Prey Veng is a long-standing pagoda of the Khmer people in Tri Ton commune, An Giang province. In Khmer, Prey Veng means long forest, but the people here often call it Chua Duoi to distinguish it from Chua Tren, which is Sa Ton pagoda (Svay Ton) also located in Tri Ton commune. According to legend, the pagoda was first built hundreds of years ago. However, the harshness of nature and bombs and bullets of war have almost erased all traces of the past.
Now, Prey Veng is built with modern materials, but still retains its ancient features. In addition to the ancient beehive stone pillars that are considered the foundation of the pagoda in the past, the pagoda still retains the traditional architectural features of Nam Tong Buddhism with a system of tops and roofs soaring to the green sky. In particular, this place still preserves hundreds of leaf sedge sets.
These are the recess formed without paper and printing technology, recorded by monks on the leaves of the burdock with a very unique technique... For the Khmer people, recess works are not only rich in processing art and unique in the lines of the letters... but also have many cultural and religious values typical of the spiritual life of the community in the That Son area (An Giang province).
However, in the space of this pagoda, there is a Chinese pagoda, located next to the main hall. The pagoda is shown under the Chinese name Truong Lam Tu, which also has the same meaning as the name Prey Veng.
According to Venerable Chau Chhonl - Sa Hai of Prey Veng Pagoda, in 1968, bomb attacks were everywhere in Tri Ton. However, at Prey Veng Pagoda, the statue of Buddha in the tower is still intact. Seeing the sacredness, Chinese people who specialize in buying and selling at Tri Ton market came here to pray for the market to not be burned.
To thank them, the people then asked to make an offering to rebuild the tower at the Buddha statue. And to make it easier for the elderly in China who could not read Khmer, people added Han and Thus Truong Lam was born. Gradually, 4 more temples according to Chinese beliefs appeared in front of this new pagoda. Knowing that there are differences, the entire Saigon period of Prey Veng pagoda still accepted and considered this new facility as part of the pagoda.
Buddha is a common thing. Chinese or Khmer people also go to pagodas to come to the Buddha. Therefore, there is no reason for us to distinguish between Buddhists as Chinese or Khmer people" - Venerable Chau Chhonl shared.
