What to Expect in Tang Chon Cave in Marble Mountain?

Tang Chon Cave was named by Minh Mang king in the 19th century, meaning ‘the Treasure of Truths’. This natural open-ceiling cave comprises 5 chambers/grottoes, with a small and low entry passage lying behind Linh Ung Pagoda. Inside the passage, on the right hand side, there is a triple of old honey locust trees (scientific name: Gleditsia, Vietnamese name: cay bo ket) that are honored to be Vietnam’s heritage trees. Their age is from 160 to 210 years old. From here, it’s possible to see a giant banyan tree (called ‘Linh Ung Pagoda Banyan Tree’). During the Vietnam war, this was the meeting place of communist guerillas. It’s over 600 years old, and also honored as a national heritage tree. Inside the passage, on the left hand side, the name of Tang Chon Cave is carved on the rock surface.

In the largest chamber of Tang Chon Cave, Linh Dong Chon Tien Temple was built to worship the Lord Buddha in the middle, who sits or meditates. In the past, here is the altar of Thai Thuong Lao Quan or the Heavenly Lord of Dao and Virtues’ or ‘Supreme Venerable Sovereign’, a high Taoist god. On the left side, Ngoc Phi Goddess (Goddess of Mountains and Forests) is worshipped because she is the main deity. On the right side, there are three Chinese gods – Quan Cong (a military general who lived in the 3rd century), Guan Ping (Quan Cong’s son) and Zhou Cang (a warrior, fictional figure in the Romance of Three Kingdoms) and the Eight Immortals. It’s small but holy to local people. On the top, there are ‘dragons fighting the sun’.

Here are other chambers of Tang Chon Cave:

– Chess Board Cave: This is a small cave to the right of the temple. It’s furnished by two fairy men playing Chinese chess together. According to mythology, they usually descend from heaven to the mountain because it’s beautiful. At Ban Co Peak, one of the highest points of Son Tra Mountain, visitors will hear the same story.

– Hang Ray Cave: This cave is behind the temple, with a tall standing buddha statue. Many visitors like standing here to take a picture. At the ceiling, there are hanging bats, and they will appear at dawn or dusk.

– Champa Cave: Inside this cave, visitors can see stone sculptures left behind by Cham people, dating from the 10th century. They are part of a sandstone altar where holy objects in Hinduism – Linga and Yoni were ever worshipped (today lost). On their surface, it’s possible to see carvings portraying gods or flowers. Although there are no Cham people in the area now, worshipping here is still continued by Vietnamese people. In the monk’s house, to the left of Linh Ung Pagoda, visitors can find another Hindu sculpture, but more intricate.

– Tam Thanh Cave: This cave has two door gods on sides of its entrance and the altar to worship Lady Buddha (Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin), a statue of the Gautama Buddha and a statue of the Reclining Buddha. In the past, people worship the Three Pure Ones, three highest gods in Taoism.

– Wind Cave or Hang Gio: Entrance of this cave is on the left side of the Tam Thanh Cave. If looking up, visitors can see its top, with a hole which allows wind, rain and sunshine to fall into. Climbing stairs and walking to the left, there is another cave, with no altars or buddhas. It’s connected with Thien Long cave (‘Heavenly Dragon Cave’) and Thien Phuoc Dia Cave (‘Heavenly Blessed Land Cave’).  

Additionally, there are 20 memorial steles and inscriptions carved on the walls of Tang Chon Cave. It’s part of the collection at Marble Mountain that was registered by Unesco as Asia-Pacific documentary heritage.

To exit Tang Chon Cave, visitors need to walk by the same way, to return to Linh Ung Pagoda.

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