The Five Great Mountains of China

Yet another aspect of traditional Chinese culture I find myself completely enthralled by is ancient Chinese religion and philosophy. With a history as long as China’s, there’s little wonder how such a wide variety of colorful belief systems and practices have manifested over the ages and embedded themselves in the heart of traditional society. To be sure, each has taken shape in popular culture in their own distinct way and offer unique perspectives on the Chinese way of life, although the philosophic doctrine I seem to personally resonate with is Daoism (or Taoism).

 

Daoism is a philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to ancient China whose basic tenet simply advocates harmonious living with both man and nature. Since its beginning, it has developed to become one of the country’s prominent schools of thought and has also profoundly influenced Chinese culture which includes architecture, art, cuisine, exercise, martial arts, medicine, and even other religions. Countless Daoist temples and shrines have been constructed across China over a period of thousands of years as places for practice and worship. What’s more, some of them have been established upon China’s most treasured, awe-inspiring mountains now regarded as holy pilgrimage sites and referred to as the Five Great Mountains of China.

 

For those interested in Chinese traditional culture, history, or just some of the most incredible travel destinations China’s diverse landscape has to offer, I will briefly introduce the Five Great Mountains of China associated with Daoism:

 

 

1. Mount Tai

 

The most famous and frequently visited of all the mountains in China is Mount Tai (泰山). Mount Tai is acknowledged as the head of the five sacred mountains and is located in the center of Shandong Province representing the East in accordance with the five cardinal directions of Chinese geomancy. Covering 426 square kilometers (164 square miles) with an elevation of 1,532 meters (5,029 feet) at its highest point, the Jade Emperor Peak, the mountain is undeniably enormous. It is home to 22 different temples like the renowned Jade Emperor Temple (玉皇庙) and the Azure Cloud Temple (碧霞祠), 1,018 cliff-side stone carvings and inscriptions, 97 ancient ruins, and numerous villages, thus making it eligible to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Visitors can choose to climb the 6,293 Official Mountain Walkway Steps to some of the highest areas of the mountain or conveniently take a bus to the “Midway Gate to Heaven” where they can complete the journey riding a cable car to Mount Tai’s breath-taking summit. In either case, the effort will be rewarding as the view from the most beloved mountain in China is sure make memories of a lifetime.

 

 

2. Mount Hua

 

The next sacred mountain is Mount Hua (华山), representing the West, which stands 120 kilometers outside of the ancient capital of Xi’an in China’s Northwestern Shaanxi Province. At 2,160 meters high (7,087 feet), Mount Hua is the tallest of the group and is characterized by its sheer cliffs and towering peaks earning it the reputation as the “most precipitous mountain under heaven”. However, the stunning fived-peaked mountain is not only cherished as a geological marvel, but also as a significant holy site with well over a millennia of history. Mount Hua is the historical location of some of China’s most prominent Daoist monasteries where monks specialized in traditional martial arts, medicine, and internal alchemy in relative secrecy until the twenty first century. Given the uniqueness of the modern day tourist site, visitors may now pick from a large selection of sights and activities to see and do. Highlights include viewing some of the amazing natural features of the mountain such as the Green Dragon Ridge and Cloud Terrace; visiting the temples and shrines where you can purchase a golden lock and attach it to a mountain railing as a family prayer; participating in thrilling outdoors activities like hiking, camping, and attempting to walk the cliff face paths like the monks of the past but with a safety harness; or just taking a cable car to the top where you can enjoy a bowl of Biang Biang Mian, or local specialty noodles, in view of all that lies before Mount Hua.

 

 

3. Mount Heng (in Hunan)

 

Mount Heng (衡山), which is actually a 150 kilometer (93 miles) long mountain range starting in Hengyan City, Hunan Province, is the Southern Great Mountain. The scenic 72-peaked range is considered the most beautiful of the sacred mountains and is ranked as one of the best year round travel destinations in all of China. Along with its prized status as an area of religious significance, Mount Heng also boasts an array of other distinctions such as being labeled a National Scenic Spot and Historical site and AAAAA Tourist Destination. Indeed, the mountain’s abundance of native flora and fauna is astounding with over 1,200 different species of plants, 150 precious trees, and 9 primitive forests found throughout its ridges and hills. It has even been said that at least nine emperors throughout history have gone to Mount Heng to relax amongst its peaceful temples and picturesque scenery. Now visitors of all walks of life are welcome to tour the mountain’s natural and manmade wonders: Wishing Harmony Peak, the highest rising to 1,300 meters (about 4,266 feet) above sea level); Water Curtain Cave; Wishing Harmony Palace, a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) structure; and the Grand Temple of Mount Heng which represents China’s three major religions (Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism) together.

 

 

4. Mount Heng (in Shanxi)

 

Not to be confused with Hunan Province’s Southern Mount Heng (衡山) with the same pronunciation, Mount Heng (恒山) of Shanxi Province, distinguished by a different meaning and character, is the fourth Sacred Mountain and represents the North. Like the others, Mount Heng can trace its historical roots back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE.) or earlier, although it is probably the least religiously significant as a direct result of its location. Shanxi Province is in northern China and its extreme climate has made it difficult for pilgrims to visit the remote mountain in large numbers until the modern age. On the other hand, while these circumstances may have very well hindered the mountain’s placing in popular Chinese culture, they perhaps aided the preservation of its various temples and religious communities. Visitors now have the opportunity to visit the Daoist temple called the Shrine of the Northern Peak that was built in honor of a folk mountain god. Built during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), it has impressively experienced continuous usage until the present day. Another temple said to be worth seeing is interestingly enough a Buddhist temple called the Buddhist Hanging Monastery. The archaic wooden structure is a tour favorite as it is miraculously situated on one of Mount Heng’s perilous cliff-faces making it a true sight to be seen.

 

 

5. Mount Song

 

 

 

--- By Patrick R. Magoffin (Visit Our China)