Journey to the West by Ngo Thua An is a classic work that is familiar to almost all Asian audiences, especially the 8X and 9X generations. The popularity of the 1986 television version of the same name made Journey to the West even more popular.
On the arduous journey to Tay Thien to request sutras, Tang Monk and his disciples faced many challenges, and one of the biggest obstacles was Fire Diem Mountain. The story of Fire Diem Mountain in Ngo Thua An's Journey to the West relates to Sun Wukong's rebellious actions. When Qi Thien Dai Thanh destroyed Thai Thuong Lao Quan's bagua furnace and escaped, not only was he unharmed but he also had magical fire eyes. The consequence of this was that the bagua furnace fell to earth, forming a majestic volcano that burned forever.
The description of Fire Diem Son in the work emphasizes its terrible heat, making everything around it impossible to survive. Tang Monk and his disciples had no other choice but to overcome this place to complete their mission. However, extinguishing the Fire Diem Son fire runs into trouble when the only tool that can do it – the three-pointed fan – is in the hands of Princess Thiet Phien, who refuses to help due to her feud with Sun. Wukong.
Longtime viewers of Journey to the West may wonder: Does a real-life Fire Diem Mountain really exist? The answer is yes.
Fire Mountain, or Fire Flame Mountain, is mentioned in the original work in the Tianshan range in Xinjiang, China, near the Taklamakan desert and east of the city of Turpan. This is part of the ancient Silk Road. The mountain range is about 100 km long and 5 to 10 km wide, with an average altitude of 500 m and some peaks exceeding 800 m. The climate here is extremely harsh. In the summer, this is the hottest place in China with temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius, even the ground surface is sometimes hotter than 70 degrees Celsius.
Local people call Hoa Diem Son “Kiziltag”, which means “Red Mountain”. This mountain is a red sandstone area, barren, and has been eroded over the years, with sandstone grooves creating impressive shapes, creating the feeling of a burning mountain range.
Fire Diem Mountain was actually the source of many natural fires in coal mines, lasting for hundreds of years until the Chinese government began extinguishing them in 1983. After 12 years and many isolation measures, oxygen, more than 40 fire areas have been extinguished.
Currently, Fire Diem Mountain has become a famous tourist destination and was recognized by China as a national tourist destination in 2011. This area includes two main tourist attractions: one underground and one on the surface. land, where there are carvings simulating scenes from Journey to the West.
Source: Sohu