China (2,155 m) – One of the Five Sacred Mountains of China (west) Mount Hua is the tallest and arguably the most awesome of China’s Five Sacred Mountains. Located in Shaanxi Province, it is the westernmost of the five, and its name literally means “Western Great Mountain”. It has numerous summits and peaks, with the highest point being located on the southern … [Read more...]
BURKHAN KHALDUN
Mongolia (N/A) – Birthplace and Burial Place of Genghis Khan Burkhan Khaldun is the most sacred mountain in Mongolia, and one of the most revered in East Asia that doesn’t have to do with one of the major eastern religions. According to tradition, Burkhan Khaldun was the birthplace of the founder of the Mongol Empire, Ghengis Khan. It also believed to be the site of his … [Read more...]
MOUNT WUDANG & MOUNT QINGCHEN
China (1,612 m and N/A) – Two of the Four Sacred Taoist Mountains of China Mount Wudang and Mount Qingchen are two of the Four Sacred Taoist Mountains of China. Though not part of the list of the Five Sacred Mountains, these two are no less important, and possibly even more interesting historically. The latter of the two, Qingchen is one of the most important sites of Taoism … [Read more...]
MOUNT SANQING
China (1,817 m) – Three Summits of the Taoist Trinity Mount Sanqing is one of the most beautiful and most visited mountains in eastern China. Crowned with three peaks, Sanqing means “Three Pure Ones”, and it is one of the most important mountains in Taoism. The peaks represent the Taoist Trinity, which consists of The Jade Pure One, The Supreme Pure One and The Grand Pure … [Read more...]
SRI PADA
Sri Lanka (2,243 m) – Sacred Mountain of Sri Lanka Sri Pada is one of the most universally sacred mountains in the Far East. A towering, almost perfectly conical peak, it is considered to be an important religious site by Buddhists and Hindus as well as by Muslims and Christians. Its name means “butterfly mountain”, and though primarily a Buddhist site, is also known as … [Read more...]
MOUNT TATE & MOUNT HAKU
Japan (3,015 m and 2,072 m) – Two of the Sacred Mountains of Japan Mount Tate and Mount Haku are two of the Three Sacred Mountains of Japan. The third is the unquestionably more famous Mount Fuji outside of Tokyo. Together these mountains are among the most important natural sites associated with the Shinto religion. The names of Tate and Haku mean “Standing” and “White”, … [Read more...]
MOUNT KAILASH
China (6,638 m) – Home to Shiva in Hinduism and Demchok in Tantric Buddhism Mount Kailash in southwestern China is one of the great peaks of the Tibetan plateau, and one of the holiest mountains in all of Asia. Located near the borders of India and Nepal, the region of the mountain is the source of the Indus River as well as a major tributary of the Ganges River. The exact … [Read more...]
MOUNT WUTAI
China (3,058 m) – One of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China Mount Wutai is another of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, and considered by some to be the most prominent and important of these. According to tradition, Wutai is the home of Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. The mountain’s name means the “Five Mountain Plateau”, and the north peak of Wutai is … [Read more...]
MOUNT EMEI
China (3,099 m) – One of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China Mount Emei is one of the most beautiful and popular mountains in central China. Although not one of the Five Sacred Mountains, it is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations north of the Himalayas, being counted among the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. Its name rougly translates to … [Read more...]
ARUNACHALA HILL
India (N/A) – One of the most Sacred Hindu Sites in Southern India Arunachala Hill is the most sacred Hindu mountain in southern India, where it is home to one of the five great Shaivite shrines. Unlike its sacred cousins in the north, which are lost amidst the Himalayas and are largely inaccessible, Arunachala is a semi-solitary peak located just outside of a major city. At … [Read more...]