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  Marble Mountains

 

Vietnam

The entrance to Dong Am Phu (Động Âm Phủ), i.e. Hell Cave, at the Marble Mountain of Water in Da Nang (fig.), which is guarded by two dvarapala, and inside displays themes from final judgment, heaven and hell.

 

One enters the cave over the Bridge of No Return or the Bridge of Troubled Water (fig.), across the Lake of the Doomed. In Vietnamese, this bridge is known as Cau Nai Ha (Cầu Nại Hà), from the Chinese Naihe Qiao, which means Bridge of No Avail’, while the water beneath it is in Vietnam called Am Dong Song (Âm Dương Sông), i.e. Yin-yang River’. The bridge is adorned with a large yin-yang sign (fig.) and with the animals of the Vietnamese version of the Chinese zodiac (fig.), which has the cat as the fourth animal, instead of the rabbit.

 

  Marble Mountains

 

  Marble Mountains

 

To the left of the bridge stands, Quang Muc, i.e. Guang Mu Tian, one of the Four Heavenly Kings (fig.), holding a heavy scimitar and with a hooded snake, i.e. a cobra (fig.), curled around his lower arm, which is said to symbolize smoothness. To the right side of the bridge stands Tri Quoc, i.e. Chi Guo Tian, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, holding a pipa (fig.), which stands for harmony and represents the balanced power with which he rules.

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