Temple of the Five Immortals (Shiyan)
The Temple of the Five Immortals or Five Immortals Temple (Chinese: , "Wuxianmiao") is a Taoist temple located in Shiyan's Zhangwan District in China's Hubei Province. The temple is situated on the Heavenly Horse (, "Tianma") peak of White Horse Mountain (, "Báimǎ shān") in the Wudang Mountains. The Wudang Mountains are home to a famous complex of Taoist temples and the monasteries and associated with the Lord of the North, Xuantian Shangdi. The Temple of the Five Immortals is one of the very few temples in the Wudang mountain range which is still maintained  by real Taoist monks who dedicate their lives to cultivate the great Tao. Wudang was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994. Location and Overview. Inside the Hubei Province, looming above the Yellow Dragon River, at 1048 meters elevation, sits the Temple of the Five Immortals. The grounds are located approximately one hour hiking distance from the nearest village, at the base of the mountain. The nearest city is located about a one-hour bus journey from the village. Locals have been honouring this temple for generations as a place of  worship and prayer and many believe the Five Immortals to be their heavenly spiritual protectors. On special days of celebration, many of them will make pilgrimage trip to the temple to pay homage there, or to carry daily necessities to the residing Taoists. The Temple. The temple was erected approximately 1000 years ago during a time of great conflict. It was known then as ‘The Sanctuary’. People who were seeking refuge from the war fled to this fortress and were protected by five Taoists who later became known as ‘The Five Immortals’. The Temple has been maintained throughout the many  centuries that have passed between then and now. An Abbot still remains and continues to impart the knowledge passed on by the five immortals to the students that are now arriving from all parts of the globe. The Restoration Project. Although the temple has been maintained throughout the ages, much of it suffered great damage and has been in a state of disrepair for much time. In 1995, Master Li Shifu came to practice as an Abbot here and to train disciples in the arts of Taoism. Since he has arrived, the restoration project has begun. It has been a  slow and challenging process due to the state of dilapidation but improvement and development has been consistent over the last two decades and the temple is gradually increasing its capacity to host more students. A Brief History of Recent Times. The current structure is approximately 100 years old. It is a small and relatively unknown and humble estate. Knowledge of the Temple has not yet reached much of the wider world community. It is known mostly by the local mountain people. There are usually fewer than three Taoist practitioners residing there. It is a simple, peaceful place to practice and  potentially cultivate immortality. Five Immortals. According to the ancient legends, the Five Immortals were endowed with great wisdom. The Immortals were known by the locals as the protector Deities of their families and relatives. On special days of celebration, the local people would climb the mountain to offer gratitude and reverence or to haul daily necessities to the residing Taoist monks. It is about one hours journey on foot from the village to the temple. The Immortals teach people the virtue of morality and compassion and the essence of heart-mind. They teach people to cultivate integrity and to nurture  the innate nature of the self. The masters have revealed their supernatural abilities to help people in need and so crowds of people from the surrounding areas often climb to carry sacrificial offerings to them. The Abbot. Xing De (Taoist name) Date of Birth: 1964, Henan Province, Shang Qiu. Xing De traveled extensively in his youth, seeking out many grandmasters in the mountains of China. He was accepted by many elders and has received many names. In 1991 he began his spiritual journey as an official laity of Taoism. In 1996 he committed himself to a life of renunciation in  White Horse Mountain (Wudang, Hubei Province). He studied the practices of cultivating Internal Alchemy from the grandmasters and devoted much of his time to mantras, rituals, talismans and Taoist Medicine for which he received transmissions from the elders. He became the Abbot of Five Immortals Temple in 2000. He is a clergy of the Mount Wudang Dragon Gate Sect Lineage and Pure Yang Sect Lineage and he is a Master of Jing Chan Ceremonies. Summary. As of 2015, the number of pilgrims has been increasing and more tourists are arriving on the Wudang Mountain. This once sacred place of hermitage  is slowly changing into a refuge for people seeking to escape from the chaos of the cities. The solace of the mountain drives them en masse at weekends and during holidays into the sacred grounds. The mountain remains quiet during the winter months but tourists, pilgrims and explorers arrive in great numbers during the summer months. The disturbance caused by these arrivals is considered necessary for a true cultivation in this modern world. They are considered to be important source material to promote potential and refinement in the midst of the chaos one must encounter on The spiritual path. Temple