In 2011 China (Chenzhou) International Tourism and Culture Festival and the symposium of “blessing culture”, “blessing place”, “blessing city”, “one-hundred-blessing trippod” set in Longnv hot spring landscape, “one-hundred-blessing wall ” set in Beihu Park, “ten-thousand-blessing mountain” of Suxianling landscape, blessing city web, blessing city forum, Volunteer Association of Blessing City, and some other symbols concerned for the blessing culutre were available in Chenzhou city. Some people wondered that according to historic record, Fuzhou where is with blessing mountain is named as “blessing city”, but no such kind of record available for Chenzhou city. Some said Chenzhou is 21st blessing city, not 18th.

Why Chenzhou city was named as 18th blessing city, not the top blessing city? Is that true? Is there any blessing culture available?

The initial position of Suxianling among the 72 blessing places of Taoism

According to the previous version of “Cihai”, blessing place’s literal meaning was “there are 72 blessing places for the gods of Taoism, please refer to ‘Yunjiqiqian’”. Some Taoists named the famous mountains and landscapes where their fellows became immortals as “cave paradise and blessing place”. They are fairy lands in the earth. “Cave paradise” means there are some caves where can reach the heaven. There are ten major cave paradises and 36 small cave paradises available for the immortals. “Blessing place” means the places where are blessed by the gods and can be immortals by practices. There are 72 blessing places for the Taosism.

Suxianling was named after the legend of Chinese medicins doctor-Su Dan who cared for his mother and cured local people by boiling orange leaves during the pestilence period. Due to its profound influence, the legend was enrolled into “Lie Xian Zhuan” which was authored by Liu Xiang- an economist and litterateur of the Western Han Dynasty, was enrolled into “ancestral sages of Guiyang” and “painting appreciation of ancestral sages of Guiyang” which were authored by Zhang Sheng- an officier of Wu in the Three Kingdoms period, and also enrolled into “Shenxian Zhuan” which was authord by Hui Hong- an theorist of Taoism and medical scientist of Jin Dynasty. Su Dan was considered as a famous doctor and immortal of Taoism. Some memorials were buit to memorize him in the ancient times.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty was an enthusiast of Taoism. In the 29th year of Kaiyuan period (741AD), he delivered an imperial edict to popularize Su Dan’s legend. Sun Hui who was the officer of Chenzhou at that time forced to build Suxian Taoist Temple in Maling mountain and the relics related to Su Dan’s life were decorated then. An inscriptional writing of Suxian was figured out by Sun to memorize Su Dan.

Followed the order of Emperior Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, Sima Chengzhen figured out a “map of the palaces” and stated the list of 72 blessing places of Taoism there. Maling mountina where Su Dan once lived was ranked the 20th place. Till the Northern Song Dynasty, that map was enrolled into “”Yunjiqiqian” which was authored by Zhang Junfang and was submitted to the Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty to save in the imperial palace. Suxianling of Chenzhou city was one of the important places of Taoism according to the ancient books of Tang and Song Dynasty, which became the marerial fundation of “blessing culture”.

The final position Suxianling- the 18th blessing place of China

Suxianling’s place was differed based on different records. According to the Taoism book collected in Taiwan, Suxianling was “the 25th blessing place”. Along with the spread of Su Dan’s legend, it was copied by Jiangxi province. Du Guangting who was a famous Taoist in the late Tang peroid and Five Dynasties was farmiliar with Chenzhou city and ranked Suxianling as 19th blessing place.

Suxianling was generally referred as 21st blessing place based on “Yunjiqiqian”, so most people considered that “the 18th blessing place of China” was named by Chenzhou people themselves. But according to the diary written by Xu Xiake- the famous tourist and geographer of Ming Dynasty, he saw the landmark written with “the 18th blessing place of China” when he visited Chenzhou city.

There were three kinds of Taoism classics: some of the blessing places which were stated in “map of palaces” which was authored by Sima Chengzhen in Tang Dynasty became less famous after hundred of year, so Du Guangting who was in Five Dynasties period deleted them and re-ranked the places on “record of famous mountains of cave paradise and blessing place”. Wudang mountain and some other mountains were added into the list, and Suxianling was placed the top 20 places among all. “Collection of caves” which was authored by Li Sicong of Northern Song Dynasty adjusted the list based on practical condition. In this collection which was submitted to Emperor Renzong of Northern Song Dynasty by Li Sicong, Suxianling was ranked the 18th place among all 72 blessing places of Taoism.

The Emperor of Zhezong of Northern Song Dynasty ennobled Su Dan as “Chongsu Zhenren” and some other emperors also ennobled him. The plague hanged on Suxian Taoism Temple was presented by the Emperor Lizong of Song Dynasty. So, Suxianling was honored as the 18th blessing place of China in Taoism and also due to Li Sicong honored it as famous mountain of China, Xu Xiake could see the landmark written with the letters of “18th blessing place of China”. China is so big, Chenzhou people never dare to be arrogant and they are satisfied with the rank as 18th blessing place of China.

Suxianling was ranked in advance place among the 72 blessing places, which indicated that the high popularity of Su Dan’s legend and also indicated his background and status.

“Blessing culture” of Chenzhou city- materializing the roots: extension of tangerine well

Besides Xu Xiake, Tan Cui- chorographer and poet of Qing Dynasty stated on his book “Chuting Baizhu Lu” that he saw the plague written “the 18th blessing place” in the former residents of Su Dan, and there was tangerine well in front of the courtyard.

Some scholars considered that the 18th place was just referred to Suxianling. But in 1006, when the Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty presented “Jilingguan” plague to tangerine well temple, some people extended the range and concept of 18th blessing place to the whole Chenzhou city. Because Suxianling was located in the exterior city of Chenzhou and tangerine well was located in the east of interior of Chenzhou. A large group of Taoism buildings with the landmark of tangerine well were built in Chenzhou. Tangerine temple, tangerine park, Laihe building, Xianqiao alley, Suxian bridge, Lujiao pavilion, and some other buildings were built in the whole region of Chenzhou. Besides the central part of Chenzhou, some other memorial buildings were built in some counties as Yongxing, Rucheng, Yizhang, Guiyang, Leiyang, and etc. The name of “tangerine well” was spread into some other provinces of China.

But it was regret that due to Taiping rebellion, class struggle in modern times, “cultural revolution”, unscientific city construction, hot real estate development, and some other bad effects, the ancient buildings mentioned above were almost destroyed. The stone monument marked with “the 18th blessing place of China” which was set in the foot of Suxianling was destroyed during Taiping rebellion. Otherwise, all the ancient relics would be capable for Chenzhou city to submit as the world cultural heritages.