The Marble
Mountains in central
Vietnam, consist of a cluster of
five marble and limestone hills, named Ngu Hanh Son, i.e. the
‘Five
Elements Mountains’,
by the Nguyen Emperor Minh Mang.
Each is said to represent one of
the
Five Elements, i.e. metal, water,
wood, fire, and earth. They comprise
numerous tunnels and caves, some of which nowadays
accommodate Buddhist shrines (fig.).
Marble Mountains
However,
during the Vietnam War, they were a stronghold for the
Vietcong and contained a makeshift hospital.
