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The Sacred Mountains of China are divided into two groups, one associated with Taoism and the other with Buddhism. The group associated with Taoism is known as the Five Great Mountains (simplified Chinese: 五岳; traditional Chinese: 五嶽; pinyin: Wǔyuè), whereas the group associated with Buddhism is referred to as the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism (Chinese: 四大佛教名山; pinyin: Sìdà Fójiào Míngshān).
The sacred mountains of both groups have been important destinations for pilgrimage, the Chinese expression for pilgrimage (simplified Chinese: 朝圣; traditional Chinese: 朝聖; pinyin: cháoshèng) is a shortened version of an expression which means literally "paying respect to a holy mountain" (simplified Chinese: 朝拜圣山; traditional Chinese: 朝拜聖山; pinyin: cháobài shèng shān).
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The Five Great Mountains
The Taoist Five Great Mountains are arranged according to the five cardinal directions of Chinese geomancy, which includes the center as a direction:
East: Tài Shān
simplified Chinese: 泰山; traditional Chinese: 泰山; literally "Leading Peaceful Mountain", Shāndōng Province, 1,545 m, 36°15′N 117°06′E / 36.25°N 117.1°E
West: Huà Shān
simplified Chinese: 华山; traditional Chinese: 華山; literally "Splendid Mountain", Shănxī Province, 1,997 m 34°29′N 110°05′E / 34.483°N 110.083°E
South: (Nán) Héng Shān
simplified Chinese: 衡山; traditional Chinese: 衡山; literally "Balancing Mountain", Húnán Province, 1,290 m, 27°15′17″N 112°39′21″E / 27.254798°N 112.655743°E
North: (Běi) Héng Shān
simplified Chinese: 恒山; traditional Chinese: 恆山; literally "Permanent Mountain", Shānxī Province, 2,017 m, 38°35′N 112°54′E / 38.583°N 112.9°E
Center: Sōng Shān
simplified Chinese: 嵩山; traditional Chinese: 嵩山; literally "Lofty Mountain", Hénán Province, 1,494 m, 34°29′5″N 112°57′37″E / 34.48472°N 112.96028°E
Alternatively, these mountains are sometimes referred to by the respective directions, i.e., as the "Northern Great Mountain" (北嶽/北岳 Běi Yuè), "Southern Great Mountain" (南嶽/南岳 Nán Yuè), "Eastern Great Mountain" (東嶽/东岳 Dōng Yuè), "Western Great Mountain" (西嶽/西岳 Xī Yuè), and "Central Great Mountain" (中嶽/中岳 Zhōng Yuè).
According to Chinese mythology, the Five Great Mountains originated from the limbs and the head of Pangu (盤古/盘古 Pángǔ), the first being and creator of the world. Because of its eastern location, Mount Tài is associated with the rising sun which signifies birth and renewal. Due to this interpretation, it is often regarded as the most sacred of the Five Great Mountains. In accordance with its special position, Mount Tài is believed to have been formed out of Pangu's head.
The Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism
The Buddhist Four Sacred Mountains in China are:
Wǔtái Shān
simplified Chinese: 五台山; traditional Chinese: 五臺山; literally "Five-Terrace (Plateau) Mountain", Shānxī Province, 3,058 m, 39°0′N 113°35′E / 39°N 113.583°E
Éméi Shān
simplified Chinese: 峨眉山; traditional Chinese: 峨眉山; literally "Delicate-Eyebrow Mountain", Sìchuān Province, 3,099 m, 29°31′11″N 103°19′57″E / 29.51972°N 103.3325°E
Jiǔhuá Shān
simplified Chinese: 九华山; traditional Chinese: 九華山; literally "Nine-Glories Mountain", Ānhuī Province, 1,341 m, 30°28′56″N 117°48′16″E / 30.48222°N 117.80444°E
Pǔtuó Shān
simplified Chinese: 普陀山; traditional Chinese: 普陀山; literally "Potalaka (Potala) Mountain"), Zhèjiāng Province, 284 m 30°00′35″N 122°23′06″E / 30.00972°N 122.385°E
See also
Other mountains with spiritual/religious significance in China are:
External links
- China's famous mountains - (Chinese website)
- chinaonyourmind.com
- sacredsites.com
- Google Earth Map of both Five and Four Sacred Mountains KMZ File
- Religion and the environment in China, 中国的宗教与环境 - chinadialogue article, why the five sacred mountains survive in a good ecological state
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