Comprehensive Overview of Famous Mountains in China

Author: Yang Yanyang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: To interpret and spread our spirit and culture, to record and carry our glory and dreams. As the ancient Chinese proverb goes, "A benevolent person delights in mountains, and a wise person delights in water." Mountains are not only magnificent landscapes created by nature, but numerous famous mountains in the long history of Chinese civilization have carried our splendid and magnificent culture. The four major Buddhist mountains—Mount Wutai, Mount Putuo, Mount Emei, and Mount Jiuhua—are emerald-draped and ethereal, resembling the immortal paradise of Pengla in the mortal world. The four major Taoist mountains—Mount Wudang, Mount Longhu, Mount Qiyun, and Mount Qingcheng—are layered in purple and green, mystical and enchanting, attracting the devout from all directions. The magnificence of Mount Tai, the of Mount Hua, the beauty of Mount Heng, the uniqueness of Mount Hengshan, and the serenity of Mount Songshan perfectly blend natural scenery with human emotions, creating "a realm beyond the ordinary." The Huangshan, described as "a wonderland beyond the mortal world," and the Lushan, praised as "the most magnificent mountain under heaven," immerse friends in the wonders of towering peaks, sea of clouds, green pines, and grotesque rocks. Our busy minds and bodies resonate with the morning bells and evening drums, hidden among green tiles and red eaves. Strolling through the book allows us to spiritually roam among the proud peaks and beautiful rivers of China, deeply moved and impressed by the grandeur and beauty of the famous mountains. It also enables us to sing freely, forgetting all worldly worries.
The author wrote this book with the aim of helping friends better understand, recognize, and appreciate the famous mountains of China, especially to gain a comprehensive grasp of their cultural heritage. In the busy modern urban life, people constantly move among the concrete "forests" and socialize in the dazzling lights and wine, rarely finding half a day to immerse themselves in nature. This is increasingly distant from the ancient pursuit of "traveling ten thousand miles and reading thousands of books," making it impossible to visit all the famous mountains, explore ancient mysteries, and see the grand sights.
Therefore, this book is organized in the order of "Five Great Mountains, Buddhist Mountains, Taoist Mountains, and Famous Mountains of Various Regions," compiling a total of 64 famous mountains of China. It focuses on both "nature" and "human culture," in addition to landscape descriptions, it also collects related myths, legends, ancient poems, anecdotes of famous figures, and historical stories. The inscriptions on steles and stone tablets, as well as famous temples and ancient monasteries, are also vividly described. Each chapter is titled with poems related to the mountain, further enriching the cultural connotation of the famous mountains.
Friends, although we cannot freely roam the mountains and waters, browsing this book will surely take us on a spiritual journey, leaving us enchanted and reluctant to part.