Tong- Yue T’ai-Shan is the Taoist eastern mountain in Shantung county. 5,086 ft. above sea level.

The head god of Tai –Shan is Yu Ti, the Jade Ruler, the god of heaven, the ruler of other deities. The Taoist Canon [daozhong] says of Tong Yue Tai –Shan, the God of Eastern Mountain, “ He has the power over good and evil, he is the god of purgatory. There are 36 judges and 72 lesser judges but he is the one who judges evil and records the birth and death of every human. He can change form into any of the other four deities who control the other sacred peaks and he nourishes humanity.”

Chinese folk legends about Yu Ti describe his image as Yuan Chang Lung, Round Forever Dragon, and say he always wears a black robe, a green hat, and has a yang stamp at his waste signifying that he is the boss. He rides a blue/green dragon through the heavens.

Tai Shan was thought to be the place where a dead person’s soul went to and the Jade Emperor was the ruler of life and death. There were temples to Tong Yue, God of Eastern Mountain, all over China where the monks prayed and offered incense. On the 3rd month 28th day of the lunar calendar great festivals were held at all temples to offer prayers to the Lord of Lords.

Double Tenth, October 10th, it was the tradition to climb Tai Shan. Many Emperors, notably Chin, Huang di, and famous poets and philosophers climbed T’ai-Shan. It takes 5 hours to walk up and 2 hours to walk down. There were always accounts of unusual lights and occurrences in the sky above T’ai Shan. Qui, Kong Tze [Confucious] visited and was humbled by the view of Shantung below. Inscribed into the rock face on the mountain it says, ”Confucius is like Tai-Shan, Tai-Shan is like Confucius.”

Shi, Gan Tang is another immortal who is said to reside on Tai Shan. Because the Jade Emperor was perceived as busy and aloof he needed intermediaries to help the common people. Shi, Gan Tang’s name means brave, bold and courageous. He can shoulder any burden. This hsien conquers evil spirits and protects humans. He is never afraid and can defeat any bad person. It became a custom to erect a stone column at the entrance to a street, bridge or building and carve his name into it to seek protection from evil.

Tai Miao is a large monastery at the foot of the mountain. This monastery and the temple dedicated to Pi Hsia on the mountain are the only temples, out of many built in the past, remaining on Tai Shan. It is in the northwestern corner of Tai-an city. I t was built on a north south axis and the north half is higher than the south so that the mountain and the temple merge as one. Tai Miao is surrounded by a wall that is 30 feet high and the walls are red and the roof is yellow. There are twelve huge buildings that are very solemn and grandiose. Yao-tsun door leads to a famous stone lane that has been there since Confucious’ time. Hsaung Lung [Double Dragon] Pond- on each side are stone dragon heads.

Our first stop on the way up Tai-Shan is Tou-mu Kung, Nunnery of the Bushel Mother, Taoist counterpart to Kuan Yin Pusa. She is the Goddess of the North Star.

San Kuan Miao- Temple of the Venerable Three Rulers, the shen of heaven, earth, and water.

Hui-ma Ling- where the horses turn back.

Wan-chang pei- Ten Thousand foot tablet- engraved with poem by Emperor Chien-lung [1736-1795] easily seen from the plane below.

Ta-lung kuo- Dragon Gorge, near the top.

Nan tien men- South Heavenly Gate, guarded by a statue of Kuan Yu the warrior hero [died A.D. 219]

 

Pi Hsia Ssu is the ancestoral worship temple dedicated to Pi Hsia pin yin BiXia. It was originally built in 1009 and later rebuilt in its present form in 1770. The Main Hall is dedicated to Pi Hsia. Again the north side is higher than the south, there are steps going up and down and the blue print for this temple is very complicated. This spectacular building is a prime example of the Tao Palaces of old. In the east hall is a shrine to pray to the “eye site empress” who, it was thought, could cure failing eyesight and all kinds of diseases.

In the west hall is a shrine to the empress who gives babies to women. Originally these halls could only be accessed by royalty and their representatives. Between the east and west halls is a “Fragrant Pavilion” where incense was burned in front of pictures of Pi-hsia. This was the only part the public had access to.

Pi-hsia yuan-chan, Original Princess of the Purple and Azure Clouds. She is the daughter of Yu Ti, the Jade Ruler. She is also called Tai-Shan niang niang- the Empress of Tai Shan. The Taoist Canon says of Pi Hsia, “She was formerly the Western Heaven Mother. She became an immortal after she practiced Taoism in the Tai mountains. She receives orders from the Jade Emperor and leads the soldiers from heaven looking in on all people to see who is good and who is evil. She protects women and children.”

The third Song Emperor, Chao, Chu-tseng [A.D. 998-1003] visited and during the Imperial visit a stone statue of Pi-hsia was recovered from Jade Women’s Well.

Tai Shan has beautiful natural scenery and a rich cultural heritage. The views from the top of the clouds and the Shantong plain below are stunning. It has been a protected historical site since 1983 and it has been managed by the Taoist organization since 1985.

 

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