Natural Overview
Wudang Mountain, also known as Mount Taihe, was once named "Da Yue" and "Xuan Yue" by the Emperor in the Ming Dynasty, and is located in the southwestern part of Danjiang City, Hubei Province, China, with the longitude of 110°56'15"~111°15'23", and the latitude of 32°22'30"~32°35'06" north. '15"~111°15'23", latitude 32°22'30"~32°35'06 ". The main peak, Tianzhu Peak, is 1,612 meters above sea level. Surrounded by 72 peaks arching, 24 streams ringing the flow, Lingyan Qi Cave hidden in between, white clouds and green trees reflecting, spectacular.
Wudang Mountain is located in the subtropical monsoon climate. Zonal vegetation is containing evergreen broadleaf laminated deciduous broadleaf forest, vegetation vertical zone spectrum is obvious, the base zone with subtropical scenery, is the transition zone between subtropical and warm temperate zone. And because of the proximity of Danjiang Reservoir, the mountain fog heavy, high humidity.
Wudang Mountain ancient architectural complex contains buildings from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and the architectural system was formed in the early years of the Ming Dynasty. In the entire construction process assigned Feng Shui family survey site selection, bringing together the national skilled craftsmen and craftsmen elaborate construction, the Ministry of Public Works Minister personally supervise the work, thus making the entire complex rich in characteristics.
Wudang Mountain ancient architectural complex, built in the Tang Zhenguan years (627-649 AD), has built five dragon word, Taiyi Temple, Yanchang Temple and Weiwugong new temple. In the second year of Emperor Chenzong's Tianxi reign in the Song Dynasty (1018 A.D.), the Five Dragons' Words were expanded and the shrine was changed into a temple. During the Xuanhe period of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty (1119-1125 A.D.), the Ziyun Temple, Laojun Temple and Xianguan Terrace were built. In the 23rd year of Emperor Yuan Shizu's reign (1286 AD), he emphasized Taoism and built the Five Dragons Temple, which was upgraded to a palace. In the eighth year of Yuan Chengzong's Dade (1304 AD), more than 100 buildings were built, including the Fudi Gate, Tianyi Zhenqing Palace, Yuxuyan Temple, Leishendongyan Temple, Yinxianyan Temple, and so on. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di that is the emperor, the year number water music, take a series of measures to consolidate the power of the emperor, the use of Wudang Mountain Taoism, advocating the "divine right of the emperor", in order to repay the gods, repair Wudang. Since the Yongle ten years to twenty-two years (AD 1412-1424 years), many times issued orders, planning to build Wudang Mountain Taoist official view, sent the Ministry of Industry Minister rate of civil and military craftsmen more than 200,000 people, went to the Wudang Mountains, after 12 years of camping, built 9 Palace 9 view, 36 bottom, 72 rock temples, more than 100 stone bridges, such as the **** 33 groups of Taoist complexes. Yongle fourteen years (1416 AD), the emperor ordered the allocation of Tuolu prisoners 550 households, 3123 people sent to the Wudang Mountain reclamation, the annual payment of fasting food, tea, salt and cotton, for the maintenance of the Palace.
The Junzhou garrison specializes in inspecting the mountain, and sends servicemen to clean the palace and burn bricks and tiles, maintenance of the palace, so that the Chief Secretary of Hunan and Guangdong regularly visit and supervise. Set up the palace casting seal, guarding the palace, sealing Wudang Mountain as "Taiyue Taihe Mountain". Wudang Mountain has become a royal temple. more than 200 years, the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty to follow the ancestral system, so that the imperial envoys to the Wudang Mountain pilgrimage, funding the maintenance of the palace, appointed ministers responsible for the protection and management. In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Shizong in Jiajing 31 years (1552 AD), allocated silver to repair Wudang, the Ministry of Public Works, the right minister, together with the Hukuang Chief Secretary 99 officials, leading more than 60 provinces, states, counties, military and civilian craftsmen went to Wudang. After a year and a half of hard work, **** maintenance, expansion of the temple 955 buildings, 40,000 meters of the Palace Wall, 28 stone bridges, etc., the establishment of the seal of the "rule of Xuan Yue", so that the Wudang Mountain in the Ming Dynasty still maintains the main body of the eight Palace of the two views of the huge Taoist complex, with more than 2,666 hectares of land, counting Taoist officials, Taoist congregations, the army, craftsmen and so on, more than 10,000 people.
Wudang Mountain ancient architectural complex now exists in Taihe Palace, South Rock Fu, Ziyun Palace, meet the true Palace 4 Palace, Yuxu Palace, five dragon Palace 2 sites, as well as the Yuanhe Guan, Fuzhen Guan and a large number of nunneries, ancestral shrines, rock temples, etc., *** there are more than 200 buildings of ancient architecture, building area of 50,000 square meters, covering an area of more than 1 million square meters. In order to protect this precious heritage, the Chinese government has promulgated a series of policies and regulations, and established the Wudang Mountain Cultural Relics Protection Institute in 1961, which is responsible for the management and maintenance of the protection.
In 1961, 1982 and 1988, the State Council of the People's Republic of China promulgated the Wudang Mountain Golden Palace, Ziyun Palace and the "Rule of Xuan Yue" pagoda as national key cultural relics protection units.
In 1982, the State Council of the People's Republic of China recognized Wudang Mountain as a national key scenic spot and established the Wudang Mountain Scenic Spot Management Bureau. 1994, the ancient architectural ensemble of Wudang Mountain was officially listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO as cultural heritage.
Cultural Overview
The ancient architectural complex of Wudang Mountain has gone through many vicissitudes, and now there are 4 Taoist palaces, 2 palace ruins, 2 Taoist temples and a large number of sacred words and rock temples. In terms of layout, regulation, style, materials and craftsmanship are preserved in their original state. The main body of the building to the palace as the core, the main palace building in the polygonal basin or mountain-assisted terraces, nunneries and shrines are distributed in the vicinity of the palace in the zone, a self-contained system, rock temples occupy the peaks of the danger to form a "five miles of the bottom of the ten miles of the Palace, the Dan wall of Cuiwai Wang Linglong," the huge landscape. In the art of architecture, architectural aesthetics has reached an extremely perfect realm, with rich ancient Chinese cultural and scientific and technological connotations, is the study of the early Ming Dynasty political and religious history of China and the ancient architecture of the physical evidence. Wudangshan ancient architectural complex has the following main features:
Tight planning, outstanding architecture Wudangshan ancient architectural complex is distributed in the mountains centered on Tianzhu Peak, the overall planning is tight, the main and secondary clear, orderly size, reasonable layout. Building location selection, pay attention to the environment, pay attention to the mountain shape of the water vein cloth sparse and dense. Architectural design planning or grand and spectacular, or small and exquisite, or deep in the depression, or near the dangerous cliffs, to achieve a high degree of harmony between the building and nature, with a strong architectural rhythm and creativity of genius.
Superior technical and artistic achievements Wudang Mountain ancient architectural group of diverse types, with a wide range of materials, the design, construction, decoration, furnishings, whether wooden palace, copper casting hall, stone rock temple, as well as copper casting, wood carving, stone carving, clay sculpture and other types of statues of gods have reached a high degree of technical and artistic achievements.
The treasure of Taoist architecture Wudang Mountain Taoist complex has always been planned and built by the emperor himself, the royal family sent management. Existing buildings of its large scale, high planning, construction of rigorous, beautifully decorated, statues, offerings, the number of extant Taoist architecture in China is unique.
Reflects the great achievements of China's ancient science and technology Wudang Mountain Golden Hall and the temple statues, tables and other all copper cast distilled gold, castings volume is huge, the use of the lost wax method (wax mold) flip casting, on behalf of China's Ming Dynasty in the early years of the (15th century) science and technology and the foundry industry's significant development.
Significant historical significance The construction of the Wudang Mountain complex is the Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu oak in the expansion of diplomacy, at the same time, the internal vigorously promote Taoism, inculcate the idea of "divine right of the emperor" to consolidate its internal rule, has a significant historical and ideological beliefs and other significance.
Main Heritage The main heritage in the ancient architectural complex of Wudang Mountain are the Taihe Arch, Nanyan Palace, Ziyun Palace, Fuzhen Guan and the "Ruling Xuanyue" stone workshop.
● Taihe Palace: located in the south side of Tianzhu Peak, covers an area of 80,000 square meters, the existing ancient buildings more than 20 buildings, construction area of more than l 600 square meters, the main buildings are:
1. Golden Palace: Ming Dynasty copper casting imitation wood structure palace-style buildings, located in the top of the Tianzhu Peak in the middle of the stone platform, with an area of about 160 square meters, facing the south 8 ° east. The width and depth of the hall are three, 4.4 meters wide, 3.15 meters deep, 5.54 meters high. Surrounded by 12 columns, columns on the stacked frame, forehead, square and heavy warping heavy angels and single warping heavy angels arch, respectively, to support the upper and lower eaves, constituting the bottom of the eaves of the temple-style roof. The two ends of the ridge cast dragon confrontation. The four walls are installed between the columns with a four-pointed lattice fan door. The top of the hall is made of flat chess ceiling, casting shallow carving flowing cloud pattern, with soft and smooth lines. The floor is plastered with purple stone pattern and washed and polished. The roof is characterized by the practice of "pushing the mountain". Inside the hall in front of the back wall screen set up altar, molded Zhenwu Da Di sitting statue, the left serving golden boy holding the book, the right serving Jade Lady Duanbao, water and fire two generals, holding the flag holding the sword arching the two compartments. Under the altar Xuanwu a respect, for the Jin Wan body. Set up in front of the altar, set incense. Above the altar hanging high distillation goldsmith forehead, cast on the Qing Emperor Aisin Gioro - Xuan Ye handwriting "golden light wonderful phase" four words. The eaves of the temple, hanging pan-dragon bucket edge distilled gold plaque amount, on the vertical casting "Golden Temple" two words. All parts of the body of the temple lost wax casting method, the whole body distillation gold, whether tile, woodwork components, structural rigor, seam precision, although after more than five hundred years of cold and heat, is still as brilliant as the beginning of China's casting industry, showing a high degree of development, can be called the existing ancient architecture and casting technology in a brilliant pearl.
2. Ancient Copper Hall: located in the Tianzhu Peak before the small lotus peak. Yuan dynasty dade eleven years (AD 1307) casting, 3 meters high, 2.8 meters wide, 2.4 meters deep, overhanging roof, all the components for the casting of pieces, mortise and tenon assembly, the castings are marked with text to install parts of the grid fan skirt plate casting "this hall in the Yuan dynasty dade eleven years casting in the Wuchang Mei Ting Wan's workshop," the earliest extant Chinese Copper cast wood structure building.
3. Forbidden City: built in Yongle seventeen years (1419 AD), Yan Tianzhu Peak surrounded by a circumference of 345 meters, the base of the wall is 2.4 meters thick, the wall is 1.8 meters thick, the highest part of the wall up to 10 meters, with the stone masonry rock, each stone weighs more than 500 kilograms, according to the pattern of China's paradise built in the east, south, west and north of the four stone carvings of imitation wood structure of the city symbolizes the Heavenly Gate. The stone building in the cliffs above the wall, ingenious design, construction difficulties, is a combination of science and art in the Ming Dynasty products.
● Zixiao Palace: located in the southeast of Wudang Mountain under the exhibition of the flag peak, was built in the Northern Song Dynasty during the Xuanhe years (1119-1125 AD), the Ming Yongle eleven years (1413 AD) rebuilt, the Ming Jiajing thirty-one years (1552 AD) expansion, the Qing Dynasty Jiaqing eight years to twenty-five years (1803-1820 AD) repair, is the Wudang Mountain, the eight major palaces and guan of the large scale, preservation of one of the complete Taoist architecture. It is one of the eight major palaces in Wudang Mountain with large scale and complete preservation of Taoist buildings. There are 29 buildings with a floor area of 6854 square meters. The central axis for the five steps, from top to bottom of the Dragon and Tiger Hall, Pavilion, Ten Square Hall, Zixiao Hall, St. Wendel Hall, on both sides of the building with rooms and other buildings separated into three courtyards, constituting a group of halls and buildings, lined up, the main and secondary distinct architectural complex. Palace of the central two wings for the courtyard-style Taoist residence.
Palace of the main building Zixiao Hall, Wudang Mountain is the most representative of the wooden building, built on a three-story stone pedestal, pedestal before the center and left and right side have a footpath leading to the platform of the hall. Hall face into the depth of five rooms, 18.3 meters high, 29.9 meters wide, 12 meters deep, an area of 358.8 square meters. *** there are eaves columns, gold columns 36, arranged in an orderly manner. The main hall for the heavy eaves hysterical roof type large wooden structure, lined by three layers of Chongtai, proportionality moderate, coordinated appearance. The upper and lower eaves maintain the practice before the early Ming Dynasty. Column head and arch show the characteristics of Ming Dynasty bucket bar. Beam structure with nine sandalwood, height and width ratio of 5:2.5, to maintain the proportion of materials used since the Song and Liao. Inside the temple gold columns and architraves, Shi Jingkou ceiling, bright room in the groove with a bucket eight algal wells. Ming Department of the rear part of the exquisite carved stone Sumeru shrine, which for the Jade Emperor, the left and right ribs serving the gods, are from the hands of the Ming people.
The roof of the Hall of the Purple Sky all cover peacock blue glazed tiles, ridge, ridge and bump ridge, etc. to yellow, green and other colors of the main floor space carvings, decorative rich and colorful ornate, rarely seen for other religious buildings.
● South Rock Palace: built in the twenty-second year of the Yuan to the Yuan to three years (AD 1285-1310), Ming Yongle ten years (AD 1412) expansion. Located under the Doyang Rock, the mountain soars like the wings of the sky, famous for the beauty of the peaks. The existing building 2l buildings, construction area of 3505 square meters, covers an area of 90,000 square meters. There are motion Tianyi Zhenqing Palace stone hall, two Yi Hall, the Imperial scripture hall, eight Feng Pavilion, Dragon and Tiger Hall, large monument Pavilion and the South Heavenly Gate buildings. The main building Tianyi real Qing Palace stone hall, built in the Yuan to three years (AD 13lO years) before, face 11 meters wide, 6.6 meters deep, 6.8 meters high, beams, columns, doors, windows, etc. are carved and chiseled in lapis lazuli. The top of the front slope for the single-eaved hermitage style, after the slope according to the rock, made into a hanging mountain style, eaves arch are made two jumps, for the Liao Jin architectural arch practice. Dragon head incense, 3 meters long, wide only o.33 meters, picked out of the sky, under the deep valley, the dragon's head on a small incense burner, the shape of a very dangerous, with a high degree of artistry and science.
● Fuzhen Guan: built in the Ming Yongle ten years (AD 1412), the Qing Kangxi twenty-two years (AD 1683) remodeling. Located in front of the Lion Peak, the existing building 20 buildings, building area of 3505 square meters, covers an area of 60,000 square meters. Guanmen side open 9Jr turns the mountain building wall compound road, like a dragon. On the central axis there is a wall, Van Pauw furnace, Dragon and Tiger Hall, the Great Hall, Prince Hall. The left side of the Taoist temple built Huang Jing Hall, Zhi Jing Pavilion, Temple Pavilion, fasting rooms, with the mountain overlap staggered. In front of the five cloud building, five-story building wing corner columns erected 12 beams Fang, cross stacked pavilion, for the large wooden building in the rare structure, a column of twelve beams called.
● "Rule of Xuan Yue" Square: built in the thirty-first year of Ming Jiajing (A.D. l 552 years). Located 4000 meters east of the town of Wudang Mountain, the first gateway into the Wudang Mountain, also known as the Xuan Yue door. Department of stone chiseled imitation wood building structure, three four columns and five floor pagoda, 11.9 meters high, 14.5 meters wide. The ratio of the bright room and the second room is 5:3. 6.4 meters high, the column perimeter of the clamping rod stone reinforced with iron hoops. Pillar top frame Longmen square, square under the bright room for the relief of the large small square upper out of the volume of grass flower teeth child sparrow for, bearing the relief on the visit and the lower square, square embedded in the Hall of flowers, constituting a spacious bright room, the two sides of the three slightly lower doorway. The main building on the Longmen Square, the bright room around the square pillars, embedded rectangular horizontal plaque. Subdivision of each of the two floors set up the side of the floor, the cloud board and the second floor, constituting a wide and towering floor, side of the floor, from top to bottom, layer by layer, the outward expansion of the three drops of water hysteresis type of building, embedded in a horizontal plaque engraved with the Emperor Jia Jing gave the title "rule of the world Xuan Yue". This workshop structure is concise, rich in changes in the components, all with mortise and tenon joints, balanced and rigorous assembly, the workshop body decorative ornate, carving exquisite, the use of line carving, round carving, relief, etc., carved figures, animals and flowers Qi patterns, etc., is the best work of the southern stone as a pagoda, but also the Ming dynasty stone carving treasures of the arts.
In addition, in the whole mountain in the various palaces and temples are also preserved in copper, iron, wood, stone all kinds of statues 1,486 pieces, of which nearly dry pieces of products before the Ming Dynasty, the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing inscriptions, Mo Yan 409 passes, the law, 682 pieces of equipment, as well as books and scriptures, etc., are all precious cultural heritage.
Source: China Internet News Center