is another year of spring flowers blooming, and the annual March 3rd Temple Fair in Nanfeng Mountain will come again. The 2019 Nanfeng Mountain Temple Fair will be held from the second day of March to the fifth day of March in the lunar calendar (April 6 to April 9 in the Gregorian calendar) and lasts for four days. There will be many outstanding Jin opera performers at the Xiaohonglijin Theater in Shanxi Province, and the Youth Qinqiang Art Troupe of Hengshan County, Shaanxi Province, which has both literary, opera and martial arts, as well as folk art performances such as Suona, Yangko, and storytelling.
Nanfeng Mountain, a famous Taoist cultural sacred site in northern Shaanxi,
Nanfeng Mountain, located on the south bank of Dali River, Xu Miaojiaping Town, East Shili, Zizhou County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, is one of the famous Taoist cultural sacred sites in northern Shaanxi. Nanfeng Mountain was also called Nanfengzhai because there was a fort in ancient times. Nanfeng Mountain is surrounded by water on three sides, unique peaks, temples on the mountain, towering ancient cypresses. Nanfeng Mountain has a long history. The earliest surviving stele is the inscription "Reconstruction of Nanfengzhai Patriarch Hall" in the tenth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty (1637), which has been more than 380 years ago. The stele records that Nanfeng Mountain’s "Old Xuandi Temple" was "rebuilt several times", so it is speculated that the Nanfeng Mountain Temple was built about 500 years ago.
Nanfeng Mountain preserves intact ancient stone steles, stone lions, cypress trees, and old locust trees. The stone steles began in the Ming Chongzhen period, passed through Qianlong, Daoguang, and Tongzhi to the Republic of China. They clearly record the historical changes of Nanfeng Mountain; the tree in front of the gate of the Zushidian Mountain has been more than 200 years old, but the hollow of the tree trunk is full of vigorous old locust. Already have a mysterious religious atmosphere; the two ancient stone lions next to the mountain gate full of grouper, have experienced vicissitudes, and have a rich legendary color; five ancient cypresses scattered in the front and back of the mountain, all over 500 years old, are still The luxuriant branches and leaves show the rich history of Nanfeng Mountain.
The temple buildings in Nanfeng Mountain are patchy, and they have been repeatedly repaired and carefully carved everywhere, reflecting the spirit of craftsmanship. The steep road from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain discouraged many climbers; the whole red brick vaulted building with a unique shape reflects the vicissitudes of the past and the present year after year; it was rebuilt in the eighth century of the last century. The Temple of Zhenwu Zushi in the ten's is the central building of the entire Nanfeng Mountain. It still retains its primitive shape. The statues in the temple are vivid and majestic; the Guandi Temple, which was built in what generation, stands quietly in the back mountain. After weathering the wind and rain, facing the mountains with loyalty and courage, and watching the vicissitudes of the world; the Niangniang Temple, where many good men and women bow down with hope and pious worship, inherits the good wishes of people to pass on from generation to generation; the tall Nanzhai gate with retro style , Is another characteristic building of Nanfeng Mountain. The Lingxiao Pavilion is built on the gate of the village to enshrine the Supreme God of Heaven, the Jade Emperor. The stone archway, which uses a variety of carving techniques and fine carvings, reflects the superb skills of Zizhou stone carving artists, and also reflects The development concept of Nanfengshan temple fair management staff strives for excellence; the hexagonal nine-level Taixuan Pagoda, which is high above the sky, has exquisite pottery patterns and painted murals, and has become a model for building temples and towers in Fangyuan; The Taoist cultural characteristics of the Five Ancestors and Seven Realms Temple, the Wenwu Wealth Temple, the Black Tiger Lingguan and the Qinglong Dawang Temple all embody the profound meaning of Taoism.
In this land of northern Shaanxi, when it comes to temples, one has to mention temple fairs. The scale of the temple fair directly reflects the prosperity of temple incense. The temple fair in Nanfengzhai has existed since ancient times. According to the inscription of the "Nanfeng Renewal Performance Ceremony Donation" set up in the 19th year of Daoguang (1839), as early as the mid-Qianlong period, Nanfengzhai had the custom of temple worship and singing. The temple fair in Nanfeng Mountain is also relatively famous in the entire northern Shaanxi area. Every year on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, people from all over the country bring the old and the young to the temple fair. There are lots of people, colorful flags, cigarettes, and drums. It is very lively. In addition to the temple fair on March 3, Nanfeng Mountain also has the Guandi Temple Fair in May and the Niang Niang Temple Fair in July. At each temple fair, there are performances by the Suona troupe, northern Shaanxi storyteller and opera troupe. In addition to the prosperous temple fair, Nanfeng Mountain is also an important Taoist cultural venue for people in Fangyuan to pray for blessings. Burning incense on New Year’s Eve, offering incense to pray for blessings on New Year’s Day, children "passing customs" on Tian Amnesty Day, and tribute on temple fair day as a dojo, with a strong Taoist culture.
Nanfeng Mountain not only has a long history and culture of Taoism, but also has glorious revolutionary memory. In April 1928, the Nanfengzhai Conference, the first party representative meeting of the Communist Party of China in northern Shaanxi, was held here. The conference established the Special Committee of the Northern Shaanxi Communist Party, unified the leadership of the Northern Shaanxi Party and Youth League organizations, accelerated the recovery and development of the Northern Shaanxi Party and Youth League organizations, and effectively promoted the revolutionary struggle in northern Shaanxi.Contention. It laid a solid organizational foundation for the establishment of the northern Shaanxi revolutionary base, and created important conditions for the party Central Committee to place the revolutionary base camp in the northwest. In order to better carry forward the fine revolutionary traditions, in 2011, Nanfeng Mountain built a memorial hall for the First Congress of the Communist Party of China in Northern Shaanxi. The exhibition hall introduced the revolutionary activities of the Northern Shaanxi Special Committee with detailed text and historical photos.
As a well-known Taoist holy site, Nanfeng Mountain has always been valued and supported by the government's cultural department and people from all walks of life. On February 7, 1985, the People's Government of Zizhou County announced the site of the Nanfengzhai Conference as a key cultural relics protection unit at the county level. On September 24, 2003, the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government announced the site of the Nanfengzhai Conference as the fourth batch of provincial key cultural relics protection units. Nanfeng Mountain is now the office location of the Taoist Association of Zizhou County. The current president Su Aixu is the vice president of the Taoist Association of Yulin City and the president of the Taoist Association of Zizhou County.
With the convenience of transportation and the attraction of unique cultural tourism resources, Nanfeng Mountain has become more and more influential, and tourists who come from afar have begun to become regular visitors. In order to further develop the Taoist tourism and cultural resources of Nanfeng Mountain, in 2012, after discussion by the heads of the Nanfeng Mountain Temple Fair, 76 acres of land was acquired in the adjacent back mountain. To develop the land of Houshan and build Houshan into the back garden of Nanfengshan will be the new development direction of Nanfengshan. It is believed that with the support of the relevant departments of the higher-level government and people from all walks of life, Nanfeng Mountain will become a first-class Taoist cultural tourist attraction with more beautiful scenery, stronger cultural atmosphere, and more extensive spread of the red revolutionary spirit.
Author: Song to
Photography: Song to
Editor: Liu Tao
