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Bixia Temple on Mount Tai

 

The Bixia Temple on Mount Tai, specified by the State Council as one of the key national Taoist temple, is situated at Tai'an City in East China's Shandong Province.

Mount Tai has a considerable high status in China. Many famous emperors once came here for worship in the history. People regard it as the place where many immortals met together, so there have been many Taoist temples constructed on the mountain since the ancient time and the mountain finally became a Taoist Holy Land.

The Bixia Temple is located at the peak of Mount Tai, so it is the representative palace building in ancient China. It was first constructed in 1009. The temple was once called as the Zhaozhen Temple, the Lingying Palace and the Lingyou Palace, etc. The construction area of the Bixia Temple is 3,900 square meters. The grandiose Bixai Temple includes the front and back complex with a compact layout and distinctive style. The main buildings include the Nanshen Door, the Bell-Drum Tower, the Treasure Warehouse, the Temple-Gate Hall, the Main Hall and so on. The bronze statue of Bixia Yuanjun (the Goddess of Mount Tai), made in the 18thcentury and well preserved up to now, is enshrined in the temple.

It is said that the Bixia Yuanjun is the daughter of Mount Tai. She was responsible for the management of human activities. Countless disciples came here to hold grand ceremonies for her every year.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Bixia Temple was specified as a key national Taoist temple in 1983 and was handed over to the Taoist organizations in 1985 for normal religious activities.

 
 
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