The image of the pagoda and the sound of pagoda bells have become
familiar to Vietnamese people, helping them feel relaxed and calm. For
many Vietnamese people, the sound of the pagoda bell is closely
associated with nostalgic memories and reflects the cultural beauty of
the country.

Pagodas are very popular throughout
Vietnam. Many of them are hundreds of years old. Vietnamese
pagodas are unique for their architecture while the pagoda bell makes
them more sacred and solemn.

The history of Vietnamese
pagodas reflects the long history of Buddhism in Vietnam. According
to Buddhist concepts, the sound of bell is the sound of intellectuality
because it awakens people’s mind.

There are three daily
sessions of bell ringing. Each session has 108 tokes. Buddhist concepts
say that when the sound of the bell reaches heaven, those in heaven rest
in peace, when it reaches hell, those down there are released from
their sufferings.

The sacred sound of pagoda
bells reminds Buddhist followers and laymen to share their love with
other people and pray for peace. For Vietnamese people, the Buddhist
conception of the universe is profound and easy to understand.

In modern life, the sound of the pagoda bell recalls the sacred soul of
the nation. So for Vietnamese people, bell casting and ringing are of
great importance. A bell must be cast by skillful and moral craftsmen.
Before casting, several rituals are held and then step by step, a batch
of bronze is cast with gold contributed by donors.

According to the traditional bronze casting technique, a certain amount
of gold mixed with the bronze in casting will make the sound of the bell
travel farther. Gold is expensive, but, many people want to donate gold
to bell casting to show their belief in Buddha, considering it an honor
for their family.

Vu Thi Minh, a gold donor for bell
casting in Hanoi , said: ” I donated gold for bell casting today. I
pray for happiness for my family”.

A fter
casting, the bell is kept in the pagoda and in the morning and late
afternoon, will toll slowly to help people feel relaxed in their busy
life.

Dr. Pham Minh Khang, a folklore researcher,
said: “The sound of the bell is the sound of the sacred world.
When it echoes, people feel sacred and solemn reflecting people’s wish
for a better life. They ring the bell to pray for good luck and drive
away all the bad luck. The sound of the bell reflects people’s souls and
their wish for peace, good weather, and prosperity”.

In Vietnam, the image of pagodas and the sound of pagoda bells are
closely associated with rural life and farmers. When the bell echoes in
the morning, it wakes people up to go to the field and in the afternoon,
it signals the end of the working day. The sound of the bell gives
people relief from their daily hardship and refreshes their minds.-VNA