Zixiao Palace

Zixiao Palace

Zixiao palace, also known as "Taiyuan Zixiao Palace", is located in Wudang Mountain, Danjiangkou City, Shiyan City, Hubei Province. Zixiao palace is located under Zhanqi peak in the northeast of Tianzhu peak, the main peak of Wudang Mountain, covering an area of 274000 square meters. Facing the peaks of Zhaobi, Santai, Wulao, candle, luomao and incense burner, on the right is Leishen cave, and on the left are yujichi and Baozhu peak. The surrounding mountains naturally form a treasure chair with two dragons playing with pearls, and Emperor Yongle of Ming Dynasty granted it as "Zixiao blessed land".

Zixiao palace is a well preserved royal temple complex in Wudang Mountain. At the same time, it is also an important part of Wudang Mountain. Zixiao palace is one of the Taoist temples in the history of Wudang Mountain, which is the key open Taoist temple in China. In 1932, marshal he long once lived in the headquarters of the third Red Army during the second revolutionary war.

On February 24, 1982, as a royal temple complex, Zixiao palace was announced as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council. In 1984, Zixiao palace was opened as a national key place for religious activities. In December 1994, as a part of the ancient buildings in Wudang Mountain, it was listed in the world cultural heritage list by UNESCO.

Quick navigation

Panorama

Evolution of construction

In 1121, the third year of Xuanhe in the Northern Song Dynasty, Zixiao palace was built, named "Yuansheng Zixiao Palace".

Yuan to Yuan 12 years (1275), expansion.

Ming Yongle ten years (1412), rebuilt, title amount "taixuan Zixiao Palace".

In the 11th year of Yongle (1413), the left imperial stele of the imperial stele pavilion was engraved with the title of "imperial edict" on the forehead, which was a legal notice forbidding outsiders to disturb the Taoist temple. In the same year, Zhu Di, Emperor Chengzu of Ming Dynasty, rebuilt Wudang Mountain. Zixiao palace was one of the key palaces, and the main building Zixiao hall was rebuilt.

In the 16th year of Yongle (1418), a stele was carved on the right side of the imperial stele Pavilion, and the inscription "stele of the Royal Taihe mountain road Palace" was inscribed on the front seal to record the establishment of Wudang Mountain.

Jiajing 31 years (1552), expansion.

It was overhauled from 1803 to 1820 in the eighth to the 25th year of Jiaqing period in Qing Dynasty. After that, it was overhauled for more than ten times.

geographical environment

geographical position

Zixiao palace is located in Wudang Mountain, southwest of Danjiangkou City, Hubei Province. Zixiao palace is located in Zhanqi peak in the northeast of Tianzhu peak, the main peak of Wudang Mountain. Zixiao palace is backed by Zhanqi peak, facing Zhaobi, Sangong, Wulao and dengdeng peaks. On the right is Leishen cave, on the left is Penglai peak, and on the front are yujichi and Baozhu peak. Its geographical center is about N32 ° 43 ′ N and E111 ° 03 E.

Climate type

Wudang Mountain is located in the north subtropical monsoon climate zone, which has the property of North-South transition. From Danjiangkou reservoir to Tianzhu peak, the vertical climate zone is obvious, with rich and colorful local microclimate, which can be divided into three climatic zones.

High level: from Chaotiangong to Jinding, the altitude is 1200-1612m, the annual average temperature is 7.7-10.0 ° C, and the frost free period is 163-194 days.

Middle layer: from Zixiao palace to Chaotian Palace, with an altitude of 750-1200 meters, an average annual humidity of 10.0-12.0 ° C, a frost free period of 194-222 days and a precipitation of 995-1106 mm.

Lower layer: below 750 meters above sea level, the annual average temperature is 12.8-16.0 ° C, the frost free period is 222-254 days, and the rainfall is 843-995 mm.

Architectural pattern

Zixiao palace is located in the northwest and faces southeast. There are 29 buildings with a construction area of 6854 square meters. It covers an area of 274000 square meters. The buildings are symmetrically arranged, with five terraces on the central axis. From top to bottom, Longhu hall, Beiting, Shifang hall, Zixiao hall and shengwenmu hall are built. The two sides are divided into three courtyards by buildings such as auxiliary rooms, forming a group of buildings with distinct primary and secondary. The two wings in the middle of the palace are the courtyard style residence of Taoists. Zixiao hall, the main building of the palace, is the most representative wood structure building in Wudang Mountain. It is built on a three-story stone platform. There are platforms leading to the main hall in the middle and left and right sides of the platform.

Main buildings

Cultural relics

Zixiao palace has many precious cultural relics. For example, around the Zixiao hall, there are hundreds of statues and sacrificial vessels made in yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, most of which are made of copper and decorated with gold. These cultural relics were moved here when Wudang Temple collapsed in the early Republic of China.

In front of Zixiao hall, there is a 2-meter-high iron incense burner. The body of the stove was cast in 1416, and the top of the stove was cast in 1515. The word "Wan" means "auspicious clouds and sea", which is also used in Buddhist statues. Inside the pavilion stands a huge imperial stele (Ming Yongle carved stone).

Zixiao Palace also has a collection of three volumes of the collected Sutra of Gaoshang Yuhuang's line, which was written in gold by hand in 1440. After more than 500 years, it is still brand new and shining with gold. In 1982, a golden dragon unearthed from Wudang Mountain was made by Zhu Bai, king of Hunan in 1399, the first year of Jianwen in Ming Dynasty. It is 11.5cm long and 5.2cm high. It is exquisite and lifelike. Along the way of Wudang Mountain, palaces and temples are treasure houses of cultural relics. The numerous statues, magic tools, several cases, offerings, scriptures and steles here are of precious artistic and historical value. They are rare first-hand materials for the study of the history of Chinese Taoism.

Cultural relic value

Zixiao hall is the main hall of Zixiao palace. It is the only wooden hall with double eaves and Xieshan style preserved in Wudang Mountain. This Taoist building with large timber structure is one of the few ancient buildings in China. Its structure and layout are scientific and reasonable, its artistic style is harmonious and unified, and it is integrated with the natural environment. It has a unique style among the ancient buildings in Wudang Mountain. At the same time, in the long process of history, the technology and wisdom of craftsmen of past dynasties have been deposited, which embodies the brilliant achievements of Chinese architecture in Ming and Qing Dynasties, and has important ornamental and scientific research value, historical and ideological significance.

Cultural relics protection

In 1982, it was announced as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council.

In December 1994, as a part of the ancient buildings in Wudang Mountain, it was listed in the world cultural heritage list by UNESCO.

In 1999, Wudang Taoist Association successively maintained the main hall of Zixiao palace, the hall of holy parents, dongxigong Taoist temple, the bell and Drum Tower, and built Wudang Taoist exhibition hall and donggongkun Taoist temple. The Yuji pool outside the Mountain Gate of Zixiao palace was renovated, and the northern and southern imperial stele pavilions were decorated and painted.

In September 2015, the Hubei provincial government promulgated the protection of Zixiao Palace (No. 40-5) protection scope and construction control zone in accordance with the relevant provisions of the cultural relics protection law of the people's Republic of China.

taoist culture

Five skills of Taoism

Zixiao palace is one of the most important Taoist temples in China. To become a Taoist, one must strictly follow the Taoist doctrines and commandments and be familiar with the five skills. The five Taoist techniques are "mountain, medicine, life, phase and divination". "Mountain" is to cultivate a perfect personality by means of meditation, cultivation, martial arts and dietotherapy. "Medicine" refers to the use of prescriptions, acupuncture, chanting, lingzhi and other methods to maintain health and treat diseases. "Life" is the knowledge of inferring people's fate by Taoism, so as to improve human development. "Phase" is a method of using eyes to observe the objects we see in order to pursue good fortune and avoid bad fortune. "Divination" is the method of divination, auspicious selection and Survey Bureau to predict and deal with things.

the sacred rules of the religious order

The rules and regulations formulated by Wudang Taoism are used to restrain Taoist thoughts, words and deeds, prevent non evil and stop evil. They are the rules that Taoist must abide by when they practice Taoism. There are many kinds of Taoist commandments. The basic commandments are five commandments, eight commandments and ten commandments. The important ones are taishangjinglv, Dongxuan Lingbao tianzunshuo Shijie Jing, Tianxian Dajie, chuzhenjie, etc.

The rules of the Qing Dynasty are made by the Taoist temples themselves. The punishment for those who violate the law is as follows: kneeling incense, urging (persuading to leave), dismissing (expelling) and taking out (taking responsibility to expel). In Wudang Mountain Taoist temple, there are six pieces of historical evidence, namely: Zixiao palace Hunyuan zongtan temporary prison Qing regulations, Zixiao palace Hunyuan zongtan Qinggui list, Taihe Palace Qinggui list, zizian Temple regulations, Wulong palace regulations, Nanyan palace regulations.

Tourism information

The best season: it is suitable for all seasons. The daily work in Zixiao palace is a routine ritual for Wudang Taoists. The purpose is to cultivate the nature and pray for good luck. Visitors can visit regularly to understand the solemn atmosphere and profound connotation of Wudang Taoism. Time: 6:00 a.m. and 17:00 p.m. (adjusted according to seasonal changes).

Suggestion: 1-2 hours

Admission: 15 yuan

Opening hours: 08:30 ~ 17:00

Address: Wudang Road, Danjiangkou City, Shiyan City, Hubei Province. You can get to Zixiao Palace by taking the sightseeing bus at the Mountain Gate (the fare is included in the gate ticket). Or walk from Nanyan palace.

Self driving route:

Chinese PinYin : Zi Xiao Gong