Northern and Southern Heng Shan

Northern Heng Shan- Constant Mountain. The Taoist northern peak is 7,280 feet above northern Shansi and part of Hubei.  By Imperial decree it was named Pei-yueh, “Northern Guardian” of the empire.

At the end of a gorge called “the magnet” is a temple hanging on a cliff and supported by long pillars; this is Hsuan-kung Ssu, Temple Suspended in the Void. The monks there are called Yu Shih, the “Feathered Scholars.” They are often pictured on early bronze mirrors as winged men [hsien].

One of the Eight Taoist Immortals, Chang, Kuo Lao, usually depicted riding a donkey backwards, lived on Heng Shan. When the Emperor Shun visited Heng Shan a boulder flew off the cliff and landed in front of him. Three years later on the Hubei side, his progress was stopped by snow, he prayed to the God of North Peak and the boulder flew off of the rock face again.

The first temple on Heng Shan was built in 435 A. D.  Chun Jen Taoism heavily influenced the practices there. In the art inside the temple Jen Wu and three other martial deities of the God of Northern Heng Shan flanked the central image.

Southern Heng Shan, the Barrier Mountain in Hunan.

The highest peak is named after Ju Rong, the fire deity, who lived on Heng Shan first in ancient times. He taught humans to use fire and ascended to heaven. He secured an ocean of fire under the mountain when he left that eventually got out of control and the Dragon King [rain] had to put out the fire. The Dragon King ordered the flood Dragons to stay under Heng Shan and control summer fire.

Heng Shan is said to contain a third of the Taoist sacred caverns and several of the 72 fortune lands. The feng shui is very powerful there. The main deities are the God of South Peak, the gods of heaven and earth, and the four seasons.

There is a big temple dedicated to the southern peak on the mountain. The back hall of the main monastery is dedicated to the southern dipper. Over 800 images of dragons are carved in this hall. There are eight major Taoist sites on the mountain as well as eight major Buddhist sites. Some of the famous Taoists from the capital during the18th century had retreats on Heng Shan.  There is a legend that connects Mao Shan Taoism to Heng Shan.

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