Legend of the Five Immortals
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Five Immortals Temple: Guardians of White Horse Mountain
High on White Horse Mountain, the Five Immortals Temple honors legendary figures who brought peace and protection to those in need. Today, it remains a revered site, symbolizing their lasting compassion and wisdom.
Five Immortals Temple: Sacred Daoist Sanctuary on Heavenly Horse Peak
The Five Immortals Temple is located on top of the White Horse Mountain near the town of Bai Lin, in the Zhang Wang District, Hubei Province, China. It lies fifty kilometres west of the Wudang Mountain gate. The summit of the White Horse Mountain is called ‘Heavenly Horse Peak’ and it is one of the seventy-two peaks in the Wudang mountain range, rising 1058 meters above sea level. Five Immortals are piously worshipped here, reason for their shrine to be called the Five Immortals Temple.
The statues are adorned in Daoist clothes, each having an unique overall appearance and shape, each holding ritual instruments in their hands. Since there are numerous tales about them, only a brief introduction will be given here.
According to legend more than one thousand years ago during the turbulent wars of the Song and Liao dynasties, the country was immersed in the turmoil of battles and fighting, which led many people who were fleeing the calamities to land at the White Horse Mountain seeking shelter from the chaotic wars. Famines and diseases caused great suffering for the refugees. It was at this time when these five Immortals, all endowed with high wisdom, simultaneously came to the White Horse Mountain.
After the wars were over, the country restored its peace and the Five Immortals suddenly withdrew into an unknown direction. Later generations all said they were Spirit Immortals from heaven that descended to the ordinary world to rescue and aid the refugees. In order to show them gratitude and to commemorate them, the Five Immortals Temple was built inside the Great Peace Stronghold on the mountain. Temple halls dedicated to Guan Yin – the Bodhisattva of Compassion -, to Li Shan Lao Mu – the Elder Mother from Mount Li -, to Cai Shen – the God of Wealth -, to Ling Guan – the Guardian God – were also built on the mountain, furthermore the Jade Temple for the Perfected Warrior Zhen Wu and the Temple of Tai Shan were constructed.
The Five Immortals: Guardians of Peace and Protectors of the People
The Immortals teach people to cultivate their heart-mind, to nourish their innate nature and to shape their integrity. Since they frequently display their supernatural powers in the world to help people in need, crowds of people from all around the area often climb up the mountain to make them sacrificial offerings. It takes about 50 minutes on foot from the small village at the bottom of the mountain to climb up to the temple. The villagers usually regard this Daoist ritualistic place as a center for prayers, for physical protection, that dispels disasters and avoids hardship. They consider the Five Immortals to be the protector gods of their families and relatives. During special holidays they climb the mountain to express their respect and reverence or to donate daily necessity products to the Daoists. They also worship The Great Sovereign Of the Northern Heaven Xuan Wu at the peak.
