Chapter 28 Section 7 Dongxiao Palace, one of the Taoist centers in the Southern Song Dynasty

In Taoism, there are ten caves, thirty-six small caves and seventy-two blessed places. It not only reflects the geographical distribution of Taoism's spread and development, but also reflects the status of a certain place in Taoism.Dadi Mountain, where Dongxiao Palace is located, ranks 34th among the thirty-six small caves. Dongxiao Palace is in front of Dadi Cave under the middle peak of Dadi Mountain in Wangjiabu, Lin'an County, Zhejiang Province.In the third year of Yuanfeng in the Western Han Dynasty (180 BC), a palace altar was built in front of Dadi Cave as a place for blessing.In the first year of Tang Hongdao (AD 683), Tianzhu Temple was built by imperial edict, and in the second year of Qianning (AD 895), Qian Miao rebuilt it.In the fifth year of Dazhong Xiangfu in the Northern Song Dynasty (1012 A.D.), it was renamed Dongxiao Palace by imperial edict.

Dongxiao Palace was the center of Taoism in the south during the Tang and Song dynasties.In the Southern Song Dynasty, all the prime ministers and ministers, after retiring from office, were crowned with the official title of Dongxiao Palace. During the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Dongxiao Palace was destroyed by war many times and rebuilt many times.In its heyday, the palace temple was extremely grand, covering an area of ​​more than 80 mu.The only remaining two entrance courtyards are buildings in the late Qing Dynasty.