Sắc Tứ Tịnh Quang Pagoda

About

Tịnh Quang is a long-established ancestral temple of Buddhism in Quảng Trị, commonly called Sắc Tứ Pagoda. Its gate, lotus pond and tree-lined courtyard lead to the Buddha hall, creating a setting for worship and learning about local traditions.

Visitor information

Founded

An ancestral temple with a history associated with the 18th century; major restoration began in 1997.

Visiting hours

Please ask the temple about visiting hours and its daily practice schedule before coming.

Fees

Please follow the guidance and posted prices at the destination; services provided outside the temple may be charged separately.

Address

Khu vực Bàu Voi, làng Ái Tử, Triệu Ái – Triệu Phong cũ, tỉnh Quảng Trị.

Highlights

• ✓The three-entrance gate and the approach across the lotus pond.
• ✓The Buddha hall with a bronze statue of Śākyamuni.
• ✓Its role as an ancestral temple in the history of Buddhism in Quảng Trị.

History and origins

Accounts differ concerning the temple’s name and the date of its imperial recognition, but all link Tịnh Quang’s history with the 18th century and the Nguyễn lords and emperors. This page therefore does not combine every milestone into a single founding year.

The temple was badly damaged in 1972. Major restoration began in 1997, and it was inaugurated in March 2001 (3/2001).

Architecture & surroundings

The two-tiered three-entrance gate opens onto a bridge over a lotus pond, leading to the main hall. Courtyards, corridors and trees create successive transitions before the worship space. The bronze statue and ritual instruments can be viewed according to the temple’s guidance.

Cultural value

The ancestral temple is a place of transmission, study, practice and gathering for successive generations of Buddhists. Its post-war reconstruction also reflects the community’s efforts to restore cultural and spiritual life.

Events & festivals

Commemorations of patriarchs, Buddhist festivals and retreats follow the temple’s own calendar. Please contact the temple for details and participation arrangements; visitors need not wait for a major festival to pay respects during visiting hours.