Bridges Around the World, Part 2 of 2

We begin today’s journey by examining a centuries-old bridge weaving tradition in Peru. The Q’eswachaka Bridge that crosses Apurimac River in the Cusco region is one of the last surviving grass Inca bridges. Now, we travel to the high mountains of Âu Lạc, also known as Vietnam, to visit a one-of-a-kind glass-bottom bridge, the Bạch Long (White Dragon) suspension bridge in Sơn La province. The Guinness World Records has certified the Bạch Long suspension bridge as the longest glass footbridge in the world. Let’s look into the future of bridge design and construction as we head to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to check out the world’s first 3-D printed steel bridge.

While residing at the Amoura village in France, our Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) designed a simple suspending bridge that conveniently took Her to meet the swan friends in the lake without disturbing the environment. In Her book, “The Noble Wilds,” Master gives a unique name to this bridge and describes how it’s built.

The importance of bridges is not only emphasized in their functionality, but picturesquely depicted in paintings and literature across many cultures. French Impressionist painter Claude Monet celebrated the beauty of bridges amongst the backdrop of a water lily pond in a series of his most famous pieces. One of these paintings is “The Argenteuil Bridge.” Famed Post-Impressionist Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (vegetarian) featured a unique bridge in his “The Langlois Bridge at Arles.” Will Allen Dromgoole, the influential US author and poet, wrote a beautiful poem titled “The Bridge Builder” that carries a profound meaning.

Bridges have also been discussed in various religious texts, depicting the transition of our soul from this life to the next. For example, the Sirat Bridge mentioned in the Hadith is a bridge over hell, thinner than a hair, sharper than the sharpest knife, and hotter than fire. The Chinvat Bridge, as described in Zoroastrianism, separates the world of the living from that of the deceased. Every soul will cross this bridge to be judged and assigned a place in the afterlife.