 The Wudang
Mountains also known as Wu Tang Shan or simply Wudang,
are a small mountain range in the Hubei province of
China, just to the south of the manufacturing city of
Shiyan.
In years past, the mountains of Wudang were known for
the many Taoist monasteries to be found there,
monasteries which became known as an academic centre for
the research, teaching and practise of meditation,
Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine,
Taoist agriculture practises and related arts. As early
as the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220AD), the mountain
attracted the Emperor's attention. During the Tang
Dynasty (618-907), the first site of worship - the Five
Dragon Temple - was constructed. The monasteries were
emptied, damaged and then neglected during and after the
Cultural Revolution of 1966–1976, but the Wudang
mountains have lately become increasingly popular with
tourists from elsewhere in China and abroad due to their
scenic location and historical interest.
The monasteries and buildings were made a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1994. The palaces and temples in Wudang,
which was built as an organized complex during the Ming
Dynasty (14th–17th centuries), contains Taoist buildings
from as early as the 7th century. It represents the
highest standards of Chinese art and architecture over a
period of nearly 1,000 years. Noted temples include the
Golden Hall, Nanyan Temple and the Purple Cloud Temple.
In 2003, Wudang Mountain's 600-year-old Yuzhengong
Palace was accidentally burned down by an employee of a
martial arts school. |
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