Dahua Mountain

Dahua Mountain

Dahua Mountain is located in the southeastern part of Le'an County, about 20 kilometers from the county seat. According to *Records of Famous Mountains Under Heaven*, during the initial years of Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty, the immortal Fúqiū Zhēnjūn taught the "Three-Five Flying Step Technique" and the "Nine-One Shangqing Method" to the two immortals Wáng and Guō here. They practiced alchemy through meditation and eventually ascended to immortality. In the fourth year of the Dali era (769) during the Tang Dynasty, Yan Zhenqing, the prefect of Fuzhou, discovered an old stele from the fifth year of the Kaihuang era (585) of the Sui Dynasty on Huágài Mountain. After careful research, he wrote the *Record of the Bridge Immortal Temple*. In the eighth year of the Xining era (1075) during the Song Dynasty, Emperor Shenzong conferred the title of "True Lord" upon the two immortals Wáng and Guō and renamed the temple. In the second year of the Yuanyou era (1099), Emperor Zhezong decreed that Fúqiū Gōng be titled "Chāoyìng Zhēnrén" (Transcendent Responding True Man); in the third year of Yuanyou (1100), the title was changed to "True Lord." In the first year of the Jiāxī era (1237) during the Southern Song Dynasty, Emperor Lizong further honored Fúqiū, Wáng, and Guō as the "Three Protecting True Men." In the twenty-second year of the Hóngwǔ era (1389) during the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang sent imperial incense. In the twenty-third year of the Chénghuà era (1487), in June on the emperor’s birthday, Emperor Xiànzōng Zhu Jianshen also sent imperial incense. On the seventh day of the second lunar month in the twenty-fourth year of the Jiajing era (1545), Emperor Shizong Zhu Houcong...

issued an *Imperial Edict*. Dahua Mountain became a Taoist sacred site protected by the feudal court. Throughout the dynasties, many notable figures visited and composed numerous poems and essays. Examples include Bai Yuchan’s *Paying Homage at the Azure Temple of the Three Immortals of Huágài*, Wu Cheng’s *Stele of the Thunder Altar*, Tang Xianzu’s *Preface to Huágài Mountain*, Wu Daonan’s *Record of the Reconstruction of the Mountain Gate*, Tan Lun’s *Huágài Mountain*, Yu Ji’s *Ode to Fúqiū*, and Luo Lun’s *Ascending Huágài Mountain*. There are also over 160 literary works left by other scholars and artists.

With an elevation of 996 meters, Dahua Mountain spans over a hundred li, stretching from the north toward Ningdu and forming part of the Twenty-Four Mountains of Han Mausoleums. It extends into Le'an, rising abruptly with a shape resembling a lotus canopy, hence also called "Huágài Mountain" (Canopy Mountain). The three peaks of Huágài—Fúqiū Peak, Zhùqí Peak, and Xiānglú Peak—stand towering into the clouds and are known as the "Three Supreme Peaks of the South." Other natural sites include Xiānnǚ Peak (Fairy Peak), Yǐnxiān Rock (Hidden Immortal Rock), Zǐyuán Shrine, Dìngfēng Stone (Wind-Calming Stone), Jiànggōng Ao (Bow-Lowering Pass), Chánggēng Cliff, Cháhuā Valley (Camellia Valley), Tuìjūn Ridge (Retreating Troops Ridge), Huángmáo Gang (Yellow Grass Ridge), Tóulóng Pool (Dragon-Surrendering Pool), Yǐnmǎ Pond (Horse-Drinking Pond), Yùyuán Well (Nurturing Origin Well), Bìtáo Ravine (Jade Peach Ravine), and more than fifty other ancient sites, each with its own fascinating legends. There are also exquisitely crafted ancient structures such as pavilions, towers, terraces, platforms, temples, altars, palaces, and halls spread across the mountain. Examples include the skillfully built Nánzhēn Temple, Yùtíng Temple, Qiáoxiān Temple, and Línxian Temple. The three grand gates along the mountain path—from the mountain foot to the summit—namely “Dà Huágài Mountain,” “Imperially Bestowed Chóngxiān Temple,” and “Penglai Fairyland,” are magnificent. The “Three Immortals Main Hall” from Chóngxiān Temple to the peak features uniquely designed buildings such as Yuánguāng Pavilion (Circle of Light Pavilion), Qìxiá Pavilion (Resting Clouds Pavilion), Tiānguān Altar (Heavenly Officials’ Altar), and Bīnxiān Pavilion (Guest Immortals’ Pavilion), all adding to the grandeur. Currently, Dahua Mountain has restored ancient sites such as Fúqiū Temple, Jiǔhuáng Hall, Guānyīn Sòngzǐ Pavilion (Guanyin Sending Child Pavilion), Guānyīn Zhǒngzǐ Pavilion (Guanyin Seed Pavilion), and Wànshòu Palace (Longevity Palace), and has erected over fifty divine statues. This majestic mountain boasts beautiful scenery and perilous terrain. During the Taiping Rebellion, Shi Dakai’s forces once engaged in intense battles with Qing troops here for several months. In 1933, during the Fourth Counter-Encirclement Campaign, [redacted] and [redacted] led the Red Army to annihilate two divisions of [redacted] troops around Huágài Mountain. In recent years, the mountain has seen frequent visits from tourists.

Location

Le'an County, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province