China News Service, Beijing, February 7 (Xinhua) Taiwan's "Economic Daily" recently published a report on Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, introducing the famous Taoist grotto-Longshan Grottoes.
According to the report, Taiyuan Longshan has beautiful natural scenery and is dotted with cultural landscapes. The main attractions include "One Road", "One Buddha", "One Valley" and "Two Valleys". "One" refers to the Longshan Grottoes, the largest, best-preserved, and richest pure Taoist grotto in the country; "One Buddha" refers to the Giant Buddha of Tongzi Temple built in the Northern Qi Dynasty and the oldest stone lighthouse in the country; "Yigou" " and "Two Valleys" are Jinxiugou, Lilac Valley and Peach Blossom Valley where red leaves are everywhere.
The Longshan Grottoes are located on the top of Longshan Mountain and were excavated during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Yuan Dynasty. Because the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty were very interested in Taoism in the Central Plains, they respected Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen sect of Taoism as their imperial master. When his disciple Piyunzi Song Defang traveled to Taiyuan, he suddenly felt blessed and realized that the opportunity was coming from heaven to spread Buddhism, so he built a building here. Grottoes, Longshan has therefore become a famous Taoist mountain.
There are 66 Taoist statues and 8 relief cloud dragons in the grotto. The statues are simple, concise and solemn in style, with simple clothing and clear folds, which are very different from the style of Buddhist grottoes. Sanqing Grottoes is the niche with the most sculptured figures among them, with a height of 266 cm and a depth of 360 cm. There is a long platform on the main wall, on which Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun and Taishang Laojun sit.
The ruins of Tongzi Temple are located on the mountainside behind Longshan Mountain. According to legend, during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, an eminent monk saw colorful lights on Longshan Mountain. In the clouds, there were four boys sitting on green lotus seats and playing around huge rocks. Maitreya Buddha appeared, so he built a temple and statue here. The burning lighthouse in front of the temple is more than 4 meters high, with a hexagonal plane, a hollow tower body, a built-in lighthouse, doors on three sides, and smoke exhaust at the top. It has moderate proportions and beautiful shape.
Longshan scenery. Image source: Taiwan's "Economic Daily"
Longshan Scenic Area has beautiful natural scenery and the characteristics of "different scenery in four seasons". It has been a tourist attraction since ancient times. In spring and summer, everything is green and full of mountain flowers. In late autumn, the mountains are dyed with red leaves and pines and cypresses, which is very poetic and has a unique charm. (over)