中国国情与文化概况英文版 (16).pdf

108Reader EMount Taishan:Head of the Five Great MountainsIn history,Mount Taishan is always seen as the most famous mountain of the country.Although itis not very high,with an elevation of merely 1,500 meters,Mount Taishan has assumed extremelyimportant status in Chinese history and culture.Although it is well-known that Mount Qomolangmais the highest peak in the world from a geographical perspective,Mount Taishan stands tallest inChina from a cultural perspective.Located in central Shandong Province,Mount Taishan is the highest mountain in the vast regionalong the lower reaches of the Yellow River.Compared with the plains and low hills surroundingMount Taishan is overwhelmingly dominant and thus boasts an all-conquering magnificence.Theregion where Mount Taishan lies was one of the cradles of the ancient Chinese civilization,and themountain used.To be a key shelter for the ancestors Mount Taishan was also called“Daishan”or“Daizong”in ancient times.In ancient Chinese,the word“Dai”means“great,”so the literalmeaning of“Daishan”is“the great Mountain.”In the eyes of the Chinese ancestors,Mount Taishanwas of a supreme height unmatchable by any other mountain this lay a solid foundation for MountTaishan to gradually assume a leading role in all Chinese mountains.Covering 426 sq.Km,MountTaishan is a large range consisting of more than 100 mountains and hills,with the Jade EmperorPeak as its highest peak.There are also 98 cliffs and ridges,102 creeks and ravines in the mountainrange.Mount Taishan boasts a beautiful landscape and climbers enjoy a visual feast all the way tothe mountain peak.Standing on top of Mount Taishan and gazing around,with no obstacles toblock the view,it is natural to have the feeling of“standing on top of the world.”A significant feature of Mount Taishan is the perfect combination of natural scenery and culturalheritage.Mount Taishan lies in the eastern part of the country while the ancient Chinese worshipped“East,”seeing it as the place for sunrise,seasonal changes and the arrival of spring.Therefore,Mount Taishan became the only famous mountain in Chinese history that had served as the site Forthe grand ceremony of“Feng Shan,”or worship of heaven and earth by ancient emperors.For manygenerations,the mountain had been a top attraction for kings and emperors,poets and writers,wholeft behind numerous cultural relics and historic sites.Apart from ancient temples and statues,the mountain also boasts more than 2,000 cliff inscriptionsof Chinese calligraphy,among which the four-character inscription”Wu Yue Du Zun”(Head of theFive Great Mountains)has now become the mountains logo.The“Five Great Mountains”refer to five mountains that have enjoyed great fame in China sinceancient times,namely Mount Taishan(the eastern great mountain),Mount Huashan(the westerngreat mountain),Mount Songshan(the central great mountain),Mount Hengshan(of HunanProvince,the southern great mountain),and Mount Hengshan(of Shanxi Province,the northerngreat mountain).The origin of the“Five Creat Mountains”can be traced back to the time whenancient Chinese worshipped major mountains and rivers.The Chinese mythology says that after thedemise of the world-creating god Pan Gu,his head and limbs turned into the“Five GreatMountains.”In terms of altitude,Mount Taishan ranks just third among the“Five GreatMountains,”and many more mountains are higher than it across the country.Then how has itbecome the head of the five great mountains and also assumed the leading role in all Chinese109mountains?A main factor is the culture of“Feng Shan”in China.Since emperors of successivefeudal dynasties went to Mount Taishan to hold the solemn ritual of worshipping heaven and earth,the mountain itself also assumed the lofty status as a symbol of national prosperity and ethnic unity.It was also regarded as a symbol of oriental civilization and a manifestation of the ancient Chinesethought of“the unity of human and nature.”Many ancient and rare trees can be found on Mount Taishan,including six cypress trees planted byemperors of the Han Dynasty,which are now more than 2,100 years old.There are also pagodatrees that were planted some 1,300 years ago and pine trees dating back 500 years.In 1987,theUnited Nations granted Mount Taishan the double honor as a site of both world natural and culturalheritage.