Kim Quy
Golden turtle god appearing in Vietnamese legends of kings and swords.
via Wikipedia: Kim Quy · see source
Kim Quy (Chữ Hán: 金龜) (“Gold Turtle”, also spelled Kim Qui) or Thanh Giang sứ giả (Chữ Hán: 清江使者) is a mythical golden turtle god appearing in several Vietnamese legends. In one legend, he appears to the early Vietnamese ruler An Dương Vương (d. 179 BC) and gives him one of his golden claws as a trigger for a magical crossbow with which An Dương Vương can kill 300 enemies with one shot. In another legend, Kim Quy appears to the Vietnamese emperor Lê Lợi (r. 1428–1435) in The Green Water Lake in what is now Hanoi to take back a magical sword, Heavens’ Will (Thuận Thiên), for the Dragon King.
Quick Facts
- Also known as
- Thanh Giang sứ giả (Chữ Hán: 清江使者)
- Meaning
- Gold Turtle
- Associated ruler (first legend)
- An Dương Vương (d. 179 BC)
- Lake in second legend
- Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword)
- Sword in second legend
- Heavens’ Will (Thuận Thiên)
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- An Dương Vương executed his own daughter for betrayal after Kim Quy revealed she was his enemy.
- Kim Quy took back the magical sword Heavens’ Will (Thuận Thiên) from emperor Lê Lợi at what became Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
- The Hoan Kiem turtle, which lived in Hoàn Kiếm Lake, died in late 2015 or early 2016.
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