Temple of the Three Sovereigns at Qinglong Mountain

Temple of the Three Sovereigns at Qinglong Mountain

The Temple of the Three Sovereigns at Qinglong Mountain is a cultural tourism attraction.

In Xiaozhang, Daiyue District, Tai’an, there is a famous scenic area: the Temple of the Three Sovereigns at Qinglong Mountain. The temple is situated in Shuanglongyu on the eastern side of Qinglong Mountain, east of Jiminfan Village. It was first built in the fifth year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era of the Song Dynasty, 1012 AD, and has a history of nearly a thousand years. In November of the 16th year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1503), the Pope sent the eunuch supervisor Qi Xuan to offer sacrifices to the Holy Emperor of the Three Sovereigns. Inside and outside the Temple of the Three Sovereigns, there are wolfberry trees and century-old crape myrtle trees that grow in the Mount Tai mountain range. In recent years, relevant authorities have renovated the “Smooth Sailing” path, and with the addition of the local “Spiritual Spring” known as Lingye Spring, the entire scenic area is well laid out. Nestled within the embrace of Qinglong Mountain, the scenery is naturally breathtaking. The side hall on the west side is the Goddess Hall of the Mount Tai Palace, dedicated to Bixia Yuanjun, also known as the Goddess of Mount Tai or affectionately called “Granny of Mount Tai.” Beside her are the Goddess of Eye Sight and the Goddess of Childbirth.

Temple of the Three Sovereigns at Qinglong Mountain, Tai’an

Temple of the Three Sovereigns at Qinglong Mountain, Tai’an

The main hall of the Temple of the Three Sovereigns faces forward and enshrines the ancestors of humanity: the Heavenly Sovereign, the Earthly Sovereign, and the Human Sovereign—namely Fuxi, Suiren, and the Medicine God Shennong. Suiren invented fire drilling; Fuxi’s mother was named Xu, but her husband’s surname is unknown (reflecting a matrilineal society). Fuxi made six major contributions to humanity: First, he discovered natural fire, enabling people to cook food; second, he taught people to domesticate animals and invented animal husbandry; third, he invented fishing nets by tying ropes together; fourth, he created the Yin-Yang and Eight Trigrams, being the founder of Fuxi’s trigrams; fifth, he established the monogamous system, allowing Chinese civilization to thrive; sixth, he invented the set square and ruler, enabling people to measure land and cultivate fields. He also studied the patterns of sunrise and sunset, mastered the changes of the four seasons, and understood the rules of farming and hunting. Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs and managed agriculture, holding a “whip” in his left hand to test medicinal plants for toxicity and use them to treat illnesses. Notably, the “Kunlun” mentioned in the Classic of Mountains and Seas specifically refers to Mount Tai, not today’s Kunlun Mountains. Commemorating the Chinese ancestral figures Fuxi, Suiren, and Shennong here holds profound significance.

After a winding journey, passing Phoenix Mountain and ascending to Qinglong Mountain, the scenery along the way is beyond description. In the distance, the green waves of Qinglong Lake ripple gently, and upon rounding the memorial archway, the undulating ridges of Qinglong Mountain come clearly into view. Arriving at the Temple of the Three Sovereigns, winter plum blossoms bravely bloom in the cold, filling the air with their fragrance. The Lingye Spring, after a thousand years, still responds to all prayers, and Taoist nuns still draw from its sweet, jade-like waters. Against the backdrop of the wolfberry trees, the Chinese dragon in the Temple of the Three Sovereigns seems ready to burst through the walls, exuding an extraordinary aura. The golden statues of the Three Sovereigns in the temple shine brilliantly, sitting upright and gazing into the distance at the multitude of living beings. The side halls nearby are home to various deities of fortune and blessing, who bestow prosperity, wealth, happiness, and longevity upon every visitor who comes to worship.

Exiting the Temple of the Three Sovereigns and ascending along the “Smooth Sailing” path, you will pass a culinary culture corridor and see what looks like a heavenly ladder descending from the mountain, giving a thrilling sense of ascending to the heavens. Climbing up this ladder step by step, and when you feel your strength waning, you will reach the Jade Emperor Temple at the mountaintop. This temple stands in its own courtyard. Though the architecture may seem simple, the Jade Emperor enshrined here is resplendent and magnificent.

From the summit of Jade Emperor Peak, you can overlook the full panorama of Mount Tai—its beautiful mountains and clear waters, shimmering lakes, and picturesque landscapes stretching endlessly. Green mountains need no ink to be eternal paintings, and clear waters need no rest to be timeless zithers. The quiet Phoenix Mountain and Qinglong Mountain, with the return of spring, express their boundless generosity and charm to visitors from afar.

The mountaintop is rugged and undulating, with strange rocks standing tall. Pines and cypresses, resilient against wind and snow, stretch out their branches and sway with the wind, as if welcoming guests to the mountain. In the gentle breeze, the chirping calls of pheasants echo through the sky, melodiously drifting into the depths of the valley—signaling that they too have sensed the arrival of spring and are choosing their beloved mates.

Source: NetEase Blog of “Tai Shan Xiao Mao Lu”