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WUDANG GOLDEN PALACE ,
JING DING 金顶 |
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roof of the golden palace |
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Hall of Imperial Scriptures
a place for the taoist do dayly ceremony
The Hall of Imperial Scriptures, elegantly and magnificently decorated, was first built in the year of Yong-le, the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the 29th year of Daoguang, one of emperors in the Qing Dynasty.
The Hall of Imperial Scriptures, also known as the Hall of Scriptures-reading, is the place where the Taoists to read scriptures and to attend the service. Reading Taoism scriptures for one hour each in the morning and at duck everyday, by means of which the Taoist priests can edify themselves and be pious to Taoism, is the exercise of priests' self-cultivating, and regarded as the ladder to Elysium.
In the centre of The Hall of Imperial Scriptures hung a golden tablet, on which " Born in the heaven and stand in the world" were written, bestowed by the Emperor Daoguang. Many characters, tales and rare animals related to Taoism are inscribed exquisitely on the railings and wooden partition boards, which reflects the social life, religious belief and aesthetics in the Qing Dynasty.
In the hall are established the shrines, where the statues of Zhenwu Emperor, the three famous emperors of the Qing Dynasty, Jade Emperor, the king of Heaven and so on are enshrined.
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East Havean Gate of Forbidden City
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steps to the golden palace
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golden palace
The golden palace♀?the symbol of the Wudang mountain, is the sign of Wudang Taoism reaching a high peak under the support of the imperial family.
Standing in front of the Golden Palace, you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scene of Wudang Mountain, as far as 400 kilometers. All the peaks are stopping at the static moment, just like raged waves, which wonderfully advertises the majority prestige and lofty imperial power.
The Golden Palace, with a height of5.45 meters and flying eaves decorated by dragon, phoenix, sea horse, and immortals, is the highest one in the ancient Chinese construction grade. Bronze constructed, the Golden Palace was gilded by gold outside. All the parts were so perfect matched that there is without any crevice. Enduring about 600 years?． wind and rain, thunder and lightening, cold winter and hot summer, the Golden Palace is still shining as if it was newly built up. Hence, the Golden Palace, national treasure, not only presents the wonderful Chinese ancient architecture skills, but also reveals the wisdom of Chinese people and ancient scientific level.
The Golden Palace is the integration of intelligence and creativity, and also the display of art and beauty. The inside walls of the Golden Palace were lightly carved with soft floating clouds lines. Purple mantel, clean and smooth, reflects a gentle and harmonious color. The statues of Emperor Zhenwu, Gold Boy and Jade Girl, and the Generals of Water and Fire are being worshipped inside of the Gold Palace, with delicate portray and distinct personality.
Golden Clock Pavilion and Jade Drum Pavilion are in front of the Golden Palace. On the two sides of the palace, there are lot house and stamp house for pilgrims to draw lots and stamp the holy mark. Behind those houses is Parents?． Palace, which is the holy place for pilgrims showing respect to Zhenwu?．s parents.
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incense burner
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The Palace of Harmony
The Palace of Harmony, or the Golden Peak, lies in the top of Skyscraper Hill, the highest hill of Wudang Mountain. Skyscraper Hill, with a height of 1613 meters, penetrating into the clouds, was regarded as a pole to support the sky and the highest view-site in Wudang Mountain. You have not come to Wudang Mountain in a real sense until you have climbed onto the peak and entered the Palace of Harmony; no matter you are Taoist, pilgrim, visitor, or man of letters.
600 years ago, one emperor of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Li ordered to build the Palace of Harmony. 4 years later, the great construction of the Palace of Harmony was finished on the steep and dangerous peak. He also named the mountain the First Biggest Mountain of Harmony, so that Wudang Mountain was put to the head of the other four biggest mountains in China. During the rule of emperor Jiajing, the Palace of Harmony was enlarged that there were more than 520 rooms.
The constructions of the Palace of Harmony, depending on the dangerous peak, making full use of the natural rise and fall of the mountain ranges, achieved an artistic effect of solemnity and grandeur and showed a meaning that God is the most powerful and can?．t be trespassed on.
The construction had achieved harmonious unification of natural view-sites and artificial view-sites, had materialized the cleverness of Chinese to the full. After visiting, experts in world legacy, space science, and construction all felt surprised and thought the construction of the Palace of Harmony can?．t be rivaled.
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East Havean Gate of Forbidden City
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Emperor Zhenwu
Zhenwu is named Emperor Zhenwu, the Founder or the Granddad in Heaven. This super god is evolved from the image of the ancient northern god, Xuanwu. In Taoist legends, it is said that Zhenwu, made up of the universal essential material of gas, is a copy version of Taiji. He was born in Country Jingle by the Queen on March 3, in the first year of Emperor Huang. Intelligent, valorous, uninterested in the world affairs but keen on cultivation, he left his parents at 15 and came to Wudang Mountain with a purpose of acquiring the true meaning of Taoism. After forty-two years' cultivation, he ascended to heaven on September 9, in the fifty-seventh year of Emperor Huang, escorted by five dragons.
Zhenwu has a big bulk and an affable countenance. He may be bare-footed and hanging-haired while wearing a Taoist robe or armor. He may wear coronet and richly manufactured imperial robe with a stately air with the company of General Tortoise and General Snake. Sometimes he may stand on the backs of tortoise and snake watching heaven, the earth and waters, with a sword in hand.
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Hall of Imperial Scriptures
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cable car on wudang mountain
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Hall of Imperial Scriptures
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The Hall of Official Wang
Getting into the South Sky Entrance of Purple Gold Palace and then ascending the steps, you will reach the gloomy and dim corridor of the Hall of Official Wang. Official Wang, in Taoism, is the guard and supervisor to rule mountain gates, overlook the altars, protect the laws, and settle the disputes of immortals. The hall, in front of the Golden Palace, is the right place to carry on the last spiritual baptism to the pilgrims, so has special importance.
With the limitation of mountain shape, the Hall of Official Wang is a little stone hall closely attached to the rock. Inside of the stone hall lays a tiny tin hall, which is the evidence of the application of using tin as the building materials. The construction skill and the artistic shape of the tiny hall are also worth praising. As the first tin-made historic relic, it is very precious.
In the Taoist system of god, Official Wang is the guard and supervisor to rule mountain gates, overlook the altars, protect the laws, and settle the disputes of immortals, so he takes the responsibility to punish the disloyalties. There is a horizontal board inscribed, ?＜Holy kindness covers all the earth?＼, which has double meanings: one is to praise the emperor for his kindness to his people; the other one is to praise Emperor Zhenwu for his favor to nourish the whole earth like sunshine, rain and dew.
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The Palace of Harmony
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West Havean Gate of Forbidden City
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