Man follows earth, earth follows sky, sky follows Dao, Dao follows its own. (人法地, 地法天, 天法道, 道法自然) – DaoDeJing Chapter 25.  2500 years ago, through observing the natural rhythms of the universe,Lao Tsu (老子, 6th century BC)come to the realization of the natural law of the universe and named it Dao (道).

Throughout the history, from the prehistorical era up to the modern time, people from different geographical locations and cultural traditions had devoted their lives in search of this Dao.  Traditional Taoists approach this goal through the study of the nature and the practice of internal alchemy (the cultivation of one’s essence, chi, and spirit).  Through the parallel cultivation of body and mind (性命双修), in accordance with the natural laws of the universe, Taoists believe that they can provisionally achieve longevity and ultimately realize the Dao.  The term Kungfu emerges to represent the degree of mastery over one’s body and mind towards the realization of the Dao.

Wudang Mountain, as one of the top Taoist sacred site, has been the cultivation site for countless Taoist saints and sages throughout Chinese history, including Emperor Xuanwu (玄武大帝) in the prehistorical era, Lao Tsu ’s student YinXi (尹喜) in the 6th century BC, Taoist sages LuDongBin (呂洞賓) and ChenTuan (陈抟) in the 8th century AD,and the master martial artist ZhangSanFeng (张三丰) in the 13th century AD.  There is a Chinese saying that says: Sacred land yield excellent people (地灵人杰), there is something special in Wudang Mountain that drew these spiritual geniuses to cultivate here.

This tour aims at offering an opportunity for non-chinese speaking people to learn the basics of Taoist cultivation, including master training in traditional Taoist Martial Arts, and introduction discussion of Taoist philosophies and cultivation theories. Through this tour, participants can expect to gain an overview of how Taoist understand the relationship between the body and the universe, how they cultivate their energy, and an opportunity to experiencethe life of spiritual cultivation in this sacred mountain of Wudang.

Wudang Mountain and Wudang Masters