User:Dragfyre/Sandbox/Marble Mountains (Vietnam)

Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn; "Five elements mountains") is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son ward, 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 one of the peaks. Several buddhist sanctuaries can also be found within the mountains, making this a famous tourist destination.

The area is famous for stone sculpture making and stone-cutting crafts. Direct rock extraction from the mountains was banned recently. Materials are now being transported from quarries in Quang Nam province.

Marble Mountains are seemingly familiar to everybody who heard of there or has been to Danang City. There are so well known as to be a symbol of the area. The subtle, lyric and poetical ambience of pagodas, grottoes, trees, bushes, sounds the mixed of pagoda bells and murmuring waves and the mysterious legends of sea are all that are not far from the city center, making the mountains a fairy land for tourists for ages.

Almost two hundred years ago, King Minh Mang came here. He named the mountain, grottoes and pagodas. Nobody knows why names such as Ngu Hanh Son, Huyen Khong, Hoa Liem, Lang Hu, Tang Chan, Van Nguyet, Thien Long put King deep in thought, despite of dwelling on to national development, the King kept in his mind the picturesque landscape of the mountains as the pride of the beautiful southern land.

Cultural and historical stamps can be seen on every pagoda and tower built in the 19th century, and on Champa sculptures of the 14th and 15th century. There are written-on-stone poets of the Le and Tran Dynasty, a grave of Capital Tran Quang Khai’s mother, a temple worshiping Ngoc Lan princess (Minh Mang King’s younger sister) and such evolutionary relics as Da Chong tunnel, Ba Tho cave, Kim Son mount, Am Phu cave, etc… All are persuasive evidences to the legendary Marble Mountain and the land endowed with the people of great talent.

Like other landscapes, these mountains have many different mysterious legends. The poetical ambience plus echoes of my mysterious legends gives mountains their own characters that it is difficult to find on other places. In ancient oriental philosophy; metal, wood, water, fire, earth were five elements that created the universe. Five is the paramount important number in thinking and lives. The coincidence of the five peaks: metal, wood, water, fire, earth still keeps them mysterious.

The natural grottoes and pagodas on the mountains combine both heaven-endowed and man-made to create the harmonious beauty. The feature the attractive characters that keep tourists surprised and emotional on the way traveling.

On hot summer days, let us imagine you and your friends going up the 108 steps to Ling Ung pagoda, sitting at Vong Giang tower to look to green Truong Giang murmuring slightly in the sunset or standing on Vong Hai tower to look far to sandy beaches flirted by the sea waves. In the late afternoon, city dwellers rush to the seaside, fishermen group by group patiently push their boats offshore, and on the greasy paths leading to the grottoes and inside pagodas the sandalwood exhales its fragrance. One day staying at the in Marble Mountains makes life more beautiful and meaningful.

District
As of 2003 the district had a population of 50,105. The district covers an area of 37 km². The district capital lies at Da Nang.

Mountains
This is a rock group (including marble) is adjacent to the sea, rivers linked by King Minh Mang named every mountain symbolizes the elements of the universe is Kim Son, Thuy Son, Native Son, Son Son and Moc Hoa.

Marble far from the center of Da Nang about 8 km to the southeast, on a vast sandy beach near the coast, the village of Hoa Khue, Son Thuy Hamlet, Hoa Vang district Ngu Hanh Son. Early ancient Champa people, worship god in their faith today remains the last vestige of stone idols, the temples and statues carved into the rock formation in the Linh Ung Pagoda, in the Huyen Khong. Marble consists of 5 tops Kim Son, Moc Son, Thuy Son, Hoa Son (Fire Yin and Yang Fire Paint paint), Native Son.

The Marble Mountains comprises five 100m mounts and a 2km2 stretch of coastal area. Beauty spots are concentrated on Thuy and Kim Mounts.

Thuy Son
Thuy Son (Wasser - water) to the northeast is the most beautiful mountain, visitors often come sightseeing called the Non Nuoc Pagoda, landscape painting can be said Marine lying mountains from east to west width of 15 ha, with many temple built long-standing, with the stalactites, there are two beautiful temples and pagodas Tam Thai Linh Ung Pagoda, to the mountain road made of stone lined each level, on top of three mountains named "Tam Thai" because it's like "Why Tam Thai" means three stars to star clusters in the tail of Ursa Fine. Travelers from coast to visit the Linh Ung want to step up levels of about 108, if the Tam Thai Pagoda is located in the south must go beyond the levels of 156 steps long. Today most visitors come by car from the road paint Thuy Huyen Tran, as roadside craft villages specializing in sculpture statuary, marble
 * Element: Water

- Mount Thuy (Mt. Water) is the largest and most beautiful mount with many caves and pagodas dating from the early seventeenth century. Hundreds of stone steps lead to the peak. The mount is divided into three areas: Upper, Middle and Lower.

+ The Upper Thai area starts with 150 stone step leading to the Tam Quan Gate. Vong Giang Tower (Riverview Tower): Looking to the west of the Marble Mountains, from the tower visitors can see Mt. Kim, the Truong Giang and Cam Le rivers, and surrounding coastal plains. The 1m wide and 2m high Tra Kieu Stele is engraved with three Chinese characters 'Vong Giang tower' and a short line meaning 'A good day in July, the 18th year of the Minh Mang dynasty'.

Pho Dong tower is the place where homeless people were buried.

Tu Tam Pagoda is the place of worship for people buried at the Pho Dong tower.

Tam Ton Pagoda has just been built.

Tam Thai pagoda: Built in 1630 with a strong reflection of the Nguyen Dynasty royal architecture, this is the largest and most beautiful pagoda. It was rebuilt in 1825 at King Ming Mang’s order during his visit to the Marble Mountains. In 1827, nine main statues and three large bells were made. There are two brick gates at the two sides of the pagoda to enter small gardens. At present, visitors cannot use these gates because they have been locked.

Huyen Khong Cave
Hoa Nghiem and Huyen Khong Caves: In the rear of the pagoda there is an old limestone gate carved with three Chinese character meaning 'Huyen Khong Gate'. The entrance leads to Hoa Nghiem and Huyen Khong caves.

Hoa Nghiem Cave has one standing statue of a Bodhisattva. The cool air inside the high but not deep cave refreshes visitors after passing 156 stone steps.

Huyen Khong Cave connects with Hoa Nghiem Cave. Lying inside the mountain, this 15m high cave has five large holes at the top through which sunlight radiates and combines with incense smoke to bring about an ethereal and calm atmosphere. The cave’s floor is flat.

Inside there is the Thach Nhu Coc cave. This is a small cave with two stone breasts. It is said that on a visit to this place, King Thanh Thai rubbed one of the stone breasts. Since then, water has never dripped of it. A large statue of Buddha was erected at the back, opposite the entrance. This is the sacred temple of Trang Nghiem.

The limestone formation on Huyen Khong cave’s sides has been formed over time. There are many strange shapes such as elephant heads and an ostrich. On the left visitors can see a small hollow, inside is a stone that sounds like a drum when it is tapped.

Exit the canyon and pass through a battle-scarred masonry gate. There's a rocky path to the right, which goes to Linh Nham, a tall chimney-shaped cave with a small altar inside. Nearby, another path leads to Hoa Nghiem, a shallow cave with a Buddha inside. If you go down the passageway to the left of the Buddha, you come to cathedral-like Huyen Khong Cave, lit by an opening to the sky. The entrance to this spectacular chamber is guarded by two administrative mandarins (to the left of the doorway) and two military mandarins (to the right).

Scattered about the cave are Buddhist and Confucian shrines; note the inscriptions carved into the stone walls. On the right a door leads to two stalactites, dripping water that comes from heaven, according to local legend. Actually, only one stalactite drips; the other one supposedly ran dry when Emperor Tu Duc touched it. During the American War this chamber was used by the VC as a field hospital. Inside is a plaque dedicated to the Women's Artillery Group, which destroyed 19 US aircraft from a base below the mountains in 1972.

There are several grottos and cave pagodas in the mountain which are marked by steps cut into the rock. The Tam Thai Pagoda, reached by a staircase cut into the mountain, is on the site of a much older Cham place of worship. Constructed in 1825 by Minh Mang, and subsequently rebuilt, the central statue is of the Buddha Sakyamuni (the historic Buddha) flanked by the Bodhisattva Quan Am (a future Buddha and the Goddess of Mercy), and a statue of Van Thu (symbolizing wisdom). At the rear of the grotto is another cave, the Huyen Khong Cave. Originally a place of animist worship, it later became a site for Buddhist pilgrimage. The entrance is protected by four door guardians. The high ceiling of the cave is pierced by five holes through which the sun filters and, in the hour before midday, illuminates the central statue of the BUddha Sakyamuni. In the cave are various natural rock formations which, if you have picked up one of the young cave guides along the way, will be pointed out as being stork-like birds, elephants, an arm, a fish and a face.

Linh Nham Cave (or Phuong Hoang Cave) is in a high position and not deep.

Lang Hu Cave: High and difficult to enter.

+ Middle Thai area:

Thien Phuoc Dia cave: Has an old brick gateway.

Van Nguyet Grotto: Lying between the two mounts, the open hollow is an ideal place for visitors to stop and drink coconut water.

Van Thong cave: Inside the mount, the cave is round and slightly slanted toward the top. There are a stele and a large statue of Buddha. Behind the statue is a pathway to the peak which is also called “Road to Heaven”. The closer it is to the peak, the narrower the path becomes. Visitors must cling to rocks to climb up. There is a one-meter diameter hole at the top of the cave. After passing through this hole, visitors have a panoramic view of an immense area. There are two ways down, including an easier way to Thien Phuoc Dia Cave.

Thieng Long Cave: Round and deep, it is also called Dragon Cave.

Van Can Nguyet Quat: This is a natural opening in the middle of the mount and looks out on the Eastern Sea. The breezes comfort visitors after the climb.

+ Lower Thai area:

Hai Dai Tower (Oceanview Tower): This is located in a high place on the right of Linh Ung Pagoda. From here, there is a view of an immense area to the Cham Islands. There is a Tra Kieu stone stele of the same size and age as that in Vong Giang tower. The beautiful scene was expressively described in two lines of verse of Pham Hau: 'I wave my hands over an unlimited distance / I don’t know who will be beside me'.

Linh Ung Pagoda: This large pagoda looks out over the sea. It was once a bamboo hut. In the Gia Long Dynasty, the pagoda was built and renamed Ung Chan. It was expanded in the sixth Minh Mang Dynasty. In 1841, King Thanh Thai changed its name to Linh Ung. There are many Buddha and Bodhisattva statues.

Bao Thap Xa Loi: The seven-storey tower looks out on the sea. It was built to pray for peaceful lives. Tang Chan Cave (or Tang Chon Cave): This is a deep and narrow gorge with a natural stone entrance. At the end, there are Linh Dong Chan Tien, Tam Thanh, Chiem Thanh, Ray and Ban Co grottoes. The Chiem Thanh grotto has an altar covered with Cham sculpture. The cave has many stone Buddha statues. The Wind Grotto is connected with Thien Long Cave in the Middle Thai area.

Ngu Coc Cave (or Lantern Cave) is narrow, small, and very deep with lots of eye-catching lava. The down pathway has 108 steps. Visitors can follow the route up the mount and go down by a path next to the Upper Thai area.

Am Phu Cave (Hades Cave): This is high, wide and deep. Access is down a cliff. The cool damp cave is toward the west. About 30m down, there are high trench, large stone pillars and a narrow cave with bottomless wells that are said to connect to the sea.

Tho Son
Aboriginal painting (Erde - earth) is the lowest mountain in the center square, next to each other irregularly, Turkey does not paint the beautiful scenery only red clay and sandstone mixed. According to Aboriginal legend is painted on the old Shrine Champa people stationed here, also find the definition of the Champa civilization in the ice sculpture as a free disk itself comes to plundering the seas are vessel Wholesale from China went down to the Malaysian waters. Turkish low coating surrounding mountains higher.
 * Element: Earth

Kim Son
Metallic paint (Metall - metal) is the most humble in the mountains 5 mountains stretching from east to west, extended into the river Yangtze River Danang, durability often dwells on the old King landed here for sightseeing, over time into the sea oil field, called River School "Lo Giang River Landscape Co Co", has been turned into rice fields or buried water meters also traces of river sections may be filled
 * Element: Metal

- Mount Kim: in the west of the mounts and by the Co Co River. In the past, a wharf was built here to berth royal ships visiting the mounts.

Right at the foot of the mount, there is a 50m long, 10m wide and 10 - 15m high cave. The entrance is stone steps. The formation on the wall is the shape of Bodhisattva with a string of limestone like silk stretching from shoulder to the foot. This figure stands on a dragon rolling in the waves and holds a holy water pot. Behind the figure are Thien Tai and peacock images with two swings around the cave’s sides. Looking closer, visitors can see images of ivory bamboo on the right and a range of five coloured clouds. This is considered a precious and eye-catching natural endowment to Mount Kim.

The Quan The Am pagoda outside is where the Bodhisattva festivals are held annually on the 19th day of the second lunar month (see more in “Traditional Festivals”).

Hoa Son
Martian Paint (Feuer - fire) towards the mountains southwest of dangerous and steep mountain slopes, caves completely silent, face the Hon Kim Son, Su Van Hanh street on the left, on the Martian mountains paint the Left rubble pieces or sometimes intact, but they were landslides brick towers that are relics of the Champa. Painted fire where people get the marble mining. Marble water there is still premature, beauty pink, gray, white, different stones are useful for industry, to rubble strewn street, paint walls. Son of a Martian rock sound and an Ocean islands, interconnected by a line of natural stone to create a raised permanently. [1]
 * Element: Fire

Hon Yin Martian Sơn located to the east, close to Le Van Hien, tip rounded mountains rising higher. Rock slopes have more grain is tilted sideways and run each piece cut out, plants grow in rock who, at the eastern tip of the mountain is a cave system from the southern slopes of the northern slopes. Local people often take the road to the island and Turkish Son Kim Son.

Martian Sơn Ocean islands located in the west. Old days, when the exchange is between Hoi An and Da Nang by water, there is a river landing, went on selling boats and busy. River rock the foot of the Son Duong Hoa Temple Mr Chai, now ruined. Folk name "Mr. Chai Mountain" may be derived from it. At one point higher on steep slopes, vertical cliffs, looking north toward Ocean Fire Son Kim Son, there are three big Chinese character, very well looked remotely "Ocean Fire Son" and a small line to close see: "Advanced Cross network Minh bowl this year periods sand loss benefits."

Moc Son

 * Element: Wood

Rustic painted (Holz - wood) to the southeast lies parallel to paint despite mountains Marine named rustic, but very few trees growing mountain cave also has a small, wood paint white marble blocks of the same