Today marked our last day in Jiangxi. On the agenda was a visit to Mount Sanqing, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 5 most beautiful mountains in China. It is also a mountain sacred to Taoists. Sanqing means Three Pure Ones in Chinese, as Mount Sanqing is made up of 3 summits, Yujing, Yushui, Yuhua, representing the Taoist Trinity. Mount Sanqing was regarded as a sacred place for tourists during the Tang Dynasty and people continued to flock to the mountain to seek immortality until the 18th century, when Emperor Qianlong began to prefer Buddhism to Taoism.
It was a long tough hike up to the peak, to Sanqinggong, the temple at the peak of Mount of Sanqing, but all of us made it!
It was a windy, misty day, which was not out of the ordinary for a mountain that is shrouded in mist for about 200 days a year. It definitely did not deter Dato' Joey from explaining all the special formations of the mountain and Sanqinggong.
The special Landform Feng Shui formation around the temple is formed with the three main peaks and known in classical San He Feng Shui as the 'Tai Yi Long' formation. It is rare and difficult to find. The temple sits on a 'Nest' Formation known as 'High Level Metal Cloud' beholding the meridian spot which is, according to classics - produces immortals. The unique Table Mountain which the temple was strategically tapped to faces the 'Du Bu Dan Xian' (Solitary Fire Totem) which is also said, according to San He Feng Shui classics creates immortality. Looking downward while exiting the temple near the Heavenly Pool (a formation of water in the midst of High-Level Dragons), we could also see an "Ascending The Heavens Dragon Stair" mountain formation. According to Dato' Joey, this is yet another rare mountain formation, which as stated in the Jade Essence Classics, indicates the appearance of immortals. It's no wonder people used to flock here to seek divinity and spiritual enlightenment! Many students, myself included, when we stood behind the temple where the vein reaches, could literally "feel" a warm, tingling and serene sensation!! In fact, many of us felt rejuvenated after a brief 10 minute meditation on that spot! Amazing!
We received an unexpected bonus from Dato' Joey. He had done a Qi Men chart reading and informed us that it was currently the best timing and perfect direction to offer a prayer and make a wish. Of course, we all hurriedly made our prayers and wishes!
After our prayer, we were then free to walk around. It was during this time that Dato' Joey and a two students made an unexpected discovery - the true meridian spot, using the Moon Deity. Unfortunately not many students got to see this spot as access to that particular area was restricted.
We then headed for lunch as the misty skyline was not conducive to studying Feng Shui formations. However, another surprise awaited us after lunch as we were leaving the restaurant - the sky cleared up! We truly felt that our prayers have been answered! Dato' Joey then enthusiastically pointed out the unique Fire Element Mountain and described the special Feng Shui formations in front of the restaurant. There was a Fairy Seat Formation and a Storage Mountain. However, the Storage Mountain is flawed, thus bringing about robbery and theft.
It was indeed a day filled with good fortune as we received a bonus Fa Qi Men execution for wish fulfilling and the precious gift of the almost ever-present mist lifting from the mountains. All this on top of the incredible lessons for the day.
We then left Jiangxi and headed for Hangzhou for transfer to Zhengzhou, where we have more exciting visits ahead of us. Stay tuned for further updates!
Reported by Josephine Phang for Joey Yap's China Excursion 2014.