“Ever heard of a mountain named after a deity?” I ask. That’s exactly what Laojun Shan is. It is also known as the Mountain of Lord Lao.
Laojun Shan is more than just a mountain. It’s a sanctuary dedicated to Laozi. He is the founder of Taoism. This mountain in Xinjin district of Chengdu holds a special place in religious history.
Laojun Shan has been identified as the heart of a former Celestial Master Daoism diocese. Today the temple on Laojun Shan is an active religious institution. It belongs to the Dragon Gate lineage of Complete Perfection Daoism.
Did you know Laojun Shan wasn’t always called that? It appeared in written sources during the Qing Dynasty. Before that it had other names. One was Tianshe Shan meaning Mt. Celestial Altar. The other was Chougeng Shan.
The name Tianshe Shan may come from a stellar constellation. It refers to the hills south of Xinjin. Chougeng Shan matches the old Daoist diocese name. The meaning of “chougeng” isn’t clear but it might refer to a herb or rice.
Legend says Lord Lao lived in a cave here. He practiced self-cultivation. While not in Daoist texts this legend makes Lord Lao the mountain’s spiritual authority.
The sanctuary at the summit is called Laojun Miao. It is also known as Laozi Miao. Today it houses Daoist clerics and followers.
The temple’s history is not well-documented. Temple buildings arose on the mountain during the Han and Tang dynasties. Rebel Zhang Xianzhong’s troops destroyed it in 1644. Reconstruction occurred in the late 18th century.
The Laojun temple had close ties to the Liumen tradition in the late Qing dynasty. Liu Yuan founded this tradition. He spent time on Laojun Shan studying meditation. A Daoist hermit guided him. Liumen followers revered Laozi and supported temples dedicated to him.
The current temple buildings on Laojun Shan date back to the Republican era. Local Liumen adherents funded them. After a fire in 1923 Liu Xianjun oversaw the reconstruction. The design was based on Chengdu’s Qingyang Gong.
Besides the Sanqing Dian you will find Rulin Ci. This shrine honors Liu Yuan and his descendants.
After 1949 the government outlawed the Liumen tradition. Laojun Shan lost its protectors. After the Cultural Revolution the temple reopened in 1986. Most old buildings and relics remain. New structures have been added recently.
So as we stand before Laojun Miao remember its long history. From ancient diocese to modern temple it remains a sanctuary. It honors Lord Lao and the Daoist faith.