Scenic Spots - A Bilingual Reader of Chinese Traditional Culture

Author: Wang Hao / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Mount Tai is located in Tai'an County, with a total area of 426 square kilometers. Its main peak, Yu Huang Ding, stands at an altitude of 1,545 meters. It boasts magnificent and extraordinary "Seventy-two Peaks" and has been a place where emperors of past dynasties worshipped heaven and earth and held the grand ceremony of Fengchan (sacrificial rites). Qin Shi Huang inscribed stone records to commemorate his achievements, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty performed Fengchan rituals there several times. Later emperors also ascended Mount Tai, leaving behind many ancient buildings and cultural relics. The Dai Temple is the main temple of Mount Tai, where emperors held the Fengchan ceremony. It was established during the Qin and Han dynasties and now covers an area of 96,000 square meters. The temple is aligned along a north-south central axis, with four major buildings arranged in front and back: the Peitian Gate, Ren'an Gate, Tianhuan Hall, and the Middle Palace. These structures resemble palaces, with upturned eaves and arched roofs, shining in gold and jade, reflecting the dignity and grandeur of emperors. Inside Tianhuan Hall, there is a large mural titled "Qibu Huihuang Tu," believed to be a work from the Song Dynasty, depicting the grand scene of the Mountain God of Tai Tai going out hunting and returning with abundant spoils. The Han Cypress Courtyard in the temple is said to contain cypresses planted by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, along with many ancient steles.
Confucius once said, "After climbing Mount Tai, one feels small in the world," and the great Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu famously wrote, "I shall climb to the peak and survey all the mountains." These words show how climbing Mount Tai can inspire one's spirit! The Dai Zong Fang is the starting point for climbing Mount Tai from the east. Two li to the northeast is the Wangmu Chi, which was established during the Three Kingdoms period. The area features gurgling springs and lush green trees, resembling a fairyland. Following the mountain path upward, you pass by attractions such as "Fang Qun" (Gate Groups), Hongmen Palace, Wanxian Lou, Doumu Palace, and finally reach the "Zhongtianmen" after twelve winding flights of stairs. This is the intersection of the eastern and western paths up Mount Tai. Continuing upward, after passing the "Bucun Bridge," you arrive at the "Wusong Ting." Legend has it that Qin Shi Huang once sought shelter under the pines here and was thus enfeoffed as the "Five Great Officials," a ninth-rank official title during the Qin Dynasty. Ahead lies Duansong Shan, where twin peaks stand facing each other, with rolling pine forests that evoke a sense of tranquility. Emperor Qianlong once wrote a poem, calling this place the "best of all on Mount Tai." Visitors must climb the famous "Eighteen Platforms" to reach the South Heaven Gate, with the "Shengtian Fang" in between, considered the boundary between the mortal world and heaven. The stone steps become steeper higher up, eventually forming almost right angles. Looking back at the distance from here, one feels as if floating among the clouds, as if in a celestial realm. P5-7