Taiji Cave
Encyclopedia
Taiji Cave is a karst
cave located on Shilong Mountain (石龙山) in Guangde County
, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China, where the provinces of Jiangsu
, Zhejiang
and Anhui meet. Ming Dynasty
writer and poet Feng Menglong
described the cave as one of the "Four Absolutes Under Heaven" (天下四绝 Tīanxià Sìjué). It is also considered a primary "Place of Enlightenment" (道教道场 Dàojiào Dàochǎng) by Taoists
, similar to the Bodhimanda
of Buddhism
. The 200 million-year old cave is divided into dry and wet layers representing the yin and yang
of Chinese philosophy.
In February 2004, the Chinese State Council
included the cave on its fifth list of National Scenic Attractions. It is also a 4A rated National Tourism Area.
.. The cave's first chamber extends to 1600 square metres (1,913.6 sq yd) and has a height of 5 to 10 m (16.4 to 32.8 ft). To date nineteen separate chambers have been opened to visitors. There are more than 160 features inside the cave, including the "Ten Large Landscapes" (十大景观 Shí Dà Jǐngguān).
By boat it is possible to explore the water-filled level of the cave where there are many unusual rock formations.
(5 BCE–29 CE) took refuge during the Han Dynasty
, the military command platform (将军台 Jiāngjūn Tái) of General Lu Meng
(178–220 CE) and the "Sabre Gorge Stone" (剑峡石) of Song Dynasty
patriot Yue Fei
(1103–1142 CE). Outside the cave lies the Inkstone Lake (砚池湖 Yànchí Hú), said to be the location where Song Dynasty politician and writer Fan Zhongyan
washed his inkstone.
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
cave located on Shilong Mountain (石龙山) in Guangde County
Guangde County
Guangde County is a county in Anhui Province, People's Republic of China under the jurisdiction of Xuancheng City. The county has a population of 510,000 and an area of...
, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China, where the provinces of Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
and Anhui meet. Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
writer and poet Feng Menglong
Feng Menglong
Feng Menglong was a Chinese vernacular writer and poet of the late Ming Dynasty. He was born in Changzhou, now Suzhou, in Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China....
described the cave as one of the "Four Absolutes Under Heaven" (天下四绝 Tīanxià Sìjué). It is also considered a primary "Place of Enlightenment" (道教道场 Dàojiào Dàochǎng) by Taoists
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, similar to the Bodhimanda
Bodhimaṇḍa
Bodhimaṇḍa is a term used in Buddhism meaning the "position of awakening." According to Haribhadra, it is "a place used as a seat, where the essence of enlightenment is present." Although spelled similarly, a bodhimaṇḍa is not synonymous with a bodhimaṇḍala, which is a "circle of...
of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. The 200 million-year old cave is divided into dry and wet layers representing the yin and yang
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
of Chinese philosophy.
In February 2004, the Chinese State Council
State Council of the People's Republic of China
The State Council of the People's Republic of China , which is largely synonymous with the Central People's Government after 1954, is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the Premier and includes the heads of each governmental department and agency...
included the cave on its fifth list of National Scenic Attractions. It is also a 4A rated National Tourism Area.
Overview
At 5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi) in length and covering a surface area of 140000 square metres (167,438.6 sq yd), Taiji Cave is the largest natural limestone cave in East ChinaEast China
East China is a geographical and a loosely-defined cultural region that covers the eastern coastal area of China.Although an intangible and loosely defined concept, for administrative and governmental purposes, the region is defined by the government of the People's Republic of China to include...
.. The cave's first chamber extends to 1600 square metres (1,913.6 sq yd) and has a height of 5 to 10 m (16.4 to 32.8 ft). To date nineteen separate chambers have been opened to visitors. There are more than 160 features inside the cave, including the "Ten Large Landscapes" (十大景观 Shí Dà Jǐngguān).
By boat it is possible to explore the water-filled level of the cave where there are many unusual rock formations.
The "Ten Large Landscapes"
These interior features of the cave are largely based on their resemblance to other objects. Some are individual rock formations, whilst others are groups.- Lord LaoziLaoziLaozi was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching . His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism...
(太上老君 Tàishàng Lǎojūn) - Dripping Water Penetrates Stone (滴水穿石 Dīshuĭ Chuānshí)
- Luxuriant Old Tree (槐荫古树 Huáiyìn Gŭshù)
- Capsized Boat of the ImmortalsEight ImmortalsThe Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called "Covert Eight Immortals" . Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or...
(仙舟覆挂 Xiān Zhōu Fùguà) - Twin Heavenly Towers (双塔凌霄 Shuāng Tǎ Língxiāo)
- Golden Dragon Coiled around Jade Pillar (金龙盘柱 Jīnlóng Pán Zhù)
- Yellow Mountain of the Cave (洞中黄山 Dòngzhōng Huángshān)
- Chamber of the Myriad Rock Formations (万象揽胜 Wànxiàng Lǎn Shèng)
- MuralMuralA mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
of the Supreme Ultimate (太极壁画 Tàijí Bìhuà) - StalactiteStalactiteA stalactite , "to drip", and meaning "that which drips") is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling of limestone caves. It is a type of dripstone...
of Heaven's Eye (壶天极目 Hú Tiānjí Mù)
Local places of interest
Dotted around the cave there are many places of historic interest including the "Hidden Dragon Bridge" (卧龙桥 Wòlóng Qiáo) where Emperor GuangwuEmperor Guangwu of Han
Emperor Guangwu , born Liu Xiu, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, restorer of the dynasty in AD 25 and thus founder of the Later Han or Eastern Han...
(5 BCE–29 CE) took refuge during the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, the military command platform (将军台 Jiāngjūn Tái) of General Lu Meng
Lü Meng
Lü Meng was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served as the commanding general in the invasion of Jing Province that led to the death of Guan Yu.-Early life:Lü Meng was born in Fupo, Runan Commandery in 178...
(178–220 CE) and the "Sabre Gorge Stone" (剑峡石) of Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
patriot Yue Fei
Yue Fei
Yue Fei , style name Pengju, was a military general of the Southern Song Dynasty. His ancestral home was in Xiaoti, Yonghe Village, Tangyin, Xiangzhou, Henan...
(1103–1142 CE). Outside the cave lies the Inkstone Lake (砚池湖 Yànchí Hú), said to be the location where Song Dynasty politician and writer Fan Zhongyan
Fan Zhongyan
Fan Zhongyan , born in Wuxian , Suzhou , was a prominent politician and literary figure in Song dynasty China. He was also a strategist and educator...
washed his inkstone.