|
|
|
| MATERIALIZATION OF THE LEGEND “YELLOW EMPEROR ASKING THE WAY” AND CULTURAL SIGHTS IN KONGTONG MOUNTAIN |
| Kobayashi Jadei |
| Humanity and Environment Department, HOSEI University 102-8160, Japan |
|
|
|
|
Abstract "Yellow Emperor Asking the Way" is one of the stories in the Book of Master Zhuang. This legend was first materialized in the Tang Dynasty(618-907) in west China's Kongtong Mountain, following the appearance of structures, steles, stone sculptures and other Taoist cultural sights bearing the theme of "Yellow Emperor Asking the Way". The cultural sights centering on the legend gradually developed a considerable size and a common theme in Kongtong Mountain following long-term accumulation in Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. This article tries to analyze the process of the formation of these cultural sights from the perspectives of literature and human geography.
The article is composed of three parts:①Relations between the Yellow Emperor, the legend "Yellow Emperor Asking the Way"and Kongtong Mountain. In this part, historical materials are quoted to explain the relations between the Yellow Emperor, the legend "Yellow Emperor Asking the Way"and Kongtong Mountain, as well as the concept of "materialization"and "regional cultural sights with a common theme". ② Structures, steles and Taoist cultural sights which materialize the legend of "Yellow Emperor Asking the Way". This part mainly analyzes the group composed of structures, steles and Taoist cultural sights centering round the "Asking the Way Hall". It illustrates that these sights were created to mark the place where the story took place, and that these cultural sights are characterized by damages made during years of upheaval in history.③ Stone and cliff sculptures which materialize the legend of "Yellow Emperor Asking the Way".This part analyzes the other group of cultural sights, which is mainly composed of stone and cliff sculptures around the "Place Where the Yellow Emperor Asking the Way".In conclusion, the article points out that the research on and protection of China's numerous regional cultural sights with common themes created through the materialization of ancient legends will be a subject worth studying in the development of tourist resorts and economies in various localities.
|
|
Received: 15 July 2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004, Vol. 19 
