On March 3, the twenty-seventh day of the first lunar month, I went to climb Mount Tai alone.
It has been a long-standing wish to go to Mount Tai to worship alone. I have climbed it eight times before, either with friends, with relatives, or with a group. Only this time, I can go there without taking the time and in a hurry. You can immerse your body and mind in the mountains and natural wonders, and worship the Five Sacred Mountains more devoutly.
Because there is only one early morning long-distance bus from Zouping to Tai'an, we were ready to leave at dawn. We arrived at Tai'an Hushan Park, passed Guandi Temple, Tiantianmen, where Confucius ascended, and arrived at the Red Gate Palace. It's nearly 11 o'clock. Of the eight previous mountain climbs, six of them were walking from Hongmen Palace to Yuhuangding and then walking down from Yuhuangding, one was walking to the top, taking the cable car down the mountain, and one was getting off and on the bus. This time, I decided to hike up and down.
Walking to Wanxian Tower, there are three ancient cypresses in the open space to the east of the building. They have been there for more than 300 years. The three ancient cypresses grow side by side from south to north, with distinct lengths. The one in the south is It is long and has a dignified ancient appearance. People regarded it as the sworn brotherhood of Liu, Guan and Zhang Taoyuan, so it was named "Sanyi Cypress". I took a photo and sent it to WeChat, saying: Good brothers, take a photo with me. It is enough for a person to have one or two confidants and three or five good brothers in his life.
In front of the Wanxian Tower, I put my hands together and prayed to the "Old Wanxian Tower", asking her to bless me with success and safety. The old people say, "Grandma Taishan" It is very effective. If you pray to her, "Grandma Taishan" will know that you are coming and will send her gods to help you climb the mountain. You can't help but believe that you will meet many elderly people on Mount Tai every day, and they will disdain them. After taking the bus and cable car up and down the mountain, they walked slowly on the "Ladder to Heaven" of worship, with firm steps and confident and energetic expressions.
After passing the Wanxian Tower, they looked back, above the doorway at the back of the building. Three big characters - "Thank you place", which means that you should kowtow to "Grandma Taishan" for protecting you all the way after returning from mountain climbing. I made a wish that I would kowtow three times before going down the mountain and the climb up the stairs would be smoother. It's flat, not too steep. Walk slowly, look at the strong cypress branches on both sides, admire the inscriptions and stone carvings, and occasionally hear magpies and orioles singing. The sky is cloudy and there is no sunshine. The mountains in the distance are like mist, and there are occasional ravines in the mountains. Seeing the remaining snow. The breeze of early spring and the fragrance of cypress trees made my mind quite refreshing, and my steps immediately became more brisk. After a while, I saw Doumu Palace on the road.
There were several companions in the south. Tourists were very curious when they saw the word "Dou Mu" and wondered what it meant, so I took the initiative to explain it so that guests from afar could understand Mount Tai, a famous mountain carrying thousands of years of history and culture. "Doumu" should be called "Doumu". Dou is the Big Dipper Stars, which means the mother of the Big Dipper stars. She is a goddess in Taoist legend. Doumu Palace was the first incense to enter the mountain in ancient times. I saw it when I came here many years ago. Incense is lingering in the air. In recent years, due to the heightened awareness of fire prevention, incense burning and paper burning are no longer allowed on the mountain except for the incense burner outside the Bixia Yuanjun Temple.
I have been to the mountain several times, but I have never stayed at Jingshiyu. This time I have never stopped at Jingshi Valley, so this time I have to pay homage to this "originator of big characters". After leaving Doumu Palace, take the road to the northeast, winding through the mountains, and cross the Shuyu Bridge. , ascending to the mountain Liushui Pavilion, a large flat stone bed in the river comes into view. There are only a few tourists here. I stand on the Shenling Bridge, the mountain breeze is gentle, the birds are singing in the deep stream, and the "King Kong" is more than 2,000 square meters. The stone carvings of the "Prajnaparamita Sutra" have been quietly facing the blue sky of the mountains and forests for thousands of years. They are simple and uncontested, and their mind instantly becomes pure and clear. Lotus blossoms are blooming everywhere. After hearing this for a long time, I returned to the main road. A magpie was on the branch in front of me, tilting its head to look at me, this uninvited guest from the world. I stopped and took out my phone and took a photo of them. However, the two of them were not surprised or scared, and they were calm and collected. Haha, "Look up." "Happy to see you".
Go back to the main road, pass the Prime Minister Fengan Monument, pass through Baidong, and arrive in front of Hutian Pavilion. The mountain stairs suddenly become steeper. The three characters of Hutian Pavilion are the names of Emperor Qianlong. In the book, the Taoist fairyland is called "Hutian".
According to legend, a small official in charge of the market in the Eastern Han Dynasty met an old man selling medicine. The old man hung a small wine pot in the market. Every time he sold the medicine, he would jump into the pot and disappear. Everyone else in the market would disappear. Unable to see this magical thing, only this little official could, so he went to visit the old man, and the old man took him to jump into the pot. It turned out that in this small square pot, there was something gorgeous. The beautiful buildings and jade buildings are surrounded by clouds and smoke, and there are heaven, earth, sun and moon. This is the "pot sky sun and moon". I read this mythical story when I was a child, and I still yearn for it to this day, so every time I come to Hutian Pavilion, I will stop for a moment, expecting a certain immortal to float out of the cave door on the high steps. There are two inner and outer couplets on both sides of the Hutian Pavilion Cave. The inner couplet says: The sun and the moon in the Hutian open the spiritual realm, and the wind and clouds on the winding road are like green. Wai Lian said: Halfway up the mountain, you are already in the Hutian; if you reach the top of the mountain with a thousand weights, there are still many blessed places. At this point, it is about half the altitude of Mount Tai. On both sides of the cave door, an ancient cypress grows through the wall, standing east and west, resembling two divine generals guarding the immortal gate.
I had to dismount and walk up the mountain. I have been to Mount Tai many times, and I knew that the next journey to Zhongtianmen would be the first dangerous journey that would test my physical strength and will, so I sat on the stone railing by the roadside to rest for a while, eat something, drink some water, and replenish my physical strength. It has always been thought that the best food for mountaineering is boiled water with sesame cakes and pickles. Next to the mountain stream, the cool breeze is blowing and it is slightly chilly. Looking at the mountains to the west of Mount Tai, they are like ink. I hold oil sesame cakes in one hand and pickle cubes in the other, and drink from time to time. A few mouthfuls of the best boiled water in the world, so comfortable and happy!
The next step along the way was really difficult, especially the section in front of the Yaowang Temple, which had already reached 18 rounds. From time to time, tourists would stop and beat their legs, sighing: "How can we still do this?" We can’t reach Zhongtian Gate!” After passing Yaowang Temple, we took a short break at Butian Bridge and continued walking. The stairs in front suddenly turned left and were extremely steep. We knew that we would reach Zhongtian Gate after climbing here! It was not a long flight of stairs, but after taking a few breaks, I climbed the last stone step, and the mirror in front of me suddenly opened up! Facing a simple stone square, there is a message: Zhongtian Gate.
Surrounded by steep mountains, wide valleys and clustered pavilions. The peaks in the east are abrupt and beautiful, allowing you to watch the sunrise and sunset; in the west, there is Fenghuang Ridge, which stretches far and wide, allowing you to overlook the heaven and earth and the city walls. Standing under the stone square, looking north to Dai Peak, you can see the majestic sky, the arched mountains, the stone carvings on the towers, and the lush forest ladder, all like a painting!
Climbing down the stone steps is called "Three Happy Miles". The journey is smooth, the spring breeze is triumphant, and the fatigue is relieved all the way. After walking forward for a while, we climbed up the steps again. The stone steps became steeper and narrower. I saw a stone bridge from a distance, spanning a mountain stream, with steep peaks on both sides, and deep valleys under the bridge with strange rocks. In the middle of the bridge was engraved: Yunbu Bridge.
Chen Fengwu of the Ming Dynasty had a poem that said: "The cliff of a hundred feet is high." The weather is fine in June and rain often falls, and the wind is calm and the strings are played at three o'clock. There are pieces of cloud hanging on the blue water, and the moon is woven in the bead curtain hole. Standing under the mountain in the evening, looking back at the setting sun becomes even more beautiful. ”
I remember when I came here in 2003, it was just after the heavy rain in summer. Standing on the Yunbu Bridge, I saw the mountains and rivers rushing down from the top of the bridge, turning into waterfalls at the steep stone wall in the north of the bridge. Flying jade shattered, dragons roared and thundered. The water on the bridge was misty, and the clothes got wet. Under the bridge, it was like a dragon coming out of a hole, spraying away! It has been many years since I saw the spectacular scene at that time, and I felt so lucky for that day. There are a dazzling array of stone carvings around the bridge, including "Red Bridge Flying Waterfall", "Lin Yu Common Life", "Heshan Yuanmai", "Taikou Qingyin", "Moonlight Spring Sound", etc. Relics of past dynasties and various fonts are gathered in one place. It's breathtaking. There is an ancient stone pavilion next to the bridge, which is called "Waterfall Viewing Pavilion". There is a couplet in the book: "Let's lean on the stone railing to watch the waterfall, and then cross the Yunqiao to visit Juesong. "
The "Jue Song" in the couplet is the "Five Doctor Pines". Crossing the Yunbu Bridge and heading north, winding up the road, there are two pine trees on the west side of the road. Legend has it that Qin Shihuang climbed Mount Tai here and encountered heavy rain. Fortunately, a pine tree on the roadside was able to shelter from the rain. Emperor Qin Shihuang was so happy that he named this tree "Five Doctors". The original tree had long been lost in history. Later generations mistook it as five pine trees. In the Qing Dynasty, five more pine trees were replanted. There are only two trees left due to thunder and fire. The "Five Doctor Pines" are the only plants that have been awarded the title of "Five Doctor Pines" on Mount Tai. Nowadays, things have changed and the world has changed. We can also re-walk the journey of the First Emperor's mountain to worship Zen more than 2,000 years ago. On the way.
Along the way, we pass Wangrensong, Chaoyang Cave, and arrive at Duosong Mountain. Looking from here, on the opposite mountain ridge, green pines stand proudly all year round. Some break out of the rock, some stand dangerously close to the cliff, and some look like a dragon soaring into the blue sky. Or like a sword piercing the sky. Starting here is one of the world-famous symbols of Mount Tai. It is the most challenging section of climbing Mount Tai, and it is also a place that makes many tourists double-cross - the Eighteen Pans.
? The eighteen disks are like ladders to the sky, hanging between the east and west mountains. An ancient poem once said: "Five thousand feet high from the ground, eighteen disks soar into the sky." Looking up, the vermilion south The Tianmen is half hidden in the clouds and mist, the winding road is steep and the ladder hangs upside down, which is awe-inspiring. It is the artistic conception of "climbing a mountain is like ascending to the sky". The magnificence of Mount Tai can be seen from this point, and it can all be climbed here!
When I walked here with the group in 2003, suddenly there was a heavy rain, lightning and thunder, and the stone steps suddenly turned into a river. There was an old Master Wei in the group who felt unwell due to the rain, and was a little frightened, so he collapsed on the ground. I took off my raincoat and put it on for her, comforting and encouraging her to keep walking to a house in front of me to take shelter from the rain. After the rain stopped, I took care of her and climbed to the Nantianmen. After we came down from the mountain, Master Wei gave me a big peace charm, saying that he had specially prayed for me from the mountain. Fortunately, after the heavy rain, we saw the rare Taishan Sea of ??Clouds in Daiding! The rolling clouds and waves are magnificent and ever-changing. It’s like being in a fairyland for nine days. What a blessing!
When I walked to Shengxianfang, I was panting heavily and couldn't catch my breath. My legs were shaking and I was about to fall to the ground. During the break, several tourists were very excited in front of Shengxianfang. They kept taking pictures and shouting: "Haha, we have become immortals!" Infected by their emotions, I also cheered up and continued to move forward.
As the saying goes, "Eighteen tight, eighteen slow, eighteen again, not too fast, not too slow", before you know it, you have reached the most dangerous stage of tight eighteen, and the Nantianmen is right in front of you! When I was excited, I looked back at the way I came. I felt dizzy and my legs went weak. I was so scared that I quickly grabbed the iron railing. The stone steps were quite steep, and the person in front of me was right above my head. The stone steps were also very narrow, with just enough room for one foot. I grabbed the iron railing with both hands and moved one step at a time, three steps at a time. Even though it was early spring, , but his face was already covered with sweat and his clothes were soaked. Alas, back then I was as light as a swallow and walked as fast as flying. I climbed from Hongmen to Jade Emperor Summit four times in nine days.
I didn’t know how many times I rested, then I looked up and saw a couplet in front of my eyes: "The door is open to the sky, and you can step up to the sacred site for three days; the steps are thousands of steps, and you can overlook the wonders of thousands of mountains." There are three golden words written across the line. Big words: "Nantianmen"! ha! Finally arrived at this heavenly palace! Covered all over! Finally arrived at this heavenly palace! The fatigue all over my body was swept away immediately. I took a few steps and rushed to the Nantian Gate. I turned around and looked back. I saw a long road ahead. I was in the sky and looked down at the lower world. The mountains were like hills and the sky and the earth were vast and indescribable. With courage and pride in his chest, he shouted: "I'm coming!" Ignoring the glances of the tourists around him, he walked towards Nantianmen.
There is a hall in the inner courtyard of Nantianmen, dedicated to Emperor Dongyue. In ancient times, emperors of all dynasties climbed Mount Tai to worship heaven and enshrine Zen, in order to communicate with heaven through Emperor Dongyue. In the hearts of the people, Emperor Dongyue is the mountain god on Mount Tai, protecting millions of people in Qilu. After turning a few stone steps, there is a newly built stone square in modern times, with the word "Tianjie" handwritten by the calligrapher Mr. Wu Zhongqi. I remember that the sea of ??clouds suddenly appeared on Mount Tai after the heavy rain while climbing. I was walking on Tianjie. The clouds and waves were rolling on the right side. It was like being in the ninth heaven, the fairy mist was shrouded, and the wonders seemed like illusions. It was really a heaven and earth!
When we came to Baiyunting, there was a cliff behind us. Looking out from the railing, the mist in the mountains was like a veil, and the mountains in the distance were looming. It was really like "stratus clouds are rising in my chest, and I can see all the small mountains at a glance"!
From Nantianmen to Baiyunting, there are many historical relics, stone tablets and cliff carvings, and it is the core area of ??Mount Tai Global Geopark.
While walking, you can enjoy the scenic spots along the way. There are lofty stone steps in front of you, and there is a majestic and resplendent palace on the platform, which is the "Bixia Yuanjun Temple". This is the most important place of worship in this trip, enshrining the "Bixia Yuanjun", who is also the "Taishan Granny" in the hearts of us people who can bless all living beings and benefit all people. I straightened my clothes, looked solemn, and worshiped, offered incense and prayed all the way without going into details.
How can we not climb to the top of a mountain? Jade Emperor Peak is the top of the main peak of Mount Tai. It is the place where emperors of all dynasties have climbed Mount Tai to pray and worship heaven. It is also a good place to watch the sunrise and overlook the Yellow River. Unfortunately, I cannot see the Jade Belt of the Yellow River even if I try my best, and there is no time to wait for tomorrow. Enjoy the magnificent view of the sunrise in the morning. There are endless beautiful things in the world, stay tuned and come again!
After enjoying the magnificent mountains and rivers again at Daiding, we planned to go down the mountain. The time was already 16:30, and the cableway down the mountain was closed at 17:00. It seemed that we couldn’t make it in time, so we simply walked down the mountain again. Along the way, I enjoyed the natural beauty from different perspectives and felt the atmosphere of humanities and history. It was quite satisfying and refreshing.
When I reached the middle of the 18th set, my left knee started to hurt. I couldn’t put it down when I bent it. I couldn’t lift it up after putting it down. I had to hold on to the railing and stiffen my left leg, two steps at a time. Walking down, it was already 18:30 when we reached Zhongtian Gate. After a short rest, I massaged my legs, gritted my teeth and continued to move forward tremblingly. By the time I reached the Wanxian Tower, it was already past 20:00. At the place of thanksgiving, I turned around and kowtowed three times to the mountain to say thank you. My journey was safe and smooth.
It was already 4 o'clock in the morning on the 4th when we came down from Deshan, took the train to Zibo, and returned to Zouping. No sleep all the way. Life is in a hurry, and there are always things to do. Flowers bloom and fall, clouds roll and relax, treat your heart sincerely, and be unafraid of any suffering.
This trip to Chaoyue fulfilled my long-cherished wish.