13 May 2009

introduction to Weibaoshan

Mount weibao localization

Mt. Weibao 巍宝山 is situated in Yunnan province, 50 km south of Dali city dali, in weishan county 巍山县 of the Yi and Hui Autonomous Country . (Map and directions, click here)
Mount weibao, as its name indicates, hides in its magnificent forest many treasures In terms of ancient daoist temples immortals legends, minorities culture, rare animals and plants. As such, it was listed as one of 8 statelevel scenic spots of Dali in 1982, and was granted the title of key historical relics by the People’s Government of Yunnan province in 1987.

Weibaoshan map of the 20 temples


Weibaoshan natural surroundings

Weibao Mountain covers an area of 19.4 km².With an elevation of 2509 metersthe mountain comprises ranges of majestic hills and peaks covered with dense forests containing many rare trees, such as evergreen chiquapin, cypress and camphor; as well as the tallest camellia tree in China, a 300 years old, a 15m high tree covered of hundreds of red flowers in early February.
This natural reserve, is the home of 50 species of fauna including white pheasant and flying squirrel.

Weibaoshan above the clouds...




The traces of Immortals in Weibaoshan  巍宝仙踪

Weibao Shan is listed in the “Book of Religions Encyclopedia Sinica” as one of the 13 important Taoist mountains 道教名山。
Poetically described in the “historical books of different dynasties” as “the quietest place in the world, being weibao shan”, the mountain became the dwelling place of immortals and eminent daoists like zhang Daoling, Lu Dongbin, Meng You ,Du Guangting…etc. The legends born from their adventures are known as the "Traces of Immortals at Weibao 巍宝仙踪".Therefore as the saying goes “If one wants to study Taoism, one has to come to weibaoshan to search for the immortals footprints :想真正了解道,必须到巍宝山寻找仙人的足迹.”

Weibaoshan mountain gate


Weibaoshan as the birthplace of the Nanzhao kingdom

Weibao Mountain is recognized as the birthplace of the Nanzhao Kingdom 诏国, the Tang-period kingdom of the Bai people centered in Yunnan. It is said that Xinuluo 细奴罗the founder of Nanzhao kingdomleft the Ailao Mountain to take refuge and stayed here as a farmer. On the mountain,there was a stone on which Supreme Master Lao used to sit in meditation. It was allegedly here that Xinuluo was enlightened and then went onto founding the Nanzhao kingdom. He became the local mountain patron god and is revered as the Taoist god of Yunnan.

巍宝山南诏土主庙 Nanzhao Tuzhu temple


Videos about Weibaoshan


http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzU5OTEzNTY=.html
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNzQwOTg1MDg=.html
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNzQwOTg1MDg=.html
http://www.56.com/u77/v_NDQ3NDIxNzA.html

http://bugu.cntv.cn/life/C22432/classpage/video/20110412/100167.shtml

Mount weibao Temples

Mount weibao Temples


All the Temples in Weibaoshan were built during the Ming and Qing dunasty and most of the buildings are preserved intact from this period.

甘露亭  - The Ganlu pavilion
Dedicated to Guanyin 观音, goddess of Mercy。

南诏土主庙 - The Temple of the Founder of Nanzhao 
Also called the Temple of the Mountain god, it is the main temple on Mt. Weibao. According to the legend, the Supreme Venerable Sovereign 太上老君 (Laozi) once honored Xinuluo 细奴罗, founder of the Nanzhao kingdom 南诏国, as Mountain-Inspecting King. 
Xinuluo, the local mountain patron godis enshrined here as the Taoist god of Yunnan as well as his 13 descendants.


巍宝山南诏土主庙大殿 Nanzhao Tuzhu Temple Main Hall


文昌  -  Wenchang Temple
The Wenchang Temple is dedicated to the God of studies and literature called Wenchang. 
The temple is also popularly called "The temple of the Dragon" (Longtan dian 龙坛殿) because its water pool is said to host a Dragon.
The pavilion erected in the middle of the pool is named Wenlong Pavilion 文龙阁 and is very famous for its very rare Fresco from the Qing dynasty painted on its piers. The fresco titled "Dancing under the Pine Trees" depicts the scene of song competition of Yi nationality.; it was highly exulted when its copy was exhibited in Beijing. 


Wenlong Pavilion 文龙阁 in Wenchang Temple 文昌宫 


主君阁 - The ZhujunTemple
This pavilion is dedicated to Wang Linguan, protector of taoist temples and taoists believers.


主君阁大门 - The ZhujunTemple entrance



太子殿  - The Taizi Temple
Dedicated to the Buddha while he was still the disciple of Taishang Laojun.


太子殿大门- The entrance to Taizi Temple


新太子殿  - The New Taizi Temple
Dedicated to the popular Black Warrior Zhenwu 真武.


新太子殿  - The New Taizi Temple





玉皇  The Jade Emperor Temple
This pavilion is dedicated to the Jade emperor and his parents.


玉皇阁大门 -  The Jade Emperor Temple entrance


 The Green Glow Temple
The green glow Temple (QingxiaGuan) is dedicated to Taishang Laojun (Laozi) 太上老君 and is popularly called Laojun Temple. It is said that here, Xinuluo 细奴罗, the founder the nanzhao 南诏 kingdom received teachings from Supreme Master Lao who used to sit on meditation on a stone located behind the temple.
青霞观 老君殿  - The Green Glow Temple main Hall


三皇殿 The Temple of the Three Emperors 
Dedicated to the three mythological emperors of China,The Yellow Emperor Huangdi 皇帝, Fu Xi 伏羲氏 (founded the Bagua system) and Shen Nong 神農氏 (founded agriculture).


三皇殿 - The statues of the Three Emperors in the Sanhuang Temple




音殿  - The Temple of Guanyin
Dedicated to the godess of Mercy


观音殿大门  - The Temple of Guanyin entrance



the Kui Star Pavilion
Dedicated to the Kui star, protecting students during examination.
魁星阁 -  the Kui Star Pavilion


斗姥  - The Big Dipper Temple
Dedicated to Doumu,  the mother of all stars.
斗姥阁  - The Big Dipper Temple Main Hall


殿 - The Temple of the Three Pure Ones
Dedicated to the three highest deities of Taoism.


三清殿 - The Main Hall of the Temple of the Three Pure Ones




夫子殿  - The Fuzi Temple
Dedicated to Confucius.
夫子殿  - The Fuzi Temple


鹤楼  - The Peihe Tower
Dedicated to Lu Dongbin, the most famous of the popular group of the eight immortals.


培鹤楼  - The Peihe Tower

培鹤楼  - Lu Dongbin in The Peihe Tower

道源 - The Dao Origin Temple
Dedicated to Laozi, Buddha and Confucius.
道源宫 - The Dao Origin Temple


三公主殿 - The Temples of the Three Officials
Dedicated to three famous officials of the Nanzhao kingdom.
三公主殿 - The Temples of the Three Officials



神殿  - The Temple of the God of Wealth
财神殿  - The Temple of the God of Wealth



真楼 - The Hanzhen tower
Dedicated to the Quanzhen patriarchs. (under renovation)
含真楼 - The Hanzhen tower


朝阳洞 - The Chaoyang Cave
Under renovation.
朝阳洞 - The Chaoyang Cave entrance


春洞  - Changchun Cave Temple
Dedicated to the Jade Emperor and the god of Thunder.


长春洞  - Changchun Cave Temple Main Hall
长春洞  - Changchun Cave Temple -The Jade emperor



长春洞  - Changchun Cave Temple- carvings from the Qing

Historical development of Taoism in Weibaoshan

Historical development of Taoism in Weibaoshan

Estern Han dynasty
It is said that the development of Taoism on this mountain started during the Eastern Han dynasty when zhang Daoling after having founded the five pecks of rice tradition in Sichuan came to the mountain to spread his teachings. One of his traces, includes the “zhang daoling well”.

The three kingdoms
During the period of the three kingdoms, a famous daoist Meng You (meng Huo’s brother) settled on Weibaoshan after an extraordinary person had given him books on immortality; there he helped the people with magical arts.

Tang dynasty
It is said that, The Supreme Venerable Sovereign Taishang Laojun enlightened Xinuluo who then founded the Nanzhao kingdom who then lasted during for 13 generations. Therefore, the imperial descendants of Nanzhao built the hall of the Venerable Sovereign during the tang dynasty.

During the Ming Dynasty, Du Guangting, an eminent Tang daoist settled on Weibao to spread Taoism.
Legend has it that the famous immortal Lu Dongbin once came to the mountain to teach Taoism.

Ming dynasty
During the Ming and Qing dynasty, many daoist from Mount Wudang of Hubei and the Qingcheng Mountain of Sichuan came to mount Weibao to live as hermit and practice inner alchemy; they took disciples and 20 more temples were built on the mountain.

Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty attracted the largest number of worshippers in history, and hundreds of Daoists came to cultivate the dao on the mountain, which therefore became a Daoist sacred site and was granted the title of shifangconglin 十方丛林.