The Sacred Mountains of China are divided into several groups. The Five Great Mountains (simplified Chinese: ??; traditional Chinese: ??; pinyin: W?yuè) refers to five of the most renowned mountains in Chinese history, and they were the subjects of imperial pilgrimage by emperors throughout ages. They are associated with the supreme God of Heaven and the five main cosmic deities of Chinese traditional religion. The group associated with Buddhism is referred to as the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism (Chinese: ??????), and the group associated with Taoism is referred to as the Four Sacred Mountains of Taoism (Chinese: ??????).
The sacred mountains have all been important destinations for pilgrimage, the Chinese expression for pilgrimage (simplified Chinese: ??; traditional Chinese: ??; pinyin: cháoshèng) being a shortened version of an expression which means "paying respect to a holy mountain" (simplified Chinese: ????; traditional Chinese: ????; pinyin: cháobài shèng sh?n).
Video Sacred Mountains of China
The Five Great Mountains
The Five Great Mountains or Wuyue are arranged according to the five cardinal directions of Chinese geomancy, which includes the center as a direction. The grouping of the five mountains appeared during the Warring States period (475 BC - 221 BC), and the term Wuyue ("Five Summits") was made popular during the reign of Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty 140-87 BC. In Chinese traditional religion they have cosmological and theological significance as the representation, on the physical plane of earth, of the ordered world emanating from the God of Heaven (Tian-Shangdi), inscribing the Chinese territory as a tán ?, "altar", the Chinese concept equivalent of the Indian mandala.
The five mountains are among the best-known natural landmarks in Chinese history, and since the early periods in Chinese history, they have been the ritual sites of imperial worship and sacrifice by various emperors. The first legendary sovereigns of China went on excursions or formed processions to the summits of the Five Great Mountains. Every visit took place at the same time of the year. The excursions were hunting trips and ended in ritual offerings to the reigning god.
The emperors, starting with the First Emperor of Qin, formalized these expeditions and incorporated them into state ritual as prescribed by Confucianism. With every new dynasty, the new emperor hurried to the Five Great Mountains in order to lay claim to his newly acquired domains. Barring a number of interruptions, this imperial custom was preserved until the end of the last dynasty, when, after the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Yuan Shikai had himself crowned as emperor at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. But just to be safe, he also made an offer to the god of the northern Mount Heng.
In the 2000s formal sacrifices both in Confucian and Taoist styles have been resumed. The Five Great Mountains have become places of pilgrimage where hundreds of pilgrims gather in temples and caves. Although the Five Great Mountains are not traditionally canonized as having any exclusive religious affiliations, many of them have a strong Taoist presence, thus the five mountains are also grouped by some as part of "Sacred Taoist Mountains". There are also various Buddhist temples and Confucian academies built on these mountains.
Nature conservation
In ancient times mountains were places of authority and fear, ruled by dark forces and faithfully worshipped. One reason for such worship was the value of the mountains to human existence as a spring of welfare and fertility, as the birthplace of rivers, as a place where herbs and medicinal plants grew and as a source of materials to build houses and tools. A basic element of Taoist thought was, and still is, an intuitive feeling of connectedness with nature. As early as the fourth century, the Taoists presented the high priests with the 180 precepts of Lord Lao for how to live a good and honest life. Twenty of these precepts focused explicitly on the conservation of nature, while many other precepts were indirectly aimed at preventing the destruction of nature. Respect for nature has been a key component of Taoism from the very outset and, in its own right, explains why the Five Great Mountains are considered sacred. In addition, Taoists consider mountains as a means of communication between heaven and earth and as the place where immortality can be found. The sanctity of the Five Great Mountains is the reason why even today these mountains still host an exceptional diversity of plants, trees and animal species.
East Great Mountain (D?ngyuè): Tài Sh?n
Chinese: ??; "Tranquil Mountain", Sh?nd?ng Province, 1,545 m (5,069 ft) 36°15?N 117°06?E
West Great Mountain (X?yuè): Huà Sh?n
simplified Chinese: ??; traditional Chinese: ??; "Splendid Mountain", Shaanxi Province (Sh?nx?), 1,997 m (6,552 ft) 34°29?N 110°05?E
South Great Mountain (Nányuè): Héng Sh?n (Hunan)
Chinese: ??; "Balancing Mountain", Húnán Province, 1,290 m (4,230 ft) 27.254798°N 112.655743°E / 27.254798; 112.655743
North Great Mountain (B?iyuè): Héng Sh?n (Shanxi)
simplified Chinese: ??; traditional Chinese: ??; "Permanent Mountain", Sh?nx? Province, 2,017 m (6,617 ft) 39°40?26?N 113°44?08?E
Center Great Mountain (Zh?ngyuè): S?ng Sh?n
Chinese: ??; "Lofty Mountain", Hénán Province, 1,494 m (4,902 ft) 34°29?5?N 112°57?37?E
Alternatively, these mountains are sometimes referred to by the respective directions: the "Northern Great Mountain" (??/?? B?i Yuè), "Southern Great Mountain" (??/?? Nán Yuè), "Eastern Great Mountain" (??/?? D?ng Yuè), "Western Great Mountain" (??/?? X? Yuè), and "Central Great Mountain" (??/?? Zh?ng Yuè).
According to Chinese mythology, the Five Great Mountains originated from the body of Pangu (??/?? Páng?), the first being and the creator of the world. Because of its eastern location, Mount Tài is associated with the rising sun which signifies birth and renewal. Due to this interpretation, it is often regarded as the most sacred of the Five Great Mountains. In accordance with its special position, Mount Tài is believed to have been formed out of Pangu's head. Mount Heng in Hunan is believed to be a remainder of Pangu's right arm, Mount Heng in Shanxi of his left arm, Mount Song of his belly, and Mount Hua of his feet.
Maps Sacred Mountains of China
The Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism
In Buddhism the Four "Sacred Mountains of China" are:
W?tái Sh?n
Chinese: ???; "Five-Platform Mountain", Sh?nx? Province, 3,058 m, 39°04?45?N 113°33?53?E
Wutai is the home of the Bodhisattva of wisdom, Manjusri or Wenshu (Traditional: ??) in Chinese.
Éméi Sh?n
Chinese: ???; "High and Lofty Mountain", Sìchu?n Province, 3,099 m, 29°31?11?N 103°19?57?E
The patron bodhisattva of Emei is Samantabhadra, known in Chinese as Puxian (????).
J?uhuá Sh?n
simplified Chinese: ???; traditional Chinese: ???; "Nine Glories Mountain", ?nhu? Province, 1,341 m, 30°28?56?N 117°48?16?E
Many of the mountain's shrines and temples are dedicated to Ksitigarbha (known in Chinese as Dìzàng, Chinese: ??, in Japanese as Jiz?), who is a bodhisattva and protector of beings in hell realms
P?tuó Sh?n
Chinese: ???; "Mount Potalaka (Sanskrit)", Zhèji?ng Province, 284 m 30°00?35?N 122°23?06?E
This mountain is considered the bodhimanda of Avalokitesvara (Guan Yin), bodhisattva of compassion. It became a popular pilgrimage site and received imperial support in the Song Dynasty.
The Four Sacred Mountains of Taoism
The "Four Sacred Mountains" of Taoism are:
W?d?ng Sh?n
simplified Chinese: ???; traditional Chinese: ???; literally "Military Wherewithal"; northwestern part of Hubei. Main peak: 1612m. 32°40?0?N 111°00?4?E.
Lóngh? Sh?n
Simplified Chinese: ???; Traditional Chinese: ???; literally "Dragon and Tiger", Jiangxi. Main peak: 247.4m. 28°06?48.999?N 116°57?29.998?E
Qíy?n Sh?n
simplified Chinese: ???; traditional Chinese: ???; literally "Neat Clouds", Anhui. Main peak: 585m. 29°48?29.9988?N 118°01?56.9994?E
Q?ngchéng Sh?n
Chinese: ???; literally "Misty Green City Wall"; (Nearby city: Dujiangyan, Sichuan. Main peak: 1260m (surveyed in 2007). In ancient Chinese history, Mount Qingcheng area was famous for being for "The most secluded place in China". 30°58?35.73?N 103°30?59.90?E.
See also
- Grotto-heavens, Sacred grottoes, sometimes associated with sacred mountains
Other mountains with spiritual/religious significance in China
- Three Famous Mountains (Three Shan, ??)
- Mount Huang
- Mount Lu
- Yandang
- Five Garrison Mountains (Five Zhen, ??)
- Yiwulü Mountain
- Mount Yi
- Mount Wu
- Mount Huo
- Kuaiji
- Mount Lao
- Mount Mian
- Mount Sanqing
- Gongga
- Mount Changbai - regarded by Manchus of the Qing dynasty as Holy Mountain
- Kunlun Mountains - the location of the peach tree of immortality wardened by Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West
- Mount Tian
- Three Holy Mountain Peaks at Daocheng
- Chanodug
- Chenresig
- Jambeyang
- Four Sacred Mountains in Tibetan Buddhism
- Amne Machin
- Kailash
- Ghado Jobo
- Kawagarbo
Bibliography
- Robson, James (2009). Power of Place: The Religious Landscape of the Southern Sacred Peak (Nanyue) in Medieval China. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Asia Center.
- Sun, Xiaochun; Kistemaker, Jacob (1997). The Chinese Sky During the Han: Constellating Stars and Society. Brill. ISBN 9004107371.
References
External links
- Google Maps Pro of 15 Sacred Mountains in China
- Google Earth Map of both Five and Four Sacred Mountains KMZ File
- Religion and the environment in China, ???????? - chinadialogue article, why the five sacred mountains survive in a good ecological state
- A Report on the Nine Sacred Mountains
Source of article : Wikipedia
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