3rd Cross-Straits Wudang Culture Forum is held in Shiyan
By Le Qin ( chinadaily.com.cn )
Updated: 2013-10-28
The third Cross-Straits Wudang Culture Forum, with a theme concerning worship of Emperor Xuanwu and peace across the Straits, opened in Shiyan city, central China's Hubei province on Oct 25, wudangshan.gov.cn reported.
The forum was scheduled to hold a blessing for cross-Straits peace and development, as well as a worshipping ceremony for Emperor Xuanwu (also known as the Northern Emperor) and an exchange forum between cross-Straits Taoist associations.
Agreements were also expected to be signed, aimed at increased cooperation between Wudang Mountains and Tai Chi Lake in Shiyan and Ali Mountains, Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan.
The Wudang Mountain Tourism and Economy Special Region is also expected to sign cooperation agreements with Nantou and Jiayi counties in Taiwan, with the aim of furthering ties with Taiwan concerning culture, tourism, economy and trade,
Gao Kong-Lian, vice-chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, Jiang Yaoping, vice-president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and other leaders of Hubei attended the opening ceremony of the forum.
Wudang Mountains is known as the area where Taoism originated and the birthplace of Emperor Xuanwu, who attained immortality after 42 years of practicing at Wudang Mountains according to the Tao Te Ching, is a Taoist god.
When Zheng Chenggong (1624-1662) drove out the Dutch invaders and recovered Taiwan in 1661, he brought the beliefs related to Emperor Xuanwu to people in Taiwan.
There are more than 600 temples which are devoted to the worship of Emperor Xuanwu in Taiwan. From 1998 to 2011, about 400,000 Taiwan residents visited Wudang Mountains. The worship means that people on both sides of the straits share a bond, something special in common.
Edited by Niva Whyman
