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DAOIST SACRED SITES

All of the following Daoist sacred sites are located in mainland China. As monastic centers, and as officially-sanctioned sites, they are part of the Quanzhen 全真 (Complete Perfection) school of Daoism, which was founded by Wang Chongyang 王重陽 (1113-1170). Officially speaking, such temples and monasteries must identify themselves as part of the Longmen 龍門 (Dragon Gate) branch of Quanzhen, which is the officially recognized form of Daoism in mainland China. The Dragon Gate branch considers its founder to be Qiu Changchun 邱長春 (1148-1227), one of the seven senior first-generation disciples of Wang, but was organized by Wang Changyue 王常月 (Kunyang 崑陽 [Paradisiacal Yang]; 1622-1680).

Religious freedom has increased in China since the 1980s, and in recent years control has been relatively more lenient. This has resulted in restoration of Daoist sacred sites as well as more visible differentiation and diversification, so that some Daoists and sacred sites have begun using regional or local designations and abandoning personal affiliation with the Dragon Gate branch.

BAXIAN GONG 八仙宮 (Eight Immortals Palace)

Eight Immortals Palace is located in Xi’an, Shaanxi. The temple is named after the famous Eight Immortals, who came to occupy a central place in Daoism and Chinese popular culture from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) onward. The most famous of these is Lü Dongbin 呂洞賓 (Chunyang 純陽 [Purified Yang]; b. 798?), associated with various internal alchemy lineages. Eight Immortals Palace also contains the Yuxian qiao 遇仙橋 (Bridge for Meeting Immortals), where legend has it that Wang Chongyang 王重陽 (1113-1170), the founder of Quanzhen全真 (Complete Perfection) Daoism, encountered Lu Dongbin.

BAIYUN GUAN 白雲觀 (White Cloud Monastery)

White Cloud Monastery is located in the western district of Beijing. As a Daoist sacred site, it has historical roots that go back to the eighth century. The site has been destroyed and rebuilt throughout the centuries. It was restored during the thirteenth century when it was known as Tianchang gong 天長宮 (Palace of Celestial Perpetuity). At that time, it became the headquarters of the newly established Quanzhen 全真 (Complete Perfection) monastic order, with Qiu Changchun 邱長春 (1148-1227) serving as abbot. After Qiu’s death, it was renamed Changchun gong 長春宮 (Palace of Changchun), and that location formed the foundation of the contemporary shrine devoted to Qiu. Today, White Cloud Monastery is the headquarters of the Longmen 龍門 (Dragon Gate) branch of Quanzhen and houses the Chinese Daoist Association.

CHONGYANG GONG 重陽宮 (Palace of Chongyang)

The Palace of Chongyang is located in present-day Huxian, Shaanxi. It was the location of the eremitic community of Liujiang 劉蔣 where Wang Chongyang 王重陽 (1113-1170), the founder of Quanzhen 全真 (Complete Perfection) Daoism, engaged in religious praxis from 1163-1167 and where he was buried after his death in 1170. It is considered the “ancestral hall” (zuting 祖庭) of the Quanzhen tradition.

HUASHAN 華山 (Mount Hua)

Mount Hua is located in Huayin, Shaanxi. Mount Hua is the westernmost of China's five sacred mountains, with the other four being Hengshan 恒山 (Shanxi; north), Taishan 泰山 (Shandong; east), Hengshan 衡山 (Hunan; south), and Songshan 嵩山 (Hebei; central). Mount Hua is characterized by sheer granite rock formations and numerous eremitic caves. As a Daoist sacred site, and as a distinct Daoist sub-tradition, it is associated with Chen Xiyi 陳希夷 (d. 989) and Hao Guangning 郝廣寧 (1140-1213), one of the Seven Perfected of Quanzhen 全真 (Complete Perfection) Daoism.

LONGMEN DONG 龍門洞 (Dragon Gate Grotto)

Dragon Gate Grotto is located near present-day Longxian, Shaanxi. It is the place in the Longmen mountains where Qiu Changchun 邱長春(1148-1227), the third patriarch of Quanzhen 全真 (Complete Perfection) Daoism, engaged in intensive religious praxis. This Daoist sacred site is considered the “ancestral hall” (zuting 祖庭) of contemporary Longmen 龍門 (Dragon Gate) Daoism, a Quanzhen lineage associated with Qiu.

LOUGUAN TAI 樓觀臺 (Lookout Tower Monastery)

Lookout Tower Monastery is located in Zhouzhi, Shaanxi at the foot of the Zhongnan mountains. It is the place where Laozi 老子 is believed to have composed the Daode jing 道德經 (Scripture on the Dao and Inner Power) at the request of Yin Xi 尹喜, the “guardian of the pass.” As such, it is considered the “ancestral hall” (zuting 祖庭) of Daoism. Lookout Tower Monastery was the first Daoist monastery, which was founded by Yin Tong 尹通 (398-499?), an alleged descendent of Yin Xi.

NANYAN GONG 南巖宮 (South Cliff Palace)

South Cliff Palace is a cliff-embedded temple at Wudang shan 武當山 (Mount Wudang), which is located in Junxian, Hubei. Mount Wudang, also known as Taihe shan 太和山 (Mount Taihe [Great Harmony]), is home of the Zhenwu 真武 (Perfected Warrior) cult. Zhenwu, also known as Xuanwu 玄武 (Mysterious Warrior) and represented as an entwined snake-turtle, is the guardian of the north. Mount Wudang is also believed to have been the place where Zhang Sanfeng 張三丰 (14th c.?) engaged in Daoist cultivation and created the internal martial arts, such as Taiji quan 太極拳 (Yin-yang Boxing).

QINGCHENG SHAN 青城山 (Azure Wall Mountain)

Azure Wall Mountain is located near Guanxian, Sichuan. The mountain is so named because of its lush vegetation. It is one of the few Daoist sacred sites that escaped major damage during the Ten Years of Chaos (a.k.a. Cultural Revolution; 1966-1976) and where Daoists continued to reside during that time. Because of its location in Sichuan province, where Zhang Daoling 張道陵 (fl. 140 C.E.?) received a revelation from Laojun 老君 (Lord Lao) in 142 C.E. and where the Tianshi 天師 (Celestial Masters) movement began, the history of Azure Wall Mountain is mingled with that of the early Tianshi movement. This is so much the case that one can find Tianshi dong 天師洞 (Grotto of the Celestial Master) located within the mountain complex. At the summit, one finds Shangqing gong 上清宮(Palace of Highest Clarity), behind which a huge gold statue of Laozi on his ox is housed.

QINGYANG GONG 青羊宮 (Azure Ram Palace)

Azure Ram Palace (a.k.a. Black Sheep Temple) is located in Chengdu, Sichuan. According to one account, this temple is so named because Laozi 老子 passed by the site on an azure ram when leaving the “central kingdom.” An alternative legend recounts that Laozi, when parting from Yin Xi 尹喜 at Hangu Pass, predicted that he would be reborn three years later in a Chengdu market where azure goats were being sold. The present site of Azure Ram Palace is where this miraculous event supposedly occurred. The central altar of Azure Ram Palace consists of three immense statues of the Sanqing 三清 (Three Purities), the highest and most venerated “gods” of contemporary Quanzhen 全真 (Complete Perfection) Daoism. The temple compound also has an excellent vegetarian restaurant and a public teahouse, a feature for which Chengdu is famous.

TAISHAN 泰山 (Mount Tai)

Mount Tai is located in Tainan, Shandong. Mount Tai is the easternmost of China's five sacred mountains, with the other four being Huashan 華山 (Shaanxi; west), Hengshan 恒山 (Shanxi; north), Hengshan 衡山 (Hunan; south), and Songshan 嵩山 (Hebei; central). The mountain complex contains both Buddhist and Daoist temples, with one summit shrine being dedicated to Yuhuang dadi 玉皇大帝 (Jade Emperor). The mountain is probably most famous as the residence of the God of Mount Tai, who is considered the overseer of people’s life and death, with the underworld located under Mount Tai. His daughter, Bixia yuanjun 碧霞元君 (Primordial Goddess of the Morning Clouds), is the protectress of women and children.

YUQUAN YUAN 玉泉院 (Jade Spring Temple)

Jade Spring Temple is the base-temple at Huashan 華山 (Mount Hua), which is located in Huayin, Shaanxi. Mount Hua is the westernmost of China’s five sacred mountains, with the other four being Hengshan 恒山 (Shanxi; north), Taishan 泰山 (Shandong; east), Hengshan 衡山 (Hunan; south), and Songshan 嵩山 (Hebei; central). Mount Hua is characterized by sheer granite rock formations and numerous eremitic caves. As a Daoist sacred site, and as a distinct Daoist sub-tradition, it is associated with Chen Xiyi 陳希夷 (d. 989) and Hao Guangning 郝廣寧(1140-1213), one of the Seven Perfected of Quanzhen 全真 (Complete Perfection) Daoism.

ZIXIAO GONG 紫霄宮 (Purple Mist Palace)

Purple Mist Palace is the central temple complex of Wudang shan 武當山 (Mount Wudang), which is located in Junxian, Hubei. Mount Wudang, also known as Taihe shan 太和山 (Mount Taihe [Great Harmony]), is home of the Zhenwu 真武 (Perfected Warrior) cult. Zhenwu, also known as Xuanwu 玄武 (Mysterious Warrior) and represented as an entwined snake-turtle, is the guardian of the north. Mount Wudang is also believed to have been the place where Zhang Sanfeng 張三丰 (14th c.?) engaged in Daoist cultivation and created the internal martial arts, such as Taiji quan 太極拳 (Yin-yang Boxing).