Qingyuan (The North) Hill 清源（北）山

With the highest peak being more than 490 meters above sea level, Qingyuan Hill, also known as the North Hill, lies 3 kilometers to the north of Quanzhou. Celebrated for its springs and rocks, the lofty, rolling peaks form an ethereal scene with their deep gullies and caves. Of the 36 well-known caves on the hill, some are formed naturally and while the others are man-made. They all have their own characteristics. People first noted the beauty of the hill in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). The succeeding dynasties have bestowed the hill with numerous sights of historical and cultural interest. There are nine huge, well preserved Taoist and Buddhist sculptures from the Five Dynasties (907-906). Many celebrated scholars built their abodes on Qingyuan Hill, teaching and writing in seclusion. These men of letters left lots of calligraphy works inscribed on the cliffs. Mi Fu 米芾 (1051-1107)[Mi Fu, together with Cai Xiang蔡襄(1012-1067),Su Shi苏轼(1037-1101) and Huang Tingjian黄庭坚 (1045-1105)] were reputed as four great masters of calligraphy and paintings of the Song Dynasty, a noted calligrapher and painter of the Northern Song Dynasty, wrote “The Supreme Hill,” which is still an important model for learners of calligraphy today. There were also many scholars studying or practicing Buddhism on the hill. The numerous literary quotations, legends and fairy tales about the hill have deepened its cultural significance. Among the cultural relics and historical spots, the statue of Laozi (c.604-531 BC) is perhaps the most worthy of a visit. Laozi lived more than 2,000 years ago and founded Taoism in China. The stone statue is 5.6 meters high and 8 meters wide; it was created over 1,000 years ago and still stands as the largest Taoist statue in China. Although the statue is located on a low hill, it is always shrouded in cloud and mist, making the hill fresh and green all year round. Taoist monasteries were first built in Quanzhou as early as the Western Jin Dynasty (256-361). The statue of Laozi was originally sheltered in a temple, which collapsed a long time ago. The statue shows Laozi putting his left hand on his knee and his right hand on a chair. It captures the old man’s happy distance from worldly affairs. His forehead, eyes, ears and moustache were carved with artistic exaggeration. The entire body manifests both softness and strength. The statue is no doubt a representative work of art, possessing both the grace and strength typical of stone carving in the Song Dynasty. Halfway up the left peak of the hill is a stone chamber sheltered by trees. Built in 1364 during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), the 5.6-meter-wide chamber was set up against a crag. The chamber has a statue of the Buddha Amitabha. The 5.7-meter high statue always strikes the tourist with its serene look. The Buddha’s right hand dangles at the side of the body and the left hand is raised in front of his chest. With feet bare, he stands on a giant lotus flower. During the Ming Dynasty, the statue was gilded with gold and people constructed a house to protect it from sun and rain. Further up the hill, the tourist can reach the Ruixiang Grotto 瑞像岩，where an even grander statue awaits the tourist. Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, stands 4.6 meters high with a solemn, respective, benevolent and generous manner. Created in 1087 during the Northern Song Dynasty, the statue is a fine piece of art and a religious relic. Opposite the grotto stand the Arhats Peaks, which consist of 18 giant rocks that look like human figures. Ancient people called the rocks “18 Arhats Worshipping Sakyamuni.”

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