<SPAN lang=EN-US><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"></st1:country-region></st1:place></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" align=center><STRONG></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" align=center><SPAN lang=EN-US><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"></st1:country-region></st1:place></SPAN><STRONG> <SPAN lang=EN-US>Xa Loi tower in the central city of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Da Nang</st1:City></st1:place>, where hundreds of stone statues and stone objects are kept (photo: VietBooks)</SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN lang=EN-US>VietNamNet</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN lang=EN-US> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Bridge</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-US>, November 22, 2006</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Vietnam</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN lang=EN-US> -- The Vietnam Record Book Centre (VietBooks) has announced 43 new records associated with Vietnamese Buddhism, including over 20 set in the South.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Among those records are the <st1:chmetcnv w:st="on" TCSC="0" NumberType="1" Negative="False" HasSpace="False" SourceValue="1600" UnitName="kg">1,600kg</st1:chmetcnv> statue of the Goddess of Mercy in ebony at the Suoi Tien tourist site in HCM City; a seven-story, <st1:chmetcnv w:st="on" TCSC="0" NumberType="1" Negative="False" HasSpace="False" SourceValue="14" UnitName="m">14m</st1:chmetcnv> stone tower in the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in HCM City; a pair of candles of <st1:chmetcnv w:st="on" TCSC="0" NumberType="1" Negative="False" HasSpace="False" SourceValue="2100" UnitName="kg">2,100kg</st1:chmetcnv>, <st1:chmetcnv w:st="on" TCSC="0" NumberType="1" Negative="False" HasSpace="False" SourceValue="3.83" UnitName="m">3.83m</st1:chmetcnv> height in An Phu Pagoda, HCM City; the statue of Mitreya on Cam Mountain, southern An Giang Province, which is <st1:chmetcnv w:st="on" TCSC="0" NumberType="1" Negative="False" HasSpace="False" SourceValue="526" UnitName="m">526m</st1:chmetcnv> above sea level; and the Soai Tong Pagoda, also in An Giang province, which still preserves many prayers written on buong leaves.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>There were ten new Buddhist records set in the north and seven in the central region, including the bell tower of the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue City, the highest ancient octagonal tower; <st1:chmetcnv w:st="on" TCSC="0" NumberType="1" Negative="False" HasSpace="False" SourceValue="49" UnitName="m">49m</st1:chmetcnv> long Buddhist statue on Ta Cu mountain, Binh Thuan Province; Xa Loi tower at Linh Ung Pagoda, Da Nang City with hundreds of stone statues and objects.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>In addition, there were 5 separate records set: Ky Quang 2 Pagoda in HCM City -- the pagoda that nurtures the highest number of disabled children and orphans; "The history of Sakyamuni" -- the first Vietnamese feature film about Sakyamuni; Phuong Hong in Khanh <st1:PersonName w:st="on" ProductID="Hoa Province">Hoa Province</st1:PersonName> -- the painter who has drawn the largest number of paintings on Buddhism; Au Lac Vegetarian Food Co, Ltd -- the firm that produces the most kinds of vegetarian food; the first telpher system -- Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh Province.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>VietBooks said that between 2007 and 2010 it would organize trans-Vietnam tours to promote 100 Buddhist records in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region>, launch a photo contest titled "Buddhism and life" and throw the largest vegetarian party in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</SPAN></P>
|
