Record of Searching for Immortals on Mount Luofu: There are Many Stories of Chongxu Ancient Temple
2024-08-29
Su Shi's poem about Lingnan, "Eating three hundred lychees a day, never hesitating to become a Lingnan person," is well-known to the world. The first two lines, "Four seasons of spring at the foot of Mount Luofu, Lu oranges and Yangmei are the newest," tell readers that Mr. Dongpo expressed his emotions in front of the "first mountain in Lingnan" - Mount Luofu. Nearly a thousand years ago, the "four seasons of spring" climate and fresh Lingnan fruits of Mount Luofu deeply comforted Mr. Dongpo. However, Li Bai, who had never set foot in Lingnan, had also written poems such as "Luofu Magu Terrace, gone or never returned here" and "I still wish to hide in Luofu, still remembering the kindness of the Lord". Upon closer reading, it is not difficult to find that he also had great longing for this Luofu Mountain. Located in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, Luofu Mountain, known as the "Immortal Mountain" in ancient times, is the birthplace of Lingnan Taoist culture and has attracted numerous poets and literati throughout history. More than 1600 years ago, Taoist theorist Ge Hong lived in seclusion here, collecting herbs and refining pills every day, writing books and establishing the Lingnan Taoist school. It is said that he eventually "ascended to immortality" here. In Luofu Mountain, there is also a national key cultural relic protection unit - Chongxu Ancient Temple, which was built by Ge Hong. In this issue of 'Cultural China Tour: Exploring National Treasures in Famous Cities', we aim to explore ancient temples and embark on a journey to find' immortals'. Since the official opening of "Luofushan Station" in 2023, the roaring high-speed railway has brought batches of tourists to Luofushan. That morning, as soon as the reporters and their group walked out of the high-speed railway station, they saw clouds and mist swirling in the mountains in the distance, with a fairy like aura, as if they were making a prediction for a journey to find "immortals". The big brother of the ride hailing driver told us that he receives a significant increase in orders every weekend. "Many people arrive on Friday evenings, coming from places like Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Now it's much more convenient to go to Luofu Mountain than before!" Moreover, many young tourists also like to climb together at night on Friday evenings. Ten minutes' drive later, the memorial archway of "the seventh largest cave" stands at the foot of Luofu Mountain, which is the entrance of Luofu Mountain. The Taoist priest Zhang Lingwei, who welcomed us, explained carefully that "Dongtian" is a Taoist term referring to the immortal mountains on the ground. There are a total of ten Taoist Dongtian in the country, many of which are famous mountain resorts. The highest peak of Luofu Mountain is 1296 meters above sea level, and Chongxu Ancient Temple is located at the foot of the mountain, which can be reached almost without climbing. It is bordered by Magu Peak to the north and Bailian Lake to the south, with a very broad view. Climbing up the stairs, passing through the mountain gate, there were as many tourists as usual who added incense and prayed for blessings. Chongxu Ancient Temple is regarded as the ancestral home of Lingnan Taoist Temple, and Luofu Mountain has become the birthplace of Lingnan Taoism. "The Taoist priest introduced that the original site of Chongxu Ancient Temple was Nan'an, one of the four temples built by Ge Hong, and was originally named Duxu Temple. After Ge Hong's ascension to immortality, it was rebuilt as Ge Hong Temple to commemorate him. During the Tianbao period of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, it was expanded and renamed Gexian Temple. In the second year of Yuanyou reign of Emperor Zhezong of Song Dynasty (1087), it was also named "Chongxu Temple" and has been repaired in subsequent dynasties. Nowadays, there are five levels of halls in the temple, namely Sanqing Hall, Lingguan Hall, Wong Tai Sin Hall, Lvzu Hall, and Gexian Hall. Most of the buildings were renovated during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. He introduced while brewing tea. In the scorching summer, tea seems even sweeter. The water used for brewing tea is from the Changsheng Well, which we also call 'immortal water'. "Seeing the reporter's curiosity, he immediately took us to the left side hall of the Chongxu Ancient Temple, where the Changsheng Well is located at the entrance. Legend has it that the water source used by Ge Hong for alchemy was believed by people around Luofu Mountain to be able to cure diseases, strengthen the body, and prolong life. Therefore, there is also a saying in the local area that 'dou mi is exchanged for dou shui'. The inspiration for the 'Nobel Prize' in Luofu Mountain comes from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, when Ge Hong moved to Luofu Mountain and his wife Bao Gu also practiced medicine and collected herbs here. The two lived a peaceful and comfortable life. Ge Hong tasted hundreds of herbs, applied medicine to the people, practiced Taoism and alchemy, and wrote Taoist philosophical theories and medical works such as "Baopuzi" and "Emergency Prescriptions for Elbow Reserve", which wrote a legend for Lingnan medicine. On the side of Chongxu Ancient Temple, there are two places: the Medicine Washing Pool and the Zhichuan Danzao. The medicinal pool is shaped like an eight trigrams, with water lilies stretching out on the surface of the water. There is a stone carving next to the pool that reads: "The immortal washes the medicinal pool, and the fragrance of the medicine is always heard. The immortal who washes the medicine never returns, and the ancient pool is cold soaked with plum blossoms and moon." It is said that Ge Hong and his wife often go up the mountain to collect herbs, so this pool has washed more than 1000 kinds of medicinal herbs. A little higher up the washbasin, we arrived at Zhichuan Danzao. Ge Hong, also known as Zhichuan, is said to be the place where he refined his elixirs. He spent forty-nine days refining the "Nine Transformations Golden Pill" and after taking it, he transformed into an immortal. Nowadays, the washbasin and Zhichuan Danzao have become tourist attractions. Inside the Ge Xian Palace, the statues of "Ge Xian Weng" and "Bao Xian Gu" stand quietly, listening to the beautiful wishes of believers for the health and safety of their relatives and friends. Ge Hong was knowledgeable in medicine and pharmacology, advocating for Taoists to practice both medical skills. His book "Emergency Prescriptions for Elbow Reserve" collected a large number of emergency prescriptions, many of which are still effective today. The relevant person in charge of the management committee of the Chongxu Ancient Temple in Luofu Mountain introduced: "Ge Hong practiced Taoism on Luofu Mountain, combining the Taoist technique of cultivating immortality with the ordinary technique of treating diseases and saving people, promoting Taoism towards populism and popularization. He pioneered the combination of the Taoist technique of cultivating immortality with the ordinary technique of treating diseases and saving people, pushing Taoism and medicine to the most 'down-to-earth' era." Contemporary famous medical scientist Tu Youyou was inspired by Ge Hong's "Emergency Prescriptions for Elbow Reserve", which recorded that "with one grip of Artemisia annua, two liters of water are used to extract juice, and it is consumed to the fullest extent", and finally successfully extracted the anti malaria special drug - artemisinin, saving countless lives. In 2015, Tu Youyou was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Luofu Mountain thus became the source of artemisinin. The glorious page of revolutionary history, Chongxu Ancient Temple, was announced as the eighth batch of national key cultural relics protection units in 2019. The person in charge of the Luofu Mountain Chongxu Ancient Temple Management Committee introduced that in the same year, the renovation project of the main hall, Sanqing Treasure Hall, was launched here. Following the principle of "not changing the original state of cultural relics", the roof, beam frame, drainage system, roof plaster, etc. were repaired and maintained, and fully completed by the end of 2021. At the entrance of Chongxu Ancient Temple, there is a signboard on the right wall that reads "Former Site of Dongjiang Column Headquarters", reminding visitors that this is not only a traditional Taoist holy site, but also has left a significant mark in modern revolutionary history. The Dongjiang Column of the Guangdong People's Anti Japanese Guerrilla is a people's anti Japanese army founded and led by the CPC in Dongjiang, Guangdong Province. It is the main armed force to open up the battlefield behind the enemy in South China and adhere to the South China War of Resistance. Huizhou is the main activity area for the establishment, development, growth, and struggle against the enemy of the Dongjiang Column, and was also the main battlefield of the Dongjiang Column. Zeng Qingxiang, the director of the Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall, introduced that in the spring of 1945, the Guangdong Provincial Temporary Working Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to relocate the Dongjiang Column Command to Luofushan in accordance with the instructions of the central government, in order to establish the Wuling Base. At the end of May, the headquarters, political department, and military and political cadre school of the Dongjiang Column were all relocated to Luofu Mountain. Among them, the headquarters is located inside the Chongxu Ancient Temple. On December 2, 2003, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Dongjiang Column, the Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall was built and opened next to the Chongxu Ancient Temple, the former headquarters of the Dongjiang Column. The Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall, based on cultural relics and photographs, records the magnificent journey of the Dongjiang Column in resisting Japan and saving the country. Nowadays, it has become an important place to showcase the spirit and historical culture of the Dongjiang Column. It is reported that the Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall in Huizhou City is an important witness to Luofushan's role as the "red heart" of the Communist Party of China in southern China and the center of resistance against Japan. In 2014, it was selected for the "First Batch of National Anti Japanese War Memorial Facilities and Sites List" (a total of 80 in China and 2 in Guangdong), and has now become a patriotic education base, national defense education base, and red tourism demonstration base. In 2015, Huizhou was officially awarded the title of National Historical and Cultural City. Since ancient times, it has been an important town in the Dongjiang River Basin, known as the "key town of eastern Guangdong" and "gateway to eastern Guangdong"; It is also an important gathering place for Hakka people, with overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents being the first among the four Hakka states, known as the "Hakka Overseas Capital". (New Society)
Edit：NingChangRun Responsible editor：LiaoXin
Source：Yangtse Evening Post
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