Wudang Mountain, one third has been forgotten

Wudang Mountain, a world cultural heritage and a Taoist holy land. Because in the Ming Dynasty, it had the reputation of "the four famous mountains are all bowing down, and the five celestial mountains are the highest in the imperial dynasty", it was given the status of "the crown of the five mountains".

However, what is generally called Wudang Mountain is from the perspective of tourists. Even so, what we call Wudang Mountain is still only two-thirds. These two-thirds are the scenic spots covered by the "East Shinto" and "South Shinto" built after the Yuan Dynasty.

Tourists generally take the scenic shuttle bus to Qiongtai Zhongguan, and then run through the "Yuxu Palace" to the "Golden Summit" at the top of the main peak Tianzhu Peak. This is the concept of the "Eastern Shinto" part. From Jinding to Nanyan, Zixiao Palace, and Taizi Slope, the scenic spot shuttle bus returns to the scenic spot visitor center on Taizi Slope. This is the concept of the "South Shinto" part.

Wudang Mountain first became famous in the world during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. There was a severe drought. Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty ordered Wudang Festival Envoy Yao Jian to go to Wudang Mountain to pray for rain. The result came true, and it rained heavily in the Central Plains. Therefore, Taizong was very pleased and ordered the construction of the "Five Dragons Temple". At this time, Wudang Mountain was only ranked ninth among the "Seventy-two Blessed Places" in the world.

In the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Liusun, the master of Xuanjiao, praised Wudang Mountain to Kublai Khan, the founder of the family. Kublai Khan believed in his words and it became an important dojo for the royal family of the Yuan Dynasty to "proclaim heaven and celebrate their birthdays." During the reign of Emperor Chengzong of Yuan Dynasty, it was named "Wudang Blessed Land" again.

But the above does not happen on the "Eastern Shinto" and "Southern Shinto", but on the "Western Shinto" with Wulong Palace as the core.

In addition, there are many relics on the Western Shinto that can be called the "best" in Wudang Mountain. There is the largest culvert in Wudang Mountain, "Wulong Palace Culvert"; the largest stone carving incense table in Wudang Mountain in the Song Dynasty; the largest Taoist tomb in Wudang, "Langmei Zhenren Tomb"; the only temple in Wudang Mountain that spans both sides of the river valley and was built in the Yuan Dynasty, "Ren Temple". There are more than ten rock temples on the West Shinto, including the cave where Sun Simiao, the inventor of gunpowder, developed gunpowder, the "Lingxu Rock" and so on...

The total length is about three kilometers. "West Shinto" has no tourist facilities, and the roads and Taoist temples were severely damaged. Therefore, only archaeological professionals and some hiking enthusiasts visit it so far.

To be more precise: the Wudang Mountains we can visit now are only the Wudang Mountains in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

In the 10th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, ordered more than 300,000 local soldiers, civilians, and craftsmen to overhaul 33 temples, including nine palaces and nine temples, and named them "Dayue". His status soared. Above the Five Mountains.

In the 31st year of Jiajing reign of Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty, Mongolian tribes invaded Datong many times, and the Ming army was defeated again. Zhu Houcong ordered the soldiers and civilians of Hubei to build Wudang Mountain again, and named it "Xuanyue to govern the world" ”, it is revered as the “Royal Family Temple”.

When I visited the Golden Summit of Tianzhu Peak (1,612 meters above sea level) that day, I was unable to overlook the surrounding peaks due to heavy fog, so I could only appreciate the natural wonder of "Xuanwu made in heaven".

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