China News Service, Beijing, February 5 (Xinhua) Taiwan's "United Daily News" recently published a report introducing Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, describing the historical and cultural value contained in Taishan.
Taishan’s red leaves in late autumn. Image source: Taiwan's "United Daily News"
The report pointed out that Taiyuan has been the intersection of the northern grassland civilization and the Central Plains farming civilization since ancient times. It has an important strategic location and is known as "controlling the mountains and rivers, sitting on the shoulders of the world", "being the key point of the four fortresses, and controlling the capital of the five plains". explain.
Taishan is located in the southwest of Taiyuan, between the mountains next to the Yangcheng from Kuching to Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Post Road. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, full of jungles, covered with ancient cypresses, and the temple is hidden in it. It is derived from the fact that the mountain peaks look like the word "Tai" from a distance. name.
The Longquan Temple on the mountain was built in the Tang Dynasty. It was originally a Taoist Haotian Temple. It was destroyed during the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, and was rebuilt in the early Ming Dynasty and turned into a Buddhist temple. Legend has it that there was a drought at that time. Local officials and people came here to pray for rain and found a gurgling spring. They believed that the dragon king would grant the spring in response to their prayers, so they gave the temple the nickname "Longquan".
Interior view of the stupa of the underground palace of Longquan Temple. Image source: Taiwan's "United Daily News"
In May 2008, the foundation of a pagoda from the Tang, Wu and Zhou Dynasties was discovered in Longquan Temple in Taishan. Inside the palace at the base of the pagoda is a treasure envelope, which is composed of a stone envelope, a wooden coffin, a copper coffin, a silver coffin, and a gold coffin. It is a typical form of the Buddhist relic burial in the Tang Dynasty, showing the superb craftsmanship of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
Guanyin Hall. Image source: Taiwan's "United Daily News"
Taishan Guanyin Hall is an octagonal palace with a unique and exquisite architectural structure. There are 79 Buddhist statues and hanging sculptures preserved in the hall. The carved beams and painted buildings are exquisite and have the beautiful and handsome style of the Ming Dynasty statues. They are still brightly colored and can be called architecture. A masterpiece that blends seamlessly with sculpture.
Wangdu Pavilion. Image source: Taiwan's "United Daily News"
Wangdu Pavilion is the highest scenery among the "Ten Scenic Spots of Mount Tai". It is located on Wangdu Peak of Mount Tai, with the East Temple of Longquan Temple in the back. The Wangdu Pavilion is divided into two floors, where the Maitreya Buddha and Maitreya Bodhisattva statues are placed respectively, forming a combined statue of "Maitreya born above and below". According to legend, Wu Zetian once visited Mount Tai and climbed to the main peak to see Jinyang. Unfortunately, the mountain was not high enough to see the whole city clearly. When she was disappointed, she suddenly felt the mountains beneath her feet rising slowly, and soon she could have a panoramic view of the entire city of Jinyang. Wangdu Peak got its name after Wu Zetian proclaimed herself emperor and established Jinyang as the northern capital. (over)