Wen 丨 Zhenhua said
Editor丨Zhenhua said
Preface
There are many mountains and rivers in China, where there are mountains and rivers, there are people, and where there are people, there is culture, so many famous mountains in China have their own cultural heritage, such as the four famous mountains of Taoism.
The four famous mountains of Taoism are Wudang Mountain in Hubei Province, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi Province, Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan Province and Qiyun Mountain in Anhui Province.
Although these four famous mountains are famous, if you want to talk about the first mountain of Chinese Taoism, it is not the turn of these mountains.
Which mountain has such a profound Taoist heritage, and why was this mountain not selected as one of the four famous Taoist mountains?
The first mountain of Chinese Taoism
Located in Pingliang City, Gansu Province, China, Kongtong Mountain is not only known as the "Famous Mountain of Longshang" for its magnificent natural scenery, but also known as the first mountain of Taoism in China because of its profound Taoist culture and history.
The mountain is not just a natural landscape, it is also an important landmark in the history of Taoism in China, and is closely related to the story of the Yellow Emperor, the founder of China's humanities, and Guang Chengzi, one of the twelve golden immortals of Taoism.
The fame of Kongtong Mountain is largely due to an ancient legend that in ancient times, the Yellow Emperor came to Kongtong Mountain to visit Guangchengzi, a Taoist immortal with outstanding wisdom, in order to seek the way to govern the country.
Here, the Yellow Emperor received the guidance of Guangchengzi and realized the true meaning of human governance, so that the world was governed.
This story not only endows Kongtong Mountain with profound cultural connotations, but also makes it a sacred place in the hearts of countless Taoist believers.
Since the Qin and Han dynasties, Taoist temples have been established on Kongtong Mountain, which has become a retreat for practitioners.
In the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, Taoist activities in Kongtong Mountain reached its peak.
At that time, Emperor Jiajing had great respect for Taoism, and he strongly supported the development of Taoism in Kongtong Mountain, built a large number of Taoist temples, and often sent officials to the mountains to hold religious ceremonies in order to seek peace and security for the country and the people.
At that time, Kongtong Mountain, where incense was flourishing, was one of the centers of Taoist activities in the country.
In the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, due to frequent wars, many Taoist temples in Kongtong Mountain were destroyed, although there were many reconstructions later, but the scale was not as good as before compared with the past.
Despite this, Kongtong Mountain still retains its place at the heart of Taoist culture and still attracts many worshippers and tourists alike to worship and visit.
The Taoist architecture of Kongtong Mountain is an important sample for the study of Chinese Taoist architectural art, among which the Wendao Palace located on the mountainside is one of the most famous Taoist temples.
This palace has been built and rebuilt by many dynasties, and not only has a unique architectural style, but also contains rich Taoist cultural elements.
There are a large number of precious Taoist scriptures and cultural relics preserved in the palace, many of which are legends about the Yellow Emperor and Guangchengzi.
In addition to asking the Dao Palace, there are countless other small Taoist temples and ancestral halls on Kongtong Mountain, which also exude a strong Taoist atmosphere.
Here, visitors can see many Taoists practicing and worshipping, and feel the depth of Taoist culture and the piety of Taoists.
There is more than just Taoist culture
When discussing China's famous Taoist mountains, Kongtong Mountain is particularly striking for its unique phenomenon of religious syncretism, although it is revered as the first mountain of Chinese Taoism, but the cultural background of Kongtong Mountain is far from being summed up by a single Taoist color.
This mountain is not only a sacred place for Taoist believers, but also a model of the convergence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, which is vividly demonstrated in its famous Sanjiao Cave.
Sanjiao Cave is a unique cultural landscape dedicated to Lao Tzu, the Taoist patriarch, Confucius, the holy master of Confucianism, and Shakyamuni, the Buddha of Buddhism.
This sacred site, which blends the three major religions of China, demonstrates a unique phenomenon of religious harmony.
To understand the cultural complexity of Kongtong Mountain, it is necessary to trace the period from the Han Dynasty to the Wei and Jin dynasties.
This was the period when Taoism began to emerge through the efforts of Zhang Daoling, when Buddhism had just been introduced to the Central Plains from India, and Confucianism continued to influence society due to Confucianism's in-depth discussion of morality and governance.
Due to its geographical location and pleasant environment, Kongtong Mountain has become a place for the exchange and interaction of these three ideas.
According to historical records, many thinkers have discussed philosophy, religion and statecraft here, making Kongtong Mountain a "melting pot of ideas" in the true sense.
In Kongtong Mountain, the establishment of the three religions is not only a simple expression of religious coexistence, but also a deep cultural integration.
Taoism emphasizes natural harmony and self-cultivation, Buddhism emphasizes the cycle of cause and effect and compassion, and Confucianism emphasizes the social ethics of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith.
These teachings met on Kongtong Mountain, which promoted the complementarity and integration of ideas, forming a unique local culture.
Although today's Kongtong Mountain is not listed among the four famous mountains of Taoism, its cultural value and religious significance should not be underestimated.
Countless tourists and devotees come here every year, not only to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountain, but also to experience the unique cultural atmosphere here.
The religious activities and cultural festivals in Kongtong Mountain are also becoming more and more abundant, attracting cultural scholars and religious researchers from all over the world.
The four famous mountains of Taoism
Taoism occupies an indispensable place in China's rich cultural tradition, and the soul of this religious culture is the four famous mountains of Taoism, which are not only masterpieces of natural landscapes, but also sacred places for Taoist beliefs and practices.
These four mountains are Wudang Mountain in Hubei, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan, and Qiyun Mountain in Anhui, each with its own unique cultural connotation and religious significance.
Located in the northwest of Hubei Province, Wudang Mountain, also known as Taihe Mountain, is one of the important sacred places of Taoism, especially famous for its profound martial arts culture and exquisite Taoist architectural complexes.
Wudang Mountain is not only the birthplace of Taoism, but also the birthplace of Chinese martial arts Taijiquan.
Taoist believers believe that Wudang Mountain is the dojo of the Zhenwu Emperor, and there are many Taoist spectators here, the most famous of which is Zixiao Palace, whose history can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, is the main palace of Wudang Mountain.
The architectural complex of Wudang Mountain was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994 and has become a world-class cultural landscape.
Longhu Mountain is located in Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province, and is the birthplace of the Taoist Heavenly Master School.
According to legend, Zhang Daoling cultivated the Tao in this mountain during the Eastern Han Dynasty and established the Heavenly Master Dao, so Longhu Mountain is also known as the "Heavenly Master's Mansion", the Taoist temples on the mountain are numerous, and the atmosphere is solemn and sacred.
Longhu Mountain is not only a religious shrine, but its natural landscape is equally fascinating.
The caves, rocks and waterfalls in the mountains make up a fascinating natural painting, and the famous hanging coffin is also a wonder that attracts tourists and scholars alike.
Located in the western part of the Chengdu Plain in Sichuan Province, Mount Qingcheng is known for its quiet and cool forests and lush forests.
It is one of the important dojos of the Taoist Quanzhen Sect, and there are many famous Taoist priests who practiced here in history.
The Taoist temple of Qingcheng Mountain is hidden in the dense forest, giving people a sense of tranquility and harmony away from the world.
The main Taoist temples of Qingcheng Mountain include the Tianshi Cave and the Shangqing Palace, and these ancient architectural complexes make clever use of mountains and forests to blend perfectly with the natural landscape.
Qiyun Mountain, located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, is an important Taoist holy place in the south.
The most famous Taoist building is Qiyun Pavilion, which stores a large number of precious Taoist relics and classics.
Qiyun Mountain is also loved by tourists for its magnificent natural landscapes, especially the sunrise and sea of clouds.
These four famous Taoist mountains are not only pilgrimage sites for Taoist believers, but also an important part of traditional Chinese culture.
Their unique religious and natural landscapes not only attract the attention of many tourists at home and abroad, but also make these mountains an important window into the study of Chinese Taoist history and culture.
By visiting these mountain ranges, people can not only appreciate the magnificent natural scenery, but also gain an in-depth understanding of the spiritual core and cultural charm of Taoism.
epilogue
With its unique coexistence of three religions, Kongtong Mountain shows the diversity and inclusiveness of China's religious culture.
Although this mountain is not included in the four famous mountains of Taoism in the traditional sense, its profound cultural heritage and unique religious status make it occupy a place in the history of religious culture in China and even the world.
Kongtong Mountain is a treasure place to explore traditional Chinese culture and religious philosophy, which is worthy of every cultural traveler to understand and experience deeply.