the air, obscuring the exquisite woodcarvings.

Beside the main doors, Mon Quan, the God of the Gate, stands to the right. Opposite him, is Tho Than (Tho Dia), the God of the Land. Straight on is an altar on which are Phat Mau Chuan De, mother of the five Buddhas of the cardinal directions; Dia Tang Vueng Bo Tat (Ksitigartha), the King of Hell; the Di Lac Buddha (Maitreya), the Buddha of the Future; Quan The Am Bo Tat; and a portrait of the Thich Ca Buddha. Behind the altar, is the Duoc Su Buddha, or Nhu Lai Buddha.

To either side against the walls, are two menacing figures. On the right a 4m-high statue of the general who defeated the Green Dragon. On the left is the general who defeated the White Tiger.

The Taoist Jade Emperor (or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), presides over the main sanctuary, flanked by his guardians, the Four "Big (hard) Diamonds" (Tu Dai Kim Cuon). In front of the King of Heaven on the left is Bac Dau, Taoist God of the Northern Polar Star and Longevity, flanked by his two guardians; and on the right is Nam Tao, the Taoist God of the Southern Polar Star and Happiness, also flanked by two guardians.

To the right of the Jade Emperor is 18-armed Phat Mau Chuan De. On the wall to her right is Dai Minh Vuong Quang,reincarnated as Sakyamuni. Below are the Tien Nhan (the 'God Persons').

To the left of the Jade Emperor sits Ong Bac De, one of his reincarnations. On the wall to the left of Ong Bac De, is Thien Loi, the God of Lightning, who slays evil people. Below him are the military commanders of Ong Bac De and Thien Loi's guardians. At the top of the two carved pillars that separate the three alcoves are the Goddess of the Moon and God of the Sun.

Out the door on the left-hand side of the Jade Emperor's chamber is another room. The semi-enclosed area to the right is presided over by Thanh Hoang, the Chief of Hell; to the left is his red horse Of the six figures lining the walls, the two closest to Thanh Hoang are Am Quan, the God of Yin, and Duong Quan, the God of Yang. The other figures, the Thuong Thien Phat Ac, are gods who dispense punishments for evil acts and rewards for good deeds. Thanh Hoang faces in the direction of the Hall of the Ten Hells. The carved wooden panels lining the walls depict the varied torments awaiting evil people in each of the Ten Regions of Hell.

On the wall opposite Thanh Hoang is a wood panel depicting Quan Am Thi Kinh on a lotus blossom holding her 'son'. To her left is Long Nu, her protector. To her right is Thien Tai, her guardian spirit. To the right of the panel of Quan Am Thi Kinh is a panel depicting Dia Tang Vuong Bo Tat, the King of Hell.

On the other side of the wall is a room in which the ceramic figures of 12 women, sit in two rows of six. Each of the women exemplifies a human characteristic, either good or bad. Each figure represents one year in the 12-year Chinese calendar. Presiding over the room is Kim Hoa Thanh Mau, the Chief of All Women.

Off to the right of the main chamber, stairs lead to a 2nd-floor sanctuary and balcony.

The Jade Emperor Pagoda is in a part of the city known as Da Kao (or Da Cao). To get here, go to 20 D Dien Bien Phu and walk half a block to the northwest.