Wuxue Xiangu Mountain

Wuxue Xiangu Mountain

Xiangu Mountain is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Xiangu Mountain is located 5 kilometers west of Wuxue City. In 1997, it was approved as a tourist area by Huanggang City, covering an area of 3.3 square kilometers. The entire area is divided into six main scenic zones: the Temple Zone, Water Recreation Zone, Leisure Resort Zone, Military Adventure Zone, Celebrity Relics Zone, and Service Zone. Legend has it that three young women—He, Chen, and Xu—entered the mountain...

The Ju Family Tomb

It is said that Mr. Ju Zheng, a veteran of the Xinhai Revolution and former Premier of the Nationalist government, once invited a feng shui master to survey the mountains and rivers of Guangji County. They found an auspicious burial site at the foot of Xiangu Mountain, where he laid to rest his parents and other family members. Despite the passage of time, the Ju Family Tomb remains well-preserved. The tall white marble tombstone bears the elegiac address written by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in honor of Madam Ju, as well as commendation decrees issued by the Nationalist government for Mr. Ju Zheng. Here, visitors can appreciate the calligraphy of Lin Sen and Sun Wen, as well as the literary style of Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek.

The Mahavira Hall

Passing the reservoir and ascending the mountain, you will enter one of the religious temple zones—the Mahavira Hall. The four characters “Mahavira Hall” were inscribed by Zhao Puchu, displaying vigorous and masterful brushwork. Looking down, there is a couplet in front of the hall: “Purify your heart and do good; a touch of spiritual light dispels delusion. Cultivate yourself and work diligently; a smiling face brings longevity.” In front of the hall stands a six-meter-high bronze pavilion, with intricately carved beams and upturned eaves, and the clear sound of bells ringing. Beneath the pavilion, another couplet reads: “Once you enter the gate of emptiness, let go of sorrow; let worldly affairs come and go as they may.” Amidst the soft chanting of Buddhist sutras and the shared spiritual atmosphere, you will unknowingly arrive at the Xiangu Hall, where the deities of the three xiangu (immortal maidens) are enshrined, with two immortal attendants standing by their side. In the left divination room of the hall, several photos hang on the wall, one of which shows the abbot of this temple, Venerable Kuanchi, alongside Venerable Benhuan, the 44th lineage holder of the Linji School.

The Linji School is the largest sect of Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Its founder was the Tang Dynasty monk Yixuan, whose approach to enlightenment—simple, free, concise, and direct—proved highly appealing and cohesive, flourishing during the Tang and Song dynasties and leading the way for a thousand years. Master Benhuan, whose face glowed red and eyes shone bright, inheriting the millennia-old wisdom of Chinese religion, has lived over a hundred years. Adjacent to that is a photo of Venerable Jinghui, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China, who came here to teach the Dharma.

Legend

Climbing 308 steps, the Xiangu Cave comes into view. The cave is about two meters high and three meters deep, and inside it also houses statues of the three xiangu. Legend has it that long ago, three village girls surnamed He, Cheng, and Xu, during a time of war and famine when people could hardly survive, went into the mountains together to dig for wild vegetables to stave off hunger. Unexpectedly, they never came back down the mountain. Later, villagers discovered three bamboo baskets full of wild vegetables at the mouth of a cave on the mountain. Just as people were puzzled, the baskets suddenly disappeared, and wild edible plants sprouted all over the hills, helping nearby villagers survive the famine. People believed that the three village girls had attained enlightenment and were blessing the locals. They enshrined the three deities in the cave where the baskets were found. True to the legend, prayers were answered, disasters were averted, and blessings were bestowed upon the people. Since then, the number of worshippers grew, and both men and women flocked here. Thus, the mountain and the cave became known as Xiangu Mountain and Xiangu Cave. On a patch of land as big as two winnowing baskets, grew some unusually vibrant leeks—planted by the xiangu themselves—that thrived year-round despite poor soil, with leaves that stayed green and tender without withering.