What are the seventy-two caves and heavenly paradise?

Dongtian Paradise is part of the Taoist fairyland, with famous mountains as the main scenery, or both landscapes. It is believed that there are gods ruling here, and it is the residence of all immortals. Taoist priests who live here to practice or climb mountains to beg can achieve Taoism and become immortals. In other words, "Dongtian" means that there are caves in the mountains that lead to heaven and connect all the mountains. The "Taoji Jing" of the Eastern Jin Dynasty says: "All the five mountains and famous mountains have caves." The names of the ten caves listed correspond to the ten caves. "Zhengao Jishenshu" states that Juqushan (Maoshan), "Looking inside the cave, there is a spiritual mansion inside,...the clear east window of the void, the partition between the forest house,...the real cave fairy pavilion". Tao Hongjing notes:

"Qingxu is the name of the Wangwu Cave, and Huayang and Bi are connected." Both books say that Juqushan is also known as the altar of Jujin, "with the inner cave of the cave." There is a golden altar with a height of 100 feet, hence the name." That is to say, "Dongtian" refers to the cave. "Blessed Land" means a blessed place, that is, it is believed that living here can lead a blessed life and become an immortal. "Taoji Jing" says that Juqu Mountain (also known as Difei Mountain, one of the seventy-two blessed places) "lives in the land of Yuefu, and will surely live in the world and see peace." Most of them are cave springs, which are not unrelated to the concept of Feng Shui. The blessed places listed in Taoist books are mostly dominated by earthly immortals and real people, and are a fairyland that is second to the cave and heaven.

The concept of "cave heaven and blessed land" was probably formed before the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The "Taoji Jing" and "Zhen Gao", which compiled the immortals of the Shangqing sect, both mentioned the "Ten Great Cave Heavens" and "Di Zhong Tian". "Thirty-Six Places in the Cave", "Taoji Jing" is also called "Blessed Land Chronicles" and "Confucius Blessed Land". Since the Warring States Period, there have been widespread rumors about the "Three God Mountains" and the "Kunlun Mountain" theory. However, the Three God Mountains are a fairyland in the sea, while the Kunlun Mountains are far in the west. After the formation of Taoism, as Taoist priests went to the mountains to live in seclusion, combine medicine, practice and pray to become immortals, the magnificent scenery of the mountains, the steep peaks, the mysterious caves, the streams gushing out of the caves, and the myriad changes in the mountains The weather was enough to arouse people's excitement and stimulate their fantasies. Together with various original legends, the concept of a cave heaven and a blessed land among the famous mountains of the earth was gradually formed. Early Taoist scriptures such as "Baopuzi Neipian" and "Zhengao" all mentioned that if you want to seek gods, you must climb mountains to beg, live in mountains, or combine medicine. Ge Hong quoted the Immortal Sutra, which mentioned Mount Huashan, Mount Tai, Mount Huo, Mount Heng, Mount Song, Mount Shaoshi, Mount Chang, Mount Taibai, Mount Zhongnan, Mount Nerv, Mount Difei, Mount Wangwu, Mount Baodu, Mount Anqiu, Mount Qian Mountains, Qingcheng Mountain, Emei Mountain, Qishan Mountain, Yuntai Mountain, Luofu Mountain, Yangjia Mountain, Huangjin Mountain, Bizu Mountain, Big and Small Tiantai Mountain, Siwang Mountain, Gaizhu Mountain, Kuocang Mountain and more than 20 mountains, and said: "These are all Zheng Gods are in the mountains, and there may be earthly immortals among them. Zhicao grows on them, which can protect them from soldiers and disasters. Not only can they be combined with medicine," many of them are considered by Taoists to be blessed places in the cave.

According to the Taoist point of view, heaven, earth, water and even people are all divided into one Qi; the fairyland is also "made of Qi", and they interact with each other to form a vertically and horizontally intertwined three-dimensional network;

< p>But due to the difference in temperament, there is a difference between the upper and lower. Therefore, the "Preface to the Picture of the Palaces of Heaven and Earth" says:

"The Tao is originally nothing, but there is something because of the trance; the Qi Yuan rushes, and takes advantage of the luck to transform and become fractal. The essence of Xuan is written, and the palaces are in the clear scenery; The hidden essence condenses, and a cave is opened in the famous mountain... If you are sincere and diligent, the gods will be able to respond; if you practice restraint, the dragon and crane will be promoted. As for the Tiandong area, there is a difference between high and low. The upper and lower parts are different." "Preface to the Record of Yuedu Famous Mountains in the Blessed Land of Dongtian" also says: "The universe has been opened up, and the clear and turbid are separated, and they merge into rivers and form mountains. There are spiritual palaces, jade palaces, and golden terraces. They may be made of condensed clouds, or jade ponds and green marshes can be found in the four corners; "It is the place where the Heavenly Horses live. It may be where the sun travels, or it may be where the stars are. It contains wind and rain, contains clouds and thunder, and is the hub of heaven and earth, and the axis of Yin and Yang." According to this theory, there is not only fairyland in the sky. , and there are fairy lands on the earth and in the sea; not only are there fairy mountains on the earth and the sea, but there are also fairy mountains in the sky. The fairy mountains in the sky are transformed by true energy, and they correspond to the human palace below.

The Cave Heaven Blessed Land is the fairy mountain on the earth. It includes ten big cave heavens, thirty-six small cave heavens and seventy-two blessed lands, which constitute the main part of the Taoist fairyland on earth. In addition, Taoists also worship Wuzhen Haidu, Thirty-six Jinglu, Twenty-four Rules, etc. The Five Mountains of China are included in Dongtian.

Dongtian Paradise is mostly an actual reference. Taoist priests in the past dynasties often built palaces and temples here and practiced diligently, leaving behind many cultural landscapes, historical relics and myths and legends.

The Ten Great Cave Heavens

"The Picture of the Palaces of Heaven and Earth" says: "The ten great cave heavens are located between the famous mountains of the earth, and they are the places where gods are sent by heaven to rule.

"The Taoist Scripture of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Dao Ji Jing (a compilation of the "Immortal's Origin" of the Shangqing School of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which is actually a separate edition of "Zhen Gao") lists the ten major caves and the corresponding ten major caves. It was later written by Sima Cheng of the Tang Dynasty. It is based on Taoist books such as Zhen's "Shangqing Tiandi Gongfu Tujing" and Du Guangting's "Dongtian Fudi Yuedu Famous Mountain Notes". They are:

First, Wangwu Mountain Cave, named "Xiaoyou Qingxu Tian". . In Wangwu County (now between Yuanqu, Yangcheng, Shanxi and Jiyuan, Henan);

Second, Weiyu Cave, named "Da You Kong Tomorrow" ("empty", one for " "Void"). In Huangyan County (now part of Zhejiang);

Third, Xicheng cave, named "Tai Xuan Zong Zhen Tian". The location is unknown, Tao Hongjing's "Deng Zhen Yin Jue" is suspected to be in Zhongnan Taiyi Mountain, Du Guangtingyun is in Shuzhou;

Fourth, Xixuan Mountain Cave, named "Sanxuanji Zhentian", its location is unknown;

Fifth, Qingcheng Cave, named "Baoxian Jiushitian" in Qingcheng County (now Dujiangyan City, Sichuan);

Sixth, Chicheng Cave, named "Shangyu Qingping Mountain" ("Tiandi Palace"). "Picture of the Mansion" as "Shangqing Yuping's Cave Heaven"). In Tangxing County (now Tiantai, Zhejiang Province);

Seventh, Luofu Mountain Cave Heaven, named "Zhu Ming Yao Zhen Tian" ("Yao", one means "Hui"). In Boluo County (now part of Guangdong);

Eighth, Juqu Cave, named "Jintan Huayangtian". In Jurong County (now part of Jiangsu); it is connected to the Taoist altar of the Qing Dynasty and Zongben Mountain of Maoshan;

Ninth, Linwu Cave, named "Zuo Shen Youxu Tian" ("Dragon" in "Heaven and Earth Palace Map") "God's deep and empty cave"). At the mouth of Dongting Lake, Du Guangting said it was in Wuxian County, Suzhou (now part of Jiangsu);

Tenth, Kuocang Mountain Cave, named "Cheng De Yin Xuantian". In Le'an County (now Xianju, Zhejiang Province. The main peak is in Linhai County).

Thirty-Six Small Cave Heavens

The Thirty-Six Small Cave Heavens are compared to the ten major cave heavens. "Picture of the Palace of Heaven and Earth" says:

"The thirty-six small caves in the sky are among the famous mountains, and they are also the places where the immortals rule." "The Preface to the Notes of the Famous Mountains of Yuedu in Dongtian Blessed Land" quoted from "Guishan" The Jade Scripture says that the Thirty-Six Cave Heavens "have separate palaces for the sun, moon, stars, spirits, and immortals. They govern the protection of sins and blessings, record death and life, are based on high truth, and are governed by the Immortal King." The term "Thirty-Six Cave Heavens" first appeared in the Taoist books of the Shangqing School of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. "Zhen Gao Ji Shenshu" says: "Within the great sky, there are thirty-six caves and heavens in the earth." According to the Taoist books, they are:

First, Huotong Mountain Cave, named " Huolin Cave Sky". In Changxi County, Fuzhou (south of today's Xiapu County, Fujian);

Second, Dongyue Taishan Cave, named "Pengxuan Cave". In Qianfeng County, Yanzhou (today's Tai'an, Shandong Province), it has been believed since the Han Dynasty that it is the place where the ghosts of the dead souls of the imperial examinations are located;

Third, the Hengshan Cave in Nanyue is named "Zhuling Cave". In Hengshan County, Hengzhou (now part of Hunan), "Yuanshi Shangzhen Immortals" states that Zhu Rong, the Red Emperor, governed Henghuo Mountain. It is also said that Mrs. Wei (Wei Huacun) governed Nanyue Mountain. According to Huoshan in Anhui, its ancient name was Hengshan and Tianzhu Mountain. The so-called "Heng Huo Zhengyue" in "Baopuzi Neipian" refers to this.

Fourth, Huashan Cave in Xiyue is named "Zongxian Cave", also known as "Jizhen Cave". In Huayin County, Huazhou (now part of Shaanxi);

Fifth, Beiyue Changshan Cave, named "Zongxuan Cave". In Quyang County, Hengzhou (now part of Hebei), it was worshiped in Hunyuan, Shanxi after the Ming and Qing Dynasties;

Sixth, Zhongyue Songshan Cave, named "Sima Cave". In Dengfeng County (now part of Henan);

Seventh, Emeishan Cave, named "Xuling Cave". In Emei County, Jiazhou (now Emeishan City, Sichuan);

Eighth, Lushan Cave, named "Dongling Zhentian". In De'an County, Jiangzhou (now Jiujiang, Jiangxi);

Ninth, Siming Cave, named "Danshan Chishuitian". In Shangyu County, Yuezhou (now part of Zhejiang Province. The mountain is southwest of Ningbo City);

The tenth is the Kuaiji cave, named "Jixuan Dayuantian". In Jinghu Lake in Shanyin County, Yuezhou (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang), it may be called Yangping Mountain in Shu County;

Eleventh, Taibai Cave, named "Xuande Cave". In Chang'an County, Jingzhao Prefecture (actually between Zhouzhi, Mei County, Taibai and other counties in today's Shaanxi Province);

The twelfth, Xishan Cave, named "Tianzhu Baoji Xuantian". In Nanchang County, Hongzhou (now Nanchang, Jiangxi);

Thirteenth, Xiaowei Mountain Cave, named "Haosheng Xuan Shangtian". In Liling County, Tanzhou (now part of Hunan). According to Xiaowei Mountain Cave, one is called Dawei Mountain;

The fourteenth, Qianshan Cave, is named "Tianzhu Si Xuantian".

In Huaining County, Shuzhou (set by the Jin Dynasty and governed today's Qianshan, Anhui);

The fifteenth, Guigu cave, named "Guixuansi Zhentian". In Guixi County, Xinzhou (now part of Jiangxi), it is said to be Zhang Ling's alchemy place;

Sixteenth, Wuyi Mountain Cave, named "Zhen Sheng Hua Xuantian". In Jianyang County, Jianzhou (now Chong'an, Fujian, Jianyang County under Jin Dynasty, Chong'an Chang was established in the Southern Tang Dynasty);

The 17th, Yuji Cave, named "Tai Xuan Fa Lo Tian". In Yongxin County, Jizhou (now part of Jiangxi);

The eighteenth, Huagai Cave, named "Rongcheng Dayu Tian". Forty miles back, in Yongjia County, Wenzhou (today's Wenzhou City), this is a different place with the same name as Huagai Mountain in Jiangxi;

Nineteenth, Gaizhu Mountain Cave, named "Changyao Baoguangtian". In Huangyan County, Taizhou (now part of Zhejiang);

Twentieth, Duqiao Cave, named "Baoxuan Cave". In Puning County, Rongzhou (now Rongxian County, Guangxi);

No. 21, Baishi Cave, named "Xiule Changzhentian". In the south of the South China Sea in Yulin Prefecture (now Yulin, Guangxi), or Hanshan County in Yunhe Prefecture (now part of Anhui);

Twenty-second, Juluo Cave, named "Yuque Baoguitian". In Beiliu County, Rongzhou (now part of Guangxi), it is said to be Ge Hong's alchemy place;

Twenty-third, Jiuyi Cave, named "Chaozhen Taixutian". In Yantang County, Daozhou (now Ningyuan, Hunan);

Twenty-fourth, Dongyang Cave, named "Dongyang Yin Guan Tian". In Changsha County, Tan (now northwest of Liuyang County, Hunan Province);

Twenty-fifth, Mufu Mountain Cave, named "Xuanzhen Taiyuantian". In Tangnian County, Ezhou (now at the border of Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces);

Twenty-sixth, Dayou Mountain Cave, named "Dayou Hua Miaotian". In the northwest of Chenzhou (today's Yuanling, Hunan);

Twenty-seventh, Jinting Cave, named "Jinting Chongmiaotian". In Yan County, Yuezhou (now Sheng County, Zhejiang Province);

Twenty-eighth, Magu Mountain Cave, named "Danxia Tian". In Nancheng County, Fuzhou (now part of Jiangxi);

Twenty-ninth, Xiandu Cave, named "Xiandu Praying to Immortality". In Jinyun County, Chuzhou (now part of Zhejiang);

The 30th, Qingtian cave, named "Qingtian Dahetian". In Qingtian County, Chuzhou (now part of Zhejiang);

No. 31, Zhongshan Cave, named "Zhu Ritai Shengtian". In Shangyuan County, Runzhou (now Nanjing, Jiangsu);

The 32nd Liangchang Cave, named "Liangchang Fangming Cave" is in Jurong County, Runzhou (now Jiangsu), near Xiaoxiao Maoshan;

Thirty-third, Zigai Cave, named "Zixuan Cave Zhaotian". In Dangyang County, Jingzhou (now part of Hubei);

Thirty-fourth, Tianmu Cave, named "Tiangai Dixuantian". In Yuhang County, Hangzhou (now part of Zhejiang);

Thirty-fifth, Taoyuan Cave, named "White Horse Xuanguangtian". In Wuling County, Xuanzhou (now Taoyuan, Hunan);

Thirty-sixth, Jinhua Cave, named "Jinhua Cave Yuantian". In Jinhua County, Wuzhou (now part of Zhejiang).