Huashan 華山
Location: Shaanxi Province
Latitude/Longitude: 34° 28.7’N/110° 04.7’E
Elevation: 7086 ft MSL
The formidable white granite Hua Mountain is located in Shaanxi Province, east of Xian, north of the ChinLing mountain range and south of the Yellow River. Hua means “magnificent” and “flower” in ancient Chinese. Huashan is commonly called “Lotus Mountain” as its peaks are arranged like the petals of a flower.
In the Taoist religion, this mountain has been a citadel for believers. Its five sacred peaks represent the 5 spiritual elements of the Taoist universe: Central Peak/Earth, North Peak/Water, South Peak/Fire, East Peak/Wood, West Peak/Metal.
The legendary Taoist monk, Lao Tzu (580-500 BC) was challenged to write down the philosophical treatise, “Tao Te Ching” at Hangu Pass, near Huashan. There is a place between West Peak and South Peak called “Lao Tzu’s furnace”, where legend says Lao Tzu made his pills of immortality.
Pilgrims have been compelled to climb the rugged, perilous terrain of Mt. Hua for over two millennia. Whether it is the remote seclusion, or the search for some mystical elixir, people who climb this mountain discover its grandeur. Hua is one of China’s most deadly mountains. Careless stumbles cause many people to fall to their death every year. The steps carved into the living granite are hand hewn, and were made during the last several hundred years. Previously, recluse monks climbed this pinnacle of enlightenment for centuries without such convenience, using only handholds and foot notches.
Hua Mountain is rich with folklore, legend and historical characters.
The chess pavilion is located in a rugged area near Hua’s East Peak, called the Botai Terrace. This is where Chen Tuan challenged Emperor Zhao to play the Chinese board game, called Wei Qi (a.k.a. "Go"), making a wager-- Chen Tuan’s servitude bet against the entire mountain range of Hua. The emperor lost. Thus the Taoist monks were given title to the mountain.
Another renowned figure in Chinese history is connected with the mountain – Dr. Hua Tuo, who is as famous a physician in China as is Hippocrates to the western world. He was also famous as the originator of some Hua martial arts health and fitness training.
The monks of Huashan had to be nimble and strong because of the difficult terrain. This gave rise to some unique martial arts styles. Of the martial folk stories, perhaps the most significant related to Hua Mountain has to do with the historical characters, collectively called -- The Eight Immortals.
