Reporting to the Mountain God—My First Hike Back to Fragrant Hills

🙏🙇 Today marks my first return to Fragrant Hills five months after surgery. I deliberately chose the ancient path for my descent, specifically to pay my respects at the Mountain God Temple.🌳🌿 🏯🕍 Fragrant Hills boasts several temples: the Tang Dynasty-era Fragrant Hills Temple, the Yuan Dynasty-era Biyun Temple, the Ming Dynasty-era Hongguang Temple (only ruins remain), and the Qing Dynasty-era Zhao Temple. Each possesses a rich history, renowned prestige, and grand scale.🏰🏛 🛕🕋 Smaller temples also grace the landscape, such as the Dragon King Temple above the Shoukang Spring near Chongcuiyan, and this Mountain God Temple along the ancient path.🏞🌄 🗿🛕 This Mountain God Temple dates back to the tenth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign (1745), a period of extensive construction within the Three Hills and Five Gardens. Most of the scenic structures in the Jingyi Garden were built during this time.🕰📜 🌄🌅 The Mountain God is revered as both the creator of heaven and earth and the guardian of treasures. Constructing a Mountain God Temple within this imperial garden served the auspicious purpose of invoking blessings and warding off misfortune.🙏✨ 📜📜 A couplet adorns the temple entrance. The first line reads, "Blessings grace Fragrant Hills, mountains and rivers beautiful," while the second line reads, "Virtue protects homes, nation prosperous and people peaceful." The author remains unknown.📖📜 👣👟 The ancient path where the Mountain God Temple stands was built during the Jin Dynasty. Stretching from Langfeng Pavilion in the north to Heshun Gate in the south, it served as the route for emperors journeying between Fragrant Hills and the Eight Great Sites. The Qianlong Emperor undoubtedly frequented this path, making this location ideal for the temple.🛤🚶 🏰🔥 However, following the completion of the Three Hills and Five Gardens, the Qing Dynasty began its rapid decline. China soon entered a century of humiliation, and these magnificent imperial gardens suffered repeated calamities, including the destruction of the Mountain God Temple. The current structure is a reconstruction completed twenty years ago by Fragrant Hills Park on the original site.🌳🌳 🏯🛕 Though small, this Mountain God Temple houses a statue of the deity. While the Dragon King Temple near Chongcuiyan appears grander, it stands empty, unlike the Mountain God Temple. This likely explains the various offerings left by visitors before the Mountain God Temple.🎁🎈 🙏🙏 After such a long absence from the mountain, I'm resuming my hikes. My first act had to be paying respects and reporting to the Mountain God. I plan to return weekly and seek the Mountain God's continued protection. Of course, if the Mountain God could also bless me with great fortune, I would be even more grateful!💰🙏