Turtle, giant animal, 5-clawed legs, why does the giant turtle carrying Vinh Lang stele in Thanh Hoa have 6 claws?

Under the base of the Vinh Lan stele - National Treasure at the Lam Kinh Special National Monument (Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province) is a large turtle in a swimming position, head raised high, back protruding, 4 clear legs with 6 claws, including 5 raised claws and 1 concave claw, a large turtle tail, softly draped over the back, below the turtle's belly...

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

The Vinh Lang stele in Lam Kinh (Thanh Hoa) 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 Vinh Lang stele (Lam Kinh Special National Monument, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province), a rectangle is carved in the middle of the forehead, and on both sides are carved dragons with long, smooth bodies, no scales, writhing, heads raised high, facing in; from the top of the stele's forehead to the base of the stele, two parallel lines are carved, and between the raised lines on each side are also carved 9 half-leaf-shaped patterns, one after another, from the top of the stele to the base of the stele... (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA).

Under the stele 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 near the base are 3 elaborate embossed lines carved with the crafting technique all by hand. (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA).

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

In reality and in the images of turtles, the feet of this reptile only have 5 claws, but the turtle carrying the Vinh Lang stele has 6 claws (5 raised claws and 1 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).

Source: https://danviet.vn/con-rua-dong-vat-khong-lo-chan-5-mong-sao-rua-to-bu-doi-bia-vinh-lang-o-thanh-hoa-co-6-mong-20241226141907932.htm