Mount Tai: The Symbol of Shandong
Mount Tai, located in Tai'an City, Shandong Province, is the foremost of the Five Great Mountains in China. Despite not being the highest, it has held an unparalleled historical status and cultural significance since ancient times.
Nature was the original object of religion. The ancient people's sense of mystery towards mountains was the beginning of mountain worship. People developed a cult for Mount Tai, which is lofty and towering, holding up the sun and the sky. Throughout history, many scholars have composed works to praise Mount Tai, extolling it as embodying the spirit of heaven and earth.
In 219 BC, Emperor Qin Shi Huang toured the east and held the first Mount Tai summit ceremony in Chinese history. Since then, it has become a tradition for emperors to ascend Mount Tai. Emperors who climbed Mount Tai claimed that they had the endorsement and support of heaven and earth and were the true "Son of Heaven". From a political perspective, the status of Mount Tai was different from that of other mountains.
During this process, Mount Tai was associated with the state and the common people. The hopes and prayers were all for the eternal stability of the country and the peace and prosperity of the people. Even the folk beliefs were based on its role of "protecting the country and its people". The original meaning of the character "Tai" includes the sense of being powerful and stable. Only when the country is powerful and stable can the people enjoy peace and prosperity.
Mount Tai boasts a large number of ancient architectural remains built in different periods and with various styles and functions, which together form the ancient architectural complex of Mount Tai. Among them, the most prominent is the Dai Temple at the foot of Mount Tai. The Dai Temple was a place where feudal emperors offered sacrifices to the deities of Mount Tai and held grand sacrificial ceremonies. It was constructed in accordance with the highest standards of ancestral temple architecture since the Tang and Song dynasties. The Dai Temple is a sacred site of the mainstream Quanzhen School of Taoism and a building where the Han people worship Heaven, Earth, the Sun, the Moon, mountains, rivers, ancestors, and the state. It reflects the characteristics of the Han people as an agricultural and cultural nation.
Bixia Yuanjun is an indispensable spiritual pillar for Tai'an and its people. Bixia Yuanjun is one of the most influential goddesses in Chinese history. Anyone who climbs Mount Tai will pay homage to the Lady of Mount Tai - Bixia Yuanjun. It is said that Bixia Yuanjun can bestow blessings upon all living beings and eliminate diseases and disasters, which is why the incense smoke at Mount Tai has never ceased to this day.
