Nanyan Scenic Area of Wudang Mountain

Nanyan Scenic Area of Wudang Mountain

The Nanyan Scenic Area of Wudang Mountain is regarded by Taoism as the "sacred site" where the deity Zhenwu attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven. It is the most picturesque among the 36 cliffs of Wudang Mountain. Reconstructed in the 11th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1413 AD), it features over 150 rooms of various sizes including palaces, Taoist dwellings, and pavilions, and was bestowed the name "Great Sage Nanyan Palace." By the 31st year of the Jiajing reign (1552 AD), it had expanded to 460 rooms.

Existing structures include the Stone Hall, South Heaven Gate, Stele Pavilion, and the Hall of Two Principles. Nanyan, also known as "Zixiao Rock," gets its name from facing south. Its full title is the Great Sage Nanyan Palace, and it is where the cultural and natural landscapes of Wudang Mountain are most perfectly integrated.

Historical records indicate that during the Tang Dynasty, Lü Dongbin—one of the Eight Immortals—once practiced Taoism here, and a poem he wrote still remains. In the Yuan Dynasty, the eminent Wudang Taoist Zhang Shouqing, building upon previous efforts, "carved through rocks and leveled valleys to construct grand palaces," making the architecture of Nanyan "radiant amidst the forest, with twelve towering stories..." At that time, there were as many as a thousand Taoists on Nanyan. Due to Zhang Shouqing’s immense contributions in constructing Nanyan and promoting Wudang Taoism, the emperor of the time conferred upon him the title "Perfected One of Marvelous Mystery and Harmonious Response." Historical texts praise Nanyan at the time as having "halls arranged in rows, morning bells and evening lamps, mountain echoes and valley tremors." Here, the phrase "morning bells and evening drums" is replaced with "morning bells and evening lamps," vividly illustrating how the architectural layout of Nanyan was intricately arranged, and how the lamps at night became a uniquely spectacular sight.

During the Ming Dynasty, Nanyan underwent large-scale expansion, with over 800 halls and Taoist dwellings. Unfortunately, a great fire in September 1926 destroyed more than 200 structures, including the Hall of the Emperor of the North. The ancient architecture of Nanyan broke away from the traditional fully symmetrical layout and patterns, achieving a high degree of harmony and unity with the surrounding environment. Craftsmen skillfully utilized the terrain, building along the mountains and cliffs, resulting in structures that dramatically rise and fall, as well as delicate and compact designs. There are both group courtyard complexes and standalone corner towers, creating a powerful artistic effect.

At Nanyan, a stone carving that extends out over a cliff has long been a topic of fascination. This carving is called the Dragon Head Stone, commonly known as the "Dragon Head Incense." The Dragon Head Incense is three meters long and 0.55 meters wide, intricately carved from a single piece using techniques such as round carving, openwork carving, and relief carving to form two dragons. The two dragons, suspended over the sheer cliff, are said to be the divine steeds of the Emperor of the North, who often rode them on his inspections. Because of the mystique and sacred status of the Dragon Head Incense, devout worshippers would risk their lives to burn incense here as a demonstration of piety during their pilgrimages to Wudang. They would crawl along the narrow dragon body on their knees to reach the dragon head to light the incense, then crawl back the same way. A slight misstep could mean falling to one’s death in the abyss below. Undoubtedly, since its construction in the Ming Dynasty, countless people have fallen to their deaths from the Dragon Head Incense, with gruesome scenes. In the 12th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Governor-General of Sichuan and Huguang issued an order banning the burning of the Dragon Head Incense and erected a stele as a warning. The inscription advised people that the gods are benevolent, and sincerity alone is efficacious—there is no need to climb to the edge of a cliff to offer incense in reverence. Therefore, it urged people not to repeat the mistakes of the past and lose their precious lives. The "Prohibition of Burning Dragon Head Incense" stele not only saved many lives but also conveyed an important message: cherish life.