Organization
Chùa Xà Tón
Chùa Xà Tón (Wat Xvayton) is a Khmer Theravada Buddhist Wat in Tri Tôn commune, in the Bảy Núi (Seven Mountains) area of An Giang province, Vietnam.[1] It keeps more than 100 sets of palm-leaf scriptures.[1]
History
The Wat was first built in 1696[1] or at the end of the 17th century,[2] of wooden boards with a thatched roof on low ground. In 1896 the monks and local people dug a pond in front of the Wat and used the earth to raise its base, which was then built of blue stone and lime. The Wat was rebuilt in brick and tile on hardwood columns, a task that took two years and gave it its present form.[1]
Its name recalls a local story. The Bảy Núi area was once thick forest, home to hundreds of monkeys that came down to grab and pull at passers-by; in Khmer, Xvayton means "monkeys pulling". Vietnamese speakers later shortened the name to Xà Tón.[1]
The Ministry of Culture recognized the Wat as a national relic of architecture and art on December 12, 1986 (Decision 235/VH-QĐ)[1] or in 1989.[2] In 2006 the Vietnam Book of Records Center listed it as the Wat holding the most palm-leaf scriptures in Vietnam.[2] The scriptures are written in Pali and old Khmer script and are used for teaching.[1]
Architecture
The grounds hold a gate, the main hall, a dining hall, monks' quarters, classrooms, a library, a kitchen, a pond and gardens, in the style of the Khmer Wats of southern Vietnam.[2] The main hall stands on a raised base at the center and faces the sunrise. Figures of the Neak (naga, serpent deity) with seven or nine heads line the railings up to the main hall. Murals of the life of the Buddha cover the inner walls, and the central altar holds many Buddha images standing, reclining and seated. Old stupas and tall trees surround the buildings.[1]
Religious life
On March 10, 2025, work began on restoring the main hall, at a ceremony attended by Hòa thượng (Most Venerable) Chau Ty, vice patriarch of the Council of Patronage of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, with monks and lay followers. The project, worth more than 11 billion đồng from the provincial budget, covers the 382 m2 (4,110 sq ft) main hall, the gate, the fence and the courtyard, and is planned for 2025 to 2027.[2]
As of November 2025, the abbot was Venerable Chau Sóc Khon. That month, during the Kathina season, the gate was decorated for the robe offering and lay followers gathered at the Wat to make ginger cakes. Each year the Wat also holds Sen Dolta (សែនដូនតា), the festival for ancestors, Khmer New Year (Chol Chnam Thmey, ចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី) and Vesak.[1]
See also
References 2
Sources
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