Wudang Mountains

The Wudang Mountains (simplified Chinese: 武当山; traditional Chinese: 武當山; pinyin: Wǔdāng Shān) are a beautiful mountain range in the northwestern part of Hubei, China. These mountains are very special because they have many important Taoist temples and monasteries dedicated to the Lord of the North, Xuantian Shangdi.

People all over the world visit the Wudang Mountains to learn and practice tai chi, a gentle and peaceful form of exercise. The mountains are like the Taoist counterpart to the famous Shaolin Monastery, which is linked with Chan Buddhism. Because of their great history and beautiful buildings, the Wudang Mountains were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. They are one of the "Four Sacred Mountains of Taoism" in China and are a very important place for people who follow the Taoist religion.

Geography

The Wudang Mountains are a beautiful mountain range located in the northwest part of Hubei, China. On maps, the name "Wudangshan" refers to both the whole mountain range and to a special group of peaks in the area called Wudangshan subdistrict in Danjiangkou. This specific area is well-known as a center for Taoism.

The tallest peak in the main Wudang Shan area stands at 1,612 meters high. The Wudang Mountains are sometimes thought of as part of the larger Daba Mountains range, which stretches across several regions including Shaanxi, Chongqing, and Sichuan.

History

The Wudang Mountains have long been a special place for Taoism, with famous martial arts like tai chi.

The first temple, called the Five Dragons Temple, was built by Emperor Taizong of Tang. More buildings were added during the Song and Yuan dynasties. The biggest area was built during the Ming dynasty when the Yongle Emperor felt protected by the god Beidi or Xuantian Shangdi. Many temples and palaces were built there over time. Some old buildings still stand today, like the Golden Hall and the Purple Cloud Temple.

In 2003, a very old palace called Yuzhengong caught fire by accident. Luckily, a valuable statue was moved to safety before the fire destroyed the building.

Association with martial arts

Main article: Wudang chuan

See also: Neijia

In 1928, a big martial arts competition was held, and fighters were split into two groups: Shaolin styles and Wudang styles. The Wudang styles are known for including special Taoist exercises. Popular Wudang styles include tai chi, xingyiquan, Bajiquan, and baguazhang. It is said that the famous martial artist Zhang Sanfeng created tai chi while living in the Wudang Mountains.

Today, some Wudang styles have been changed to help with sports and health programs. In 2008, a big Wushu Festival happened in the Wudang Mountains.