Admire Vinh Lang stele - Unique national treasure with 6-toed turtle

Vinh Lang Stele - National Treasure at Lam Kinh Special National Monument ( Thanh Hoa ), is considered one of the oldest, largest and most beautiful early Le Dynasty steles in Vietnam today.

The stele weighs nearly 18 tons, consisting of two parts: the upper stele and the lower turtle made of gray-green sedimentary rock with white spots. The surface of the turtle and stele still has many mollusk shells. (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA)

On the back of the stele, in the middle of the forehead is a rectangular carving, on both sides is a dragon carving, with a long, smooth body, no scales, writhing, its head raised high, facing in; from the top of the stele's forehead to the base of the stele are carved two parallel lines, between the raised lines on each side are also carved 9 half-leaf-shaped patterns connecting one another from the top of the stele to the base of the stele... (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA)

Under the stele's base is a large turtle in a swimming position, head raised high, back protruding, 4 distinct legs with 6 claws, including 5 raised claws and 1 concave claw, a large turtle tail, softly draped over the back, under the turtle's belly close to the base are 3 carefully carved raised lines with the crafting technique all by hand. (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA)

The turtle carrying the Vinh Lang stele has 6 claws (5 raised claws and 1 concave claw). (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA)

In reality, the turtles in the images have only five claws, but the turtle carrying the Vinh Lang stele has six claws (five raised claws and one concave claw). (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA)

The national treasure Vinh Lang stele is located in the southwest of Lam Kinh main hall, about 300m from the tomb of King Le Thai To. (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA)

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/chiem-nguong-bia-vinh-lang-bao-vat-quoc-gia-doc-nhat-voi-rua-6-mong-post998767.vnp