Sacred Mountains of China

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

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

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

[edit] The Five Great Mountains

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

east: Tài Shān (泰山/泰山, literally Leading Peaceful Mountain), Shāndōng, 1,545 m
west: Huà Shān (華山/华山, literally Splendid Mountain), Shǎnxī, 1,997 m
south: (Nán) Héng Shān (衡山/衡山, literally Balancing Mountain), Húnán, 1,290 m
north: (Běi) Héng Shān (恆山/恒山, literally Permanent Mountain), Shānxī, 2,017 m
center: Sōng Shān (嵩山/嵩山, literally Lofty Mountain), Hénán, 1,494 m

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 limbs and the head of Pangu (盤古/盘古 Pángǔ), the first being and 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.

[edit] The Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism in China

Higher Daxiong Baodian, a temple at Jiuhua Shan

The Buddhist Four Sacred Mountains are:

Wǔtái Shān (五臺山/五台山，literally Five-Terrace (Plateau) Mountain), Shānxī, 3,058 m
Éméi Shān (峨眉山/峨眉山，literally Delicate-Eyebrow Mountain), Sìchuān, 3,099 m
Jiǔhuá Shān (九華山/九华山, literally Nine-Glories Mountain), Ānhuī, 1,341 m
Pǔtuó Shān (普陀山/普陀山, literally Potalaka (Potala) Mountain), Zhèjiāng, 284 m