Search Buddhist Channel
Buddhist museum opens to public
Vietnam News, December, 25 2015
DA NANG, Vietnam -- The first Buddhist Culture Museum in the country was opened yesterday at the city's Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Pagoda with an exhibition of over 500 Buddhist antiques.
<< Place in time: Travellers visit the Buddhist Culture Museum at the city's Quan The Am Pagoda. The museum has over 500 Buddhist antiques, ancient documents, wooden and brass sculptures relating to Buddhism from the 19-20th centuries. — VNS Photos Cong Thanh
The museum, which covers over 500sq.m, also has ancient documents, statues and sculptures relating to Buddhism from the 19-20th centuries on show.
"It's been a great effort by archaeologists, experts and monks at the pagoda to build the first ever Buddhism museum in Viet Nam with an extensive collection of statues and other exhibits," said historian and deputy general secretary of the Viet Nam Scientific History Association, Duong Trung Quoc.
Superior Buddhist monk Thich Hue Vinh, the abbot of Quan The Am Temple, said the collection of antiquities and Buddhist statues was a long and tough.
"The museum shows our aspiration to establish the first Buddhist cultural space for the public. It also tells the history and development of Buddhism in Viet Nam as well as the tangible and intangible value of antiquities," the abbot said, adding that the exhibits were from the Le and Nguyen dynasties.
"Many antiquities were stolen from pagodas in Quang Nam and other provinces, so the museum will act as a safe place to store the country's treasures," the monk said.
Nguyen Dinh Chien, deputy director of the Viet Nam National History Museum, said the collection was priceless, and researchers were delving deeper into the history of the antiquities.
Deputy director of Da Nang City's Culture, Sports and Tourism department, Tran Quang Thanh, said the city would add the museum to its tourism map, which includes Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountain), Non Nuoc Stone Sculpture, the Co Co River, Thuy Son Mountain and the Cham tower complex in Khue Bac District.
He said the city would work with travel agencies to promote the museum and other popular destinations in Ngu Hanh Son District.
The Quan The Am Pagoda, at the foot of Kim Son Mountain, hosts the annual Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Festival, one of the leading cultural events in the city, on the 19th of the second lunar month.
The museum also displayed a collection of 80 antiques from the seventh to the 19th centuries with items outlining the development of Buddhism in the central region, including statues of Buddha, Bodhisattvas (beings on path to enlightenment) and Arhats (enlightened beings) made from wood, stone and brass.
Last week, an exhibition of Buddhist costumes, architecture, language and heritage opened in Thanh Tri District, Ha Noi.
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.
Dear Friends in the Dharma,
We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.
Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:
One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.
How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.
Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.
Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.
Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.
Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.
Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!
May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,
With deepest gratitude,
Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team
Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau
We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.
If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv