Wudang Mountains

The Wudang Mountains consist of a small mountain range in the northwestern part of Hubei, China, just south of Shiyan. It is also called Taihe and Xuanyue Mountain. They are home to a famous complex of Taoist temples and monasteries associated with the god Xuan Wu. The Wudang Mountains are renowned for the practice of Taichi and Taoism as the Taoist counterpart to the Shaolin Monastery, which is affiliated with Chinese Chán Buddhism. In 1994, the Ancient Building Complex on the mountain was included on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Besides, the mountain is said to be the birthplace of the famous Chinese Wudang Martial Arts.

History

Construction of the Ancient Building Complex started in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). During the reign of Emperor Taizong , the Five Dragon Ancestral Temple was built on Wudang Mountain. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), about 33 palaces and structures including the Yuxu Palace, the Grand Purple Cloud Palace, the Yuzhen Palace and the Palace of Harmony were built. Then the grand and magnificent building complex was formed. At present, the extant building complex includes the Palace of Harmony, the Grand Purple Cloud Palace, the South Cliff Palace, the Yuzhen Palace, relics of the Yuxu Palace and the Five Dragon Ancestral Temple, Xuanyue Gate (a huge archway) and the Fuzhen Temple.

Ancient Buildings

The ancient buildings in Wudang Mountain, great in size and beautiful in artistic design, built on steep hills or in sharp cliffs to achieve a harmonious unity between buildings and nature, have been praised as the ultimate showcase of China's ancient buildings and approved World Cultural Legacy.

The Golden Palace of on the top of Heavenly Pillar Peak is the essence and symbol of Wudang Mountain, the sign of Wudang Taoism coming to the highest peak under the support of the imperial families. Standing in front of Golden Palace, you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scene of Wudang Mountain, as far as 400 kilometers away. All the peaks are stopping at the static moment, just like raged waves, which wonderfully advertises the holy prestige and lofty imperial power. Meanwhile, you can also view many fantastic natural astronomical phenomena and learn many widespread fairy tales.

Situated on the south section of Tianzhu Peak, the Palace of Harmony is composed of the Golden Palace (Golden Peak), the Forbidden City and the Gutong Hall. The Golden Palace is the most celebrated. Constructed of bronze, the palace is about four meters (13 feet) long, three meters (10 feet) wide and six meters (20 feet) high. In the hall stands the statue of Emperor Zhenwu in the shrine with Golden Boy and Jade Girl, and two generals of Fire and Water attending him on the left and right. It is said that the statue of Emperor Zhenwu is about ten tons (22,046 pounds). Above the shrine is hung a golden plaque with four Chinese characters 'Jin', 'Guang', 'Miao' and 'Xiang' written by Kangxi, an emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Through the ages, the palace still presents its glamour and grandiosity.

Located below Zhanqi Peak, the Grand Purple Cloud Palace is the most magnificent and best-preserved Taoist building on Wudang Mountain. Covering an area of 6,850 square meters (two acres), the palace consists of the Dragon and Tiger Hall, the Stele Pavilion, the Shifang Hall, the Parents' Hall, the Grand Hall of Purple Cloud Palace and other buildings. Covered with blue glazed tiles and yellow and blue carvings on the roof, the Grand Hall is the most representative wooden structure on the mountain. In the hall is worshipped the sculpture of Emperor Jade which was made by a Ming Dynasty artisan.

Association with Wudang Martial Arts

According to legend, Zhang Sanfeng, is the originator of Wudangquan generally and Taijiquan specifically. He was said to be inspired by a fight he witnessed between a pied magpie (also said to be a white crane) and a viper. From the early 20th century, Taijiquan, Xingyiquan and Baguazhang have been considered Wudang styles, following Sun Lutang. Following this classification the national martial arts tournament of the Central Guoshu Institute held in 1928 separated the participants into "Shaolin" and "Wudang".

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