Collection of China NO:37 Wudang Mountain

Author: Xu Jiaguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: In Jin Yong's martial arts novels, mentioning Taoist martial arts often brings to mind Wudang Mountain, Zhang Sanfeng, and the original style Tai Chi he created. Wudang Mountain is indeed a renowned martial arts destination, still attracting many young people to learn martial arts there today. However, if one views Wudang Mountain as entirely shrouded in the glow of staffs and fists, they would be greatly mistaken. In reality, Wudang Mountain is equally breathtaking in its scenery. It faces the emerald waters of the Danjiang Reservoir, with the vast, mysterious Shennongjia Forest Reserve as its backdrop. The Han River winds like a dragon around the north, while the Bashan Mountains stand like emerald screens to the south. The Tianzhu Peak, standing at an altitude of 1,612.1 meters, is surrounded by a forest of peaks, most averaging around 1,000 meters. Each peak bows its head in reverence toward the main peak, forming the magnificent sight of the "Seventy-Two Peaks Overlooking the Great Summit." The names of these peaks and rocks often derive from religious beliefs or mythical stories, imbuing them with a mysterious aura. Wudang Mountain is one of China's four major Taoist mountains, hence it is adorned with many wonderful and moving legends. It is said that the Zhenwu Dadi (Divine Martial Emperor) practiced and attained enlightenment here, leading to the saying "Only the True Martial can match it," and the name "Wudang" thus originated. If you are interested, you can continue to share with me the excitement of visiting Wudang Mountain. To visit Wudang Mountain, one must first arrive in Jun County. In "Jun County," one can see "Wudang" Mountain from a glance. Every five miles, there is a temple, stretching all the way up to the eighty-mile-high "Golden Summit." It is said that the construction of these palaces cost the entire tax revenue of Jiangnan for seven years, as Emperor Yongle sought to fulfill a dream—he himself had visited once, leaving behind many legends in the mouths of the elderly. Further up, there is a "Needle-Milling Well" (though it is now called Fuzhen Guan). Legend has it that the "Wudang True Person" went to practice Taoism here but failed, only to endure great hardships and suffering. His heart grew cold. At this very spot, he encountered an old woman grinding a large iron pestle on a stone. Curious, he asked, "Grandma, what are you doing?" "I am grinding a needle," she replied. As he pondered the meaning of these words, the old woman vanished in an instant. The "Wudang True Person" finally succeeded in his practice, leaving behind a well and an iron pestle to inspire people to this day. On the ancient sacred path to the Golden Summit, there is a cave in the cliffs of the Zige Peak. The air inside is dry yet not arid, moist yet not damp, always cool and refreshing throughout the seasons. Locals say this is a place long desired by those who practiced cultivation. The Huanglong Cave is actually a natural rock house, which has been expanded and renovated by generations of cultivators. Here, structures such as the Huanglong Palace, Zhenwu Pavilion, Yao Wang Hall, and Shenquan Pavilion have been added, enhancing its mysterious and profound ambiance. In the Huanglong Cave, there is a spring that never runs dry. Legend tells of a yellow dragon who attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven here. To express gratitude for its nurturing, the dragon left behind a divine elixir. This elixir made the water crystal clear and sweet, capable of healing all illnesses. While legends may be just that, it is a historical fact that the great Ming Dynasty physician Li Shizhen came to Wudang to collect herbs and resided here. Records show that Li Shizhen revised his monumental work "Compendium of Materia Medica" in the Huanglong Cave and recorded over 800 valuable medicinal herbs of Wudang Mountain in the book. The Huanglong Cave is closely linked to Wudang medicine. Wudang Mountain has long been known for the saying "Of ten Taoists, nine are skilled in healing," meaning that nine out of ten Taoists understand the art of curing illnesses. This is partly due to their long-term pursuit of cultivation techniques for immortality, but objectively, it has contributed to the research and application of Wudang medicine. On the Golden Summit stands a golden house (which is actually a golden hall). The walls appear entirely golden (though they are made of copper), yet they cannot be opened without gold. The "attendant" holds a key in one hand and a collection box in the other. At the top of the mountain, there is a temple with a teahouse. If you return, you can bring some tea as a gift—though not widely famous, it is quite delicious, as it is grown right on "Wudang" Mountain! The golden hall stands atop the peak, exuding an aura of "reigning over the world," embodying the phrase "all mountains bow to me, I alone am supreme." Along the path to the Golden Summit lies the largest and best-preserved of the mountain's sixteen shrines and temples. It is also time to mention the burning of "Dragon Heads." Behind a grand temple lies an abyss so deep it seems bottomless. A stone dragon, as thick as a barrel, extends over a hundred feet from its body. The dragon's body is adorned with carved patterns at every step, and its head holds a large incense burner. During religious festivals, thousands of devout followers arrive from afar, carrying flags, drums, and incense paper. They come to light an incense stick and bow before the "Ancestor." Some, for the sake of their fathers or themselves, make grand vows and walk step by step along the carved patterns on the dragon's body to the head, where they light an incense stick before turning back. How many sons and followers have fallen into the dizzying abyss, swept away by the floodwaters of June, only to be told they lacked sincerity. Of course, that was long ago, and now the burning of dragon heads is strictly prohibited. Among the thirty-six cliffs of Wudang, the most beautiful is the Nan Rock Palace (as I heard from others, haha, and I think it's quite nice too). The Nan Rock Palace, also known as Duyang Rock or Zixiao Rock, is considered a sacred realm where the True Martial Emperor attained enlightenment and flew to heaven in Taoist belief. The Nan Rock Peak is steep and rugged, with lush green forests, stretching up to the blue sky and down to the precipitous cliffs. Legend has it that one of the Eight Immortals, Lü Dongbin, once practiced here in the Tang Dynasty, and his poem remains to this day. Historical records praise the Nan Rock as "divided into halls and courtyards, morning bells and evening lights, the mountain resounds, and the valleys tremble." Here, "morning bells and evening lights" were used instead of the usual "morning bells and evening drums," indicating the clever layout of the buildings at night, where the lights became a unique sight. Lingxu Cliff is located at the foot of the Taoyuan Peak, southwest of the Wulong Palace, about five miles from Wulong Palace. From the ridge of Wulong Palace, one can see a vast green forest sea, with no trace of Taoist temple buildings, reminding one of the famous exam question "Hidden temples in deep mountains." Near Lingxu Cliff, the entire slope is covered with chrysanthemums. When snow covers Wudang Mountain, everything is silver, but Lingxu Cliff sparkles with scattered gold and fills the air with fragrance. Lingxu Cliff is not large, but it contains a Yuan Dynasty brick hall, once housing statues of Chen Tuan the Elder and Lü Dongbin. The path to the cliff cave is lined with stone steps, railings, and gates. Now, lush green bamboo covers everything, as if whispering to people, "This is a place long forgotten by tourists."