Taoism Experts Forum opens in Wudang

To celebrate Wudang Mountain's 600th anniversary since its overhaul by Emperor Yongle during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1403-1424), the Taoism Experts Forum was held in Wudang Mountain Hotel on Oct 17. Shen Xueqiang, vice-governor of Shiyan city, and Yang Lizhi, vice-president of the Shiyan people's political consultative conference, attended the meeting.

Shen Xueqiang introduced Shiyan city to attending experts and said that Shiyan had three important characteristics: Wudang Mountain, the Han River and automobiles. Wudang Taoist culture and Han River civilization are the cultural mainstays of the city.

There were 10 experts in attendance, including Xiong Tieji, a famous historian and Taoist culture specialist; Li Dejian, chairman of the Fujian province Lao Tze Study Association; and Li Yuanguo, deputy director of the Philosophy School of the Sichuan Academy of Social Science. The forum set up three topics for discussion in three areas, including philosophy and religion, history and culture, and literature and art. Experts studied the harmonious teachings of Taoist culture and investigated the reason behind Wudang Taoism’s proliferation during the Ming Dynasty.

The event concluded with the description and evaluation of literature and art works about Wudang Mountain. Furthermore, they jointly discussed the positive role of Taoist culture to solve problems existing in the survival and development of human beings.