Wu Dang

Tranquil beauty creates an ideal environment for the cultivation of mind and spirit

Introduction

Wu Dang Mountain, more formally known as Xuan Yue, is one of the four most venerated mountains in China. It is even more venerated than Wuyue, the five sacred mountains in China. It is also seen as the primary celestial mountain in the world. It is situated at 110 degrees latitude and 32 degrees longitude. It shares this latitudinal location with the Pyramids in Egypt and the Bermuda Triangle. Wu Dang Mountain is 5286 feet high and made up of 72 peaks that tower over the Jianghann Plain. Tianzhu, its magnificent central peak, reaches well above the clouds.

The Wu Dang Monastery was built in the south during the Ming Dynasty, at the same time the Imperial Palace in Beijing was built in the north. The monastery was built by the Emperor and the Wu Dang Temple became the temple of the Imperial family. There are more than 20,000 palaces and temples placed in 33 groups in an area of 4.8 million square feet. The geographic circumference of the Temple complex site is 248 miles. It consists of nine palaces, eight temples, 36 convents, 72 cliff temples and more than 30 pavilions and bridges. This vast complex is the nation's largest Taoist center. If you look down at the magnificent site, it looks like a huge dragon flying up, full of power and mystery.

During the past 2000 years, many highly venerated people have come to Wu Dang Mountain to settle into stillness and develop their internal energy. Yinxi, of the Zho Dynasty, was one of them and so was Yin Changsheng, of the Han Dynasty. Xicyong of the Jin Dynasty, Lu Dongbin of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Tuan of the Song Dynasty, Hao Ranzi of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng of the Ming Dynasty and Lao Yizi of the Qing Dynasty were also residents at Wu Dang mountain.

Wu Dang Mountain is the primary center for internal Martial Arts training, Tai Chi and Qi Gong healing training. It is both a physical and spiritual sanctuary where you may return to your original nature. The tranquil beauty of the landscape makes it an ideal environment for the cultivation of mind and spirit. There are currently over 100 Taoist priests practicing internal alchemy and inner spiritual development on Wu Dang Mountain.

Wu Dang Taoism

Zhen Wu, the nothern heaven god,
the spirit of the big dipper is worshipped in Wu Dang Taoism.

Taoism, the indigenous religion of China, has its origins in Shamanism.  Its ornate tribal knowledge and magical wisdom was practiced to ensure immortality. Shamanism was practiced in the Qin and Western Han dynasties (221-207B.C. and 206 B.C.-24 A.D.). During the reign of Emperor Shun Di, of the Eastern Han Dynasty (126-144 CE), Zhang Ling (Zhang Daoling) founded the Five Pecks of Rice Sect in Heming Mountain. Every member was to pay five pecks of rice in annual membership fees. Zhang was later venerated by his followers as the Celestial Master, so his group was also known as the Sect of the Celestial Master.

Lao Zi, the founding philosopher of Taoism, is its chief deity and is honored as Lord of the Most High by Taoists, who believe the existence of the Tao is all-embracing and everlasting, and gives birth to and governs any and every thing including the sky and the earth. They hold that they can attain longevity and become one with the Tao through special meditation practices.

The highest deities of Taoism are the Three Pure Gods (Yuan Shi, Ling Bao and Dao De) but its pantheon includes many groups of popular deities which are broadly worshipped such as: Heavenly Deities, Earthly Immortals and Human Spirits.

The basic canon of Taoism is the Tao Te Ching, also known as the Five-Thousand-Character Scripture by Lao Zi.  The daily liturgies include the Jade Emperor Scripture and the Lasting Tranquility Scripture. The Taoist texts and historical accounts now in existence are the Taoist Canon as edited in the Zhen Tong Reign of the Ming Dynasty (1436-1449 CE), the Wan Li Supplement to the Taoist Canon edited under the auspices of Ming Dynasty Emperor Wan Li (1573-1620 CE) and the main texts of the Taoists Canon.

Among all the sects of Taoism in its 1,800-year history in China, two were most widespread and influential: the Tai Ping School founded by Zhang Jiao; and the Five Pecks of Rice Sect continued by Zhang Ling's grandson Zhang Lu at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.  During the Eastern Jin and Southern and Northern dynasties (317-589), Taoism underwent considerable reform and as a result many new scriptures were added. Its doctrines were extended and its codes of rites and conduct were enriched. Ge Hong (283-343) assembled the Taoist books on alchemy then in existence and wrote his book the Inner Chapters of Baopu Zi, expounding the ways of attaining immortality. Kou Qienzi (365-448), a Taoist of Mt. Songshan in Henan Province, reformed the old Celestial Master's Sect and initiated some new codes of rites and chants for his sect, which was known as the Northern Celestial Master's Sect. In the south Lu Xiujing (406-477), a Taoist of Mt. Lushan in Jiangxi Province, assembled a systematic collection of canonical texts of the three Dong (classes) and compiled the traditional code of Taoist rites and conduct. Afterward his sect and the other sects in the south came to be known as the Southern Sect of the Celstial Master. During the Tang and Song dynasties (618-907 and 960-1271), these two sects and the sects of Shangqing, Lingbao and Jingming gradually merged and at last in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) they became identical with Zhen Yi Sect. During the Yuan Dynastyand the preceding Jin Dynasty, a few new Taoists sects appeared and developed in the Yellow River area. The most important of these was the Quan Zhen Sect, founded in 1167, by Wang Chongyang in Ninghai (now Mouping) County, Shandong Province. Wang's disiple Qiu Changchun was held in high regard by the Yuan Dynasty Emperor Genghis Kahn. The sect consequently enjoyed great popularity such that it developed into a major Taoist sect comparable to Zhen Yi in the south. The two have continued in existence down to the present.

The Zhen Yi Sect emphasizes devotional activities and spends much effort on charms, prayers and festivals. The Quan Zhen Sect emphasizes individudal meditation and has more formal ordination procedures and strict regulation for an austere monastic life for its monks; who do not marry as do those from the other sect.

In April 1957, the Taoist Association was formed and set up headquarters in The White Cloud Temple in Beijing. Taoists believe they will attain freedom and happiness through their religious practice.

The Immortal Mountain

Wu Dang Mountain, one
of the birth places of Chinese Taoism.

Over 5,000 years ago, Zhen Wu, the Taoist god that Wu Dang temple worships, came to Wu Dang mountain to cultivate alchemy. After 42 years of practice, he successfully flew during the daytime and became the god of the Northern Heaven; thereby he established the Wu Dang Shrine of Taoism.

About 2000 years ago the great philosopher and healer, Lao Tzu, and his disciple, Master Yixi, both practiced Taoism on Wu Dang Mountain. This established Wu Dang Mountain as one of the birth places of Chinese Taoism.

During the past 2000 years, many highly venerated people have come to Wu Dang Mountain to settle into stillness and to develop their internal energy. Yinxi, of the Zho Dynasty, was one of them and so was Yin Changsheng, of the Han Dynasty. Xicyong of the Jin Dynasty, Lu Dongbin of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Tuan of the Song Dynasty, Hao Ranzi of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng of the Ming Dynasty and Lao Yizi of the Qing Dynasty were also residents at Wu Dang mountain.

Today over 100 Taoist priests practice internal alchemy and inner spiritual development on Wu Dang mountain. The tranquil beauty of the landscape makes it an ideal environment for the cultivation of the mind and the spirit.

Birthplace of Martial Arts

The forms aim to conserve jing, qi and shen,
to strengthen the bone, and as a result, to reinforce the body.

Wu Dang Qi Gong, Wu Dang Internal Kung Fu and Wu Dang Sword are rarities within the Chinese Kung Fu treasures.

According to legend, during the Hongwu years of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng went to Wu Dang Mountain to settle down and to cultivate his internal energy. One day he observed a magpie and a snake fighting and suddenly understood the two opposing principles of nature. Out of this experience, he created the thirteen postures of Wu Dang Tai Chi, which restricts attacking through stillness and overcomes hardness with softness. This is what is called Wu Dang Internal Kung Fu (Nei Jia Chuan). Tai Chi forms, Qi Gong and Tai Chi weapons, all came from this revelation. All the forms aim to conserve jing, qi and shen; to strengthen the bone and as a result, to reinforce the body.

Wu Dang Internal Kung Fu has spread for a long time both domestically and abroad. Although the Wu Dang school has many regulations regarding accepting disciples, today we are still open to those who love to learn this ancient art and to those who want to benefit mankind.

Place of Cultivating Immortality

Withdraw from society to cultivate unity of the body,
mind and spirit for immortality.

For more than 2000 years, people have come to Wu Dang Mountain to withdraw from society and to cultivate themselves in an endless stream of energy. The great practitioners of internal energy development, such as Yin Xi, Sun Simiao, Chen Tuan and Zhang Sanfeng etc., all eventually made their way here and made great and unique contributions to the Taoist course.

In 1983, the state decided that The Purple Heaven Hall, Taihe Palace (including The Golden Hall) of Wu Dang Mountain should open to the public. There are currently more than twenty older, happy Taoist priests and sixty younger priests who practice the development of their internal energy.

The main practices of Taoist priests are missionary work and holding memorial ceremonies. Ceremonial chanting of the Taoist scriptures is another way for Taoist priests to cultivate themselves. The Taoist priests who read the lessons of the morning and evening altar, also hold grand memorial ceremonies. Wu Dang Mountain has its own particular Taoist music that emerges out of the chanting of the scriptures and out of long periods of fasting. The unique quality of Wu Dang Taoist music is that it holds within it the language of the Taoist heaven which is where the Taoist Immortals live. Playing the music is a way to communicate with the immortal Gods.

Master Li

Master Li devoted her entire life to Taoist religious practice,
healing and wisdom.

Master Li Cheng Yu was the 24th generation Master from the Longmen School. Her Taoist name was Cheng Yu. Cheng Yu means pure jade. Nobody remembers her original name. She was born in 1872 and passed away in 2002. She became a Priestess at the early age of ten. Master Li devoted her entire life to preserving, developing and promoting Taoist religious practice, Taoist healing arts and Taoist wisdom. She was a living manifestation of kindness, mercy and conscience. She was dedicated to the Taoist community in China and to internal alchemical practice.

Many Masters from both Taoist and other schools in China traveled long distances to visit with her. She also had many students who came to her from all over China. At the age of six Master Yun Xiang Tseng (Chen) was chosen to study under Master Li Cheng Yu at Wu Dang Mountain. He stayed there for ten years until she sent him to the United States in 1991 to share this ancient wisdom and healing art.

Master Li's steadfast wish is for the renovations to continue at Wu Dang Temple and to preserve the spiritual gems of Taoist culture. Master Chen continues her legacy through his support of the Monastery in China and in his efforts to construct the first Wu Dang Taoist Monastery in the United States.

Master Tseng (Chen)

Child prodigy, gifted healer and teacher

Master Yun Xiang Tseng (Chen) was a child prodigy in Chinese martial and healing arts. At the age of six he was chosen by his master to learn the ancient wisdom of WuDang Tai Chi, Qigong, Meditation and healing. He is of a 14th generation Wu Dang Zhang Sanfeng lineage and a 25th generation Longmen Taoist Priest. He was given the Taoist name of Qing Zhen.

In 1990, he immigrated from the People's Republic of China to the United States. He now resides in Ft. Collins, Colorado with his wife and three children. Chen has trained many thousands in America and over 10,000 people in China. He has a gift for making these authentic Taoist teachings understandable. He teaches the Wu Dang tradition of Taoism throughout the United States. He has appeared on various major network news stations and has been interviewed by newspapers as well as published articles in national magazines. He is involved with two documentaries which are expected to be aired in the winter of 2006.

A true son of the Tao, Master Chen believes most strongly that only in having an open sharing affection for his students can he impart the great message of peace and hope that he has come to North America to deliver. His teaching is always informed by his knowledge of classical Chinese medicine and his extensive background in Chinese classical literature.

Currently, Chen is the President of Chi for Longevity, President and founder of the Association for Chinese and American Enrichment, Inc. a not for profit organization, and serves as director of Wu Dang Cultural Studies in America. He is the official representative of Wu Dang for the Wu Dang Taoist Association. Chen's mission is to build the first Taoist Monastery in the U.S.