Sacred Mountains of China

The Sacred Mountains of China are divided into two groups, one associated with Taoism and the other with Buddhism. The group associated with Taoism is known as the Five Great Mountains (simplified Chinese: 五岳; traditional Chinese: 五嶽; pinyin: Wǔyuè), whereas the group associated with Buddhism is referred to as the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism (Chinese: 四大佛教名山; pinyin: Sìdà Fójiào Míngshān).

The sacred mountains of both groups have been important destinations for pilgrimage, the Chinese expression for pilgrimage (simplified Chinese: 朝圣; traditional Chinese: 朝聖; pinyin: cháoshèng) is a shortened version of an expression which means "paying respect to a holy mountain" (simplified Chinese: 朝拜圣山; traditional Chinese: 朝拜聖山; pinyin: cháobài shèng shān).

Map of the sacred mountains of China, red circles: taoist group, magenta stars: buddhis group.

The Five Great Mountains

A Han Dynasty tile emblematically representing the five cardinal directions

The Taoist Five Great Mountains are arranged according to the five cardinal directions of Chinese geomancy, which includes the center as a direction:

East Great Mountain (Dōngyuè): Tài Shān

Chinese: 泰山; ; "Tranquil Mountain", Shāndōng Province, 1,545 m, 36°15′N 117°06′E

West Great Mountain (Xīyuè): Huà Shān

simplified Chinese: 华山; traditional Chinese: 華山; "Splendid Mountain", Shănxī Province, 1,997 m 34°29′N 110°05′E

South Great Mountain (Nányuè): Héng Shān (Hunan)

Chinese: 衡山; ; "Balancing Mountain", Húnán Province, 1,290 m, 27.254798°N 112.655743°E / 27.254798; 112.655743

North Great Mountain (Běiyuè): Héng Shān

simplified Chinese: 恒山; traditional Chinese: 恆山; "Permanent Mountain", Shānxī Province, 2,017 m, 39°40′26″N 113°44′08″E

Center Great Mountain (Zhōngyuè): Sōng Shān

Chinese: 嵩山; ; "Lofty Mountain", Hénán Province, 1,494 m, 34°29′5″N 112°57′37″E

Alternatively, these mountains are sometimes referred to by the respective directions, i.e., as the "Northern Great Mountain" (北嶽/北岳 Běi Yuè), "Southern Great Mountain" (南嶽/南岳 Nán Yuè), "Eastern Great Mountain" (東嶽/东岳 Dōng Yuè), "Western Great Mountain" (西嶽/西岳 Xī Yuè), and "Central Great Mountain" (中嶽/中岳 Zhōng Yuè).

According to Chinese mythology, the Five Great Mountains originated from the body of Pangu (盤古/盘古 Pángǔ), the first being and the creator of the world. Because of its eastern location, Mount Tài is associated with the rising sun which signifies birth and renewal. Due to this interpretation, it is often regarded as the most sacred of the Five Great Mountains. In accordance with its special position, Mount Tài is believed to have been formed out of Pangu's head. Mount Heng in Hunan is believed to be a remainder of Pangu's right arm, Mount Heng in Shanxi of his left arm, Mount Song of his belly, and Mount Hua of his feet.

The Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism

The Roushen Temple at Jiuhua Shan

The Buddhist Four Sacred Mountains in China are:

Wǔtái Shān

Chinese: 五台山; "Five-Platform Mountain", Shānxī Province, 3,058 m, 39°04′45″N 113°33′53″E

Wutai is the home of the Bodhisattva of wisdom, Manjusri or Wenshu (Traditional: 文殊) in Chinese.

Éméi Shān

Chinese: 峨嵋山; ; "High and Lofty Mountain", Sìchuān Province, 3,099 m, 29°31′11″N 103°19′57″E

The patron bodhisattva of Emei is Samantabhadra, known in Chinese as Puxian (普贤菩萨).

Jiǔhuá Shān

simplified Chinese: 九华山; traditional Chinese: 九華山; "Nine Glories Mountain", Ānhuī Province, 1,341 m, 30°28′56″N 117°48′16″E

Many of the mountain's shrines and temples are dedicated to Ksitigarbha (known in Chinese as Dìzàng, Chinese: 地藏, in Japanese as Jizō), who is a bodhisattva and protector of beings in hell realms

Pǔtuó Shān

Chinese: 普陀山; ; "Mount Potalaka", Zhèjiāng Province, 284 m 30°00′35″N 122°23′06″E

This mountain is considered the bodhimanda of Avalokitesvara (Guan Yin), bodhisattva of compassion.

Four Taoist mountains

Wǔdāng Shān

simplified Chinese: 武当山; traditional Chinese: 武當山; northwestern part of Hubei. Main peak: 1612m. 32°40′0″N 111°00′4″E.

Lónghŭ Shān

Simplified Chinese: 龙虎山; Traditional Chinese: 龍虎山; literally "Dragon Tiger Mountain", Jiangxi. Main peak: 247.4m.

Qíyūn Shān

simplified Chinese: 齐云山; traditional Chinese: 齊雲山; literally "As High as the Clouds", Anhui. Main peak: 585m.

Qīngchéng Shān

Chinese: 青城山; ; Dujiangyan, Sichuan. Main peak: 1260m (surveyed in 2007). famous for "The most secluded place in China". 31°01′07.63″N 103°32′47.36″E.

Other famous Taoist mountains

• Laoshan
• Mount Sanqing

See also

Other mountains with spiritual/religious significance in China are:

• Mount Lu

External links

• Google Earth Map of both Five and Four Sacred Mountains KMZ File
• Religion and the environment in China, 中国的宗教与环境 - chinadialogue article, why the five sacred mountains survive in a good ecological state
• A Report on the Nine Sacred Mountains