| According to local legend,
many centuries ago two holy men renowned for their extraordinary powers arrived at Muang
Sua, the present day site of Luang Prabang, where they discovered a brilliant
flame-colored tree at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, as well as a hill
at the center of the peninsula that resembled a mound of rice. Believing the site to
be auspicious, they laid four foundation stones creating the boundaries for a settlement
which they named Xieng Dong-Xieng Thong. One stone was placed beside the
flame-colored tree (Thon Thong), one near a stream called Dong, another to the east in the
vicinity of current day Wat Visun, and one more at the summit of the small hill at the
center of the peninsula currently known as Phou Si. After calling the fifteen local
guardian nagas to ask for protection of the new site, the two holy men sought out the King
of Heavenly Gods for people to till the land and for a sovereign to rule over them. |
