ThecityofTaian,is150metersabovesealevel.Mostoftheprincipalscenicspotsandhistoricalremainsareclusteredalonganaxisextendingfromthecitytothetopofthemountain.TheyaretheresultofalonghistoricalProcess,andareingeniouslyplacedinordertotakeadvantageofthesurroundingtopography.
ChinesemythologyhasitthatMt.TaiwasformedfromtheheadofPanGu,oneofchinesecreators.HisfourlimbsFormedanotherfourmountains.ThesefivemountainsarelocatedintheEast,West,South,NorthandthecenterofChina.MountTaiintheEastistheonethatisgenerallythemostadmired.
TheAzureCloudTempleisthebestpreservedoldstructureonMt.Taishan,whichstillretainsthestyleandappearanceoftheMinganQingdynasties.ItsimportancerestswithitsGoodcombinationofarchitecture,painting,carvingandforest,anillustrationofancientCineneseculture.Ithasabuildingareaof3900squaremeters.Accordingtorecords,itwasFirstbuiltin1009oftheSongDynasty,andrebuiltintheMingandQingdynasties.NowitisalargeancientcomplexonthetopofMt.taishan.
TheAzureCloudTempleconsistsof12largestructures,suchastheMainHall,theAnnexedHall,thejossstickHall,theMainGate,theimperialStelePavillion,theBellTowerandTheSacredGate.Thetempleisdividedbythemaingateintotwocourtyards.Thefrontcounrtyardhasthreegates.OntheSoouthSacredGatestandthreedancingandsingingroomsOverafirefloorwherepilgrimsburnJosssticks.Facingthegateisascreenwall,inscribedfourChinesecharacters万代瞻仰meaningadmirationbygenerations.TwoannexedroomsextendnotyhwardtoconnecttheEastSacredGateandtheWestsacredGate.
Themaingateistheboundbetweenthefrontcourtyardandtherearcourtyard.InsidethegateistheprincipalpartoftheAzyreCloudTemple.InthecenterofthecourtyardistheJossstickpavilion,whereenshrinedisabronzefigurineoftheaupremeLord.Oneithersideofthepavilionstandsahugestele.BesidestheAzureCloudTem;leitself,theBuddha’sHaloisanothermiraculousphenomenon.Ofthe128historicalsitesunderpreservationonMt.Taishan,theAzureCloudTempleisthemostimportantone.
Acommonsayinggoesthatamountainwillbeintelligentiftherelivesanimmortal,nomatterhowhighitis.Mt.Taishanisnotonlyhighbutalsointelligent.Risingabruptlyandimposingly1545metersabovesealevelfromavastplain,Mt.Taishanbecametheholylandwhereemperorsofdifferentdynastiesmadetheirpersonalpilgrimagesandheldssacrificiallceremonies.StandjingOnthetopofMt.Taishan,theAzureCloudTemple,thechiefplacewheresacrificialceremoniesweremade,isthehighlightattractiononMt.Taishan.
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