Fellow Virtual Travelers and Historians,
We are now on Wudangshan and it's still raining, as it was in both Xi'an and Ling Bao. To back track a little, the reason we visited Ling Bao was to research a mountainous pass that is famous in China's history. In ancient times, the Xi'an area was often chosen as the dwelling place for emperors, because it was protected on both the east and west sides by narrow passes that were easily protected. We are interested in Hangu Pass due to the part it plays in the story of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tze:
http://bridging-eurasia.org/en/node/327
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangu_Pass
http://news.everychina.com/vz4046a1-hangu_pass.html
http://news.everychina.com/wz41eee4/hangu_pass.html
If you're like us, you spend some time in your life reading about philosophies that may help you deal better with the tough questions that life asks us. It has been interesting to us that the great philosophers of history lived during the same time period (like Socrates and Plato). Many of these philosophers and teachers taught the same principles of success, such as: 'Treat others as you would like to be treated.' (This is found in both the Tao Te Ching and the Bible.)
Lao Tze another of those philosophers and is generally credited with writing the book 'Tao Te Ching'. As with any legend there are numerous theories about who did what when, but our favorite story describes Lao Tze as an old man who headed west to find immortality. As he passed through Hangu Pass, the guard stopped him and challenged Lao Tze to record in writing, all of his great teachings. Lao Tze did so and now we have passages such as this to reflect on:
“In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.”
With the heavy rains, we did not get to set foot in the actual pass, so we're considering this trip to be a scouting mission for Hangu Pass. While the memorial park was beautiful, we'll have to come back again someday to see the mountainous pass! Sunny, the guide we reconnected with while we were in Xi'an, said he'd be able to help us on future trips and research to this area!
Hangu Pass in the early 1900's.
Dennis dwarfed by the memorial statue of Lao Tse.
One of the serene views within the Hangu Pass Memorial Gardens.
Blessings,
Dennis & Anita