Introduction to Wudang Mountains

2009-1-8 15:11:00

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The Wudang Mountains, also known as Wu Tang Shan or simply Wudang, are a small mountain range in Hubei Province.

In past years, the mountains of Wudang were known as many Taoist monasteries were found there. Monasteries became known as an academic centre for the research, teaching and practise of meditation, Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, Taoist agriculture practises and related arts. As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220AD), the mountain attracted the Emperor's attention. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the first site of worship - the Five Dragon Temple - was constructed. The monasteries were emptied, damaged and then neglected during and after the Cultural Revolution of 1966?976, but the Wudang mountains have lately become increasingly popular with tourists from China and abroad, due to their scenic location and historical interest. The monasteries and buildings were listed into the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The palaces and temples in Wudang, which were built as an organized complex during the Ming Dynasty (14th?7th centuries), keep Taoist buildings from as early as the 7th century. It represents the highest standard of Chinese art and architecture over a period of nearly 1,000 years. In 2003, Wudang Mountain's 600-year-old Yuzhengong Palace was accidentally burned down by an employee of a martial arts school.

Source: Wikipedia

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