Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Ngũ Hanh Sơn 五行山
Last edited Thu Aug 1, 2019, 09:25 AM - Edit history (1)
I learned of this place in a travelogue about Vietnam today. I tried to learn more and get some pictures. It is the beautiful natural setting for multiple Buddhist shrines.
Marble Mountains (Vietnamese: Ngũ Hành Sơn; lit. "five elements mountains" ) is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngũ Hành Sơn District, south of Da Nang city in Vietnam. The five mountains are named after the five elements: Kim (metal), Thuy (water), Moc (wood), Hoa (fire) and Tho (earth).
All of the mountains have cave entrances and numerous tunnels, and it is possible to climb to the summit of Mount Thuy. Several Buddhist sanctuaries can also be found within the mountains, making this a tourist destination...
...The Marble Mountains are home to several Buddhist and Hindu grottoes. A stairway of 156 steps leads to the summit of Thuy Son, the only Marble Mountain accessible to visitors...
All of the mountains have cave entrances and numerous tunnels, and it is possible to climb to the summit of Mount Thuy. Several Buddhist sanctuaries can also be found within the mountains, making this a tourist destination...
...The Marble Mountains are home to several Buddhist and Hindu grottoes. A stairway of 156 steps leads to the summit of Thuy Son, the only Marble Mountain accessible to visitors...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Mountains_(Vietnam)
According to the narrator, there is an old legend about a golden turtle who lays an egg that breaks apart when hatching leaving the five hills. The sacred being marries the king in a foundational myth. The main underground temple inside the mountain does suggest a hatching egg. Source for the screen shots is World Theme Travel EBS South Korea, 7.31.19. The picturesque city of Hoi An is nearby where there are more Buddhist temples. Both are about an hours drive south of Danang.
