Two Centuries of Wonder: Unveiling the Tale of Vietnam’s Stunning Clay Temple

Buu Son Tu, also referred to as Chua Dat Set or the Clay Pagoda, is home to about 2,000 clay figures and eight massive candles that together weigh 1.4 tons.

This temple, situated on Ton Duc Thang Street in Soc Trang City, is nearly two centuries old. It was established by a member of the Ngo family who aimed to create a space for spiritual devotion.

In contrast to other temples that typically showcase materials like wood, gold, or bronze, this pagoda stands out for its clay construction—a medium not frequently used for sculptures due to the challenges associated with molding and preservation.

The initial structure was a simple thatched shrine with a small altar. Significant changes occurred when the fourth caretaker, Ngo Kim Tong (1909–1970), took charge, leading to extensive renovations.

For 42 years, Ngo Kim Tong dedicated himself to creating nearly 2,000 clay sculptures, transforming the pagoda into a remarkable gallery of clay art.

Sources indicate that the clay was collected from unproductive wetland regions. After it dried, it was finely processed, cleaned of impurities, and combined with incense powder and resin to form shapes on pre-made wire frames. Despite the clay material, the finished statues have a lifelike quality comparable to wooden carvings.

A striking feature of the temple is the Bao Toa Lien Hoa (Lotus Throne), showcasing 1,000 exquisitely carved lotus petals, each adorned with a meditating Buddha.

Nearby is the Bat Quai Thien Tien (Eight Trigrams Celestial Realm), illustrating eight legendary figures signifying various trigrams: Can, Kham, Can, Chan, Ton, Ly, Khon, Doi, each accompanied by celestial maidens.

Next to this is the Da Bao Tower, a 4-meter tall structure with 13 levels, constructed by Ngo Kim Tong at the age of 30 in 1939. Each level has 16 doors, with a Buddha statue placed in every opening.

In addition to its remarkable clay sculptures, the Buu Son Tu is famous for its large candles. In his later years, Ngo Kim Tong focused on producing these impressive candles to light the main hall of the temple. He melted great amounts of wax in a large cauldron and poured it into metal sheets to create cylindrical molds standing 2.6 meters tall, embellishing them with golden letters and dragon designs that give an impression of fluctuation between visibility and obscurity.

Within a few months, he successfully crafted six large candles weighing 200 kilograms each, along with two smaller candles of 100 kilograms each. The smaller candles were ignited on July 18, 1970, the day he passed away, and have been burning for nearly 55 years since.

In 2010, the Soc Trang Province People’s Committee officially recognized Buu Son Tu as a site of architectural and artistic heritage. Later, on September 21, 2013, the Vietnam Records Organization acknowledged both the Da Bao Tower and Bao Toa Lien Hoa as remarkable religious structures made from clay.

Tran Tuyen