HOANH SON – Southern Mountain

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Hoanh Son (The Southern mountain)

Hoanh Son, a sequence created by Grand Master Phan Hoang for VIET CHI DAO and presented in Settimo in 2016, is the sequence of the southern mountain range, which together with Bat-Dieu the form of the sky and Than Ho, the form of the tiger angel, constitute the basic triad of VietChiDao.

Hoanh Son represents the way of the earth that gives possibilities and allows to resolve conflicts and difficulties, and opens new horizons.

Historical facts.

During the latter part of the 16th century Vietnam was in chaos: King Mac and the Lords Trinh and Nguyen were fighting each other for power.
A great master appeared on this scene: Master Nguyen Binh-Khiem (1491-1581).
He was the master of all three antagonists and the author of many writings, in particular a book called Sấm Trạng Trình, considered a book of strategy, although many people believe it to be the Vietnamese equivalent of Nostradamus.
Even to this day, Nguyen Binh-Khiem is revered as an Immortal by Cao-Dai Buddhists.

History and legend.

Fearing that one day Nguyen Hoang might challenge his authority, Trinh-Kiem waited for the opportunity to eliminate this potential enemy. Realising the danger, Nguyen Hoang sought advice from Master Binh-Khiem.

During their meeting, Master Binh-Khiem said nothing, but pointed with his finger to the south, in the direction of the mountains, then waved his finger three times, stopped and drew a side line. Nguyen Hoang understood that Master was telling him to go far away and seek refuge behind the Hoanh Son lateral mountain. But what was he to do next? Master said nothing yet, but gave him a book and signalled him to go.

Following his master’s advice, Nguyen Hoang went south with his family and some followers. He applied the knowledge and strategies learned from his master’s book, and became a Lord. After many generations, one of his descendants became King Gia-Long, founder of the Nguyen Dynasty (1881-1945).

According to popular tradition transmitted orally, Binh-Khiem’s teaching was this:
“Hoành Sơn nhất đái, vạn đại dung thân”: a Transverse Mountain can protect many generations.

It is believed that the original copy of the book is still kept in the pagoda known by the code name “CHUA MAI”, somewhere in North Vietnam.

Charles Phan Hoang, October 2014