Collection of Buddha statues carved on Truong Sa shells sets Vietnamese record

The collection of Buddha statues on snail shells was brought back by Venerable Thich Thuong Tin to display at the temple library - Photo: TRAN HOAI

On May 14, Long Son Pagoda held a ceremony to receive the Vietnamese record recognition from the Vietnam Records Organization for 70 statues and the Lotus Sutra carved on conch shells at Long Son Pagoda.

The collection includes 70 conch shells, of which 59 shells are carved with Buddha, Bodhisattva, Saints, and landscapes; 11 shells are carved with the Lotus Sutra.

From rough shell to Buddha statue

Sculptures on the shell include statues of the Three Saints (Amitabha, Quan Am, Dai The Chi), the Lotus Sutra, statues of the Ten Great Disciples, the Eighteen Arhats, Maitreya Buddha, Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc...

Venerable Thich Thuong Tin, abbot of Long Son Pagoda, said that the conch shell is very rare. After hundreds of years of exposure to the surrounding environment, and then the cleaning process, the fossilized nacre layer with white color interspersed with yellow veins will be revealed.

Statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva on conch shells - Photo: TRAN HOAI

In 2013, a disciple of Long Son Pagoda went to Truong Sa Lon Island and sent back these shells. Seeing their value, Long Son Pagoda sent artisans in Phan Thiet to carve statues, Buddhist scriptures, etc. The carving work continued for a year.
"These are works made based on the wishes of the monk and the Buddhist monks and nuns of Long Son Pagoda. This merit is not only for Long Son Pagoda but also for all sentient beings" - Venerable Thich Thuong Tin shared.

According to Venerable Thich Thuong Tin, fossilized conch shells are not found in abundance in nature, so each sculpture on these shells brings value and meaning of peace and luck.

Sculpture of 18 Arhats - Photo: TRAN HOAI

A place to keep many valuable artifacts

Long Son Pagoda was once the place where Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc became a monk and practiced. Venerable Thich Thuong Tin said that the sculptures were also created to let people know about his merits.

The Lotus Sutra is fully and detailedly carved on conch shells - Photo: TRAN HOAI

Currently, the collection of 70 sculptures is on display at Long Son Pagoda library, next to the relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc when he became a monk here, along with dozens of relics of Buddha, Bodhisattva and Saints.

Currently, Long Son Pagoda still preserves more than 40 valuable artifacts such as royal decrees, woodblocks, rare wooden Buddha statues...

Maitreya Buddha statue and some other Buddhas - Photo: TRAN HOAI

According to Tuoi Tre