Beliefs and Folk Customs of Taishan
As the saying goes: "Jinan has lots of people, while Tai'an has lots of gods". Taishan Mountain has bred many gods. Among those gods, God of Eastern Mountain, Bixia Yuanjun, and Taishan Shigandang are the most famous. God of Eastern Mountain, also called God of Taishan Mountain is the direct product of "Fengshan" activities. It reached its prosperous period at Tang and Song Dynasties since its establishment. It has been said that he is in charge of both the changes of dynasties, the peace of the country and people, and life, death, illness or good fortune of a person. He has boundless supernatural power. After Song Dynasty, Goddess of Bixia Yuanjun gradually took the overwhelming place of God of Taishan Mountain, and was located highly in the Temple of Bixia Yuanjun on the top of Taishan Mountain. Bixia Yuanjun had developed to an all-powerful goddess, who was in charge of poorness, richness, illness or misfortune of e person from her former function of being in charge of only person's male offspring. She could cure illness and remove calamities, and could satisfy every requirements. She had attracted devotees to Buddha from all directions to come here to pray and admire, after taking the trouble of traveling over a long distance.
Taishan Shigandang is a brave and strong god, from the need of eliminating demons and avoiding evil spirits of common people. From Tang and Song Dynasties, people used to had stones carved with his name "Taishan Shigandang" set at important places in front of the door, at the end of an alley or at the end of a bridge, to pray for blessing and avoid evil. This custom has wide influences in China as well as in other countries and regions such as Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea.
Mountain
Fengshan is a kind of special cultural phenomena related with Chinese famous mountains. After ascending the throne, the emperor would lead the civil and military officials to the top of Taishan Mountain to build an altar and offer sacrifice to Heaven, which means that the merits belong to Heaven, and this is called "Feng". Then the emperor and his officials would come to a hill at the foot of Taishan Mountain to build an altar and offer sacrifice to the Earth, which is called "Shan". Taishan Fengshan was originated from the worship of our ancestors to the nature, and was changed to imply that "The right of emperors is given by God". Later on, it has become an important measure to reinforce the rule by governors of the past dynasties. The emperors of the past dynasties, who have come to Taishan Mountain and held large-scale activities of Fengshan include: Ying Zheng-the first emperor of Qin Dynasty, Liu Che Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu-Emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty, Li Zhi-Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty, Li Longji-Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty and Zhao Heng-Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty After Song Dynasty, the emperors no longer held "Fengshan Ceremonies". They only came to Taishan Mountain and held offering sacrifice activities. Both Kangxi, Emperor Shengzu of Qing Dynasty and Qianlong, Emperor Gaozong of Qing Dynasty had been to Taishan Mountain. Qianlong had been to Taishan Mountain for 11 times. Now, Tai'an City still holds solemn performance imitating imperial "Fengshan" activities at Daimiao Temple during International Mountaineering Festival in each September.
Taishan Xinzi
Taishan Xinzi is an ancient folk art. Common people always performed "Carrying Xinzi" at Taishan Temple Fair from the end of Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China.
The art form of "Carrying Xinzi" imitates the construction of candle stand, and adopts shouldering, carrying, turning and sustaining etc. "Xinzi" has a high and narrow stage on its top, on which stands a child acting the characters from dramas or fairy tales. For instance, the "Xinzi" of the "airy Maiden of Longtan" and "Taishan Mountain Xuanyun Temple", sorted out and edited by Tai'an Municipal bureau of Culture for attending China "Long tan Cup" Folk Art competition, was 8 meters high. The little girl and the little monk standing on top of the Xinzi performed smoothly, which won the audiences' great admiration, and won the grand awards.