West of the main hall of Yuxu Rock

Yuxu Rock is the largest rock temple among the thirty-six rocks of Wudang Mountain. The road leading to Yuxu Rock is actually in a canyon. Here, the Jian River flows gently all year round. Ancient trees tower into the sky on the mountain, and the canyon is thickly shaded by trees, presenting a pleasant scenery. Yuxu Rock is located on a sheer cliff as if cut by a knife. This huge cave has a maximum height of 18 meters and a maximum width of 11.5 meters. It is divided into two layers, with a total area of approximately 2,000 square meters. Entering the cave, one can see everywhere the remains of the temple buildings from the past, cliff carvings and painted clay statues of deities. In the "Comprehensive Collection of the Blessed Lands of Wudang Mountain" compiled during the Yuan Dynasty, it is recorded that before the Tang Dynasty, there were no Taoist temples on Wudang Mountain, but "many people in seclusion throughout the ages". Those who lived in seclusion often "regretted that the mountain was not high and the forest was not dense", and "were afraid that their names would be heard by others". Most of them lived in stone chambers that were rarely visited by people. It is recorded that in the Jin Dynasty, there were famous hermits such as Xie Yun and Yin GUI; in the Southern Dynasties, Liu Qiu; and in the Tang Dynasty, Yao Jian, who successively entered the mountains to practice Taoism. Obviously, Yuxu Rock was an excellent place for them to live in seclusion and practice Taoism back then. According to research, the rock temple within Yuxu Rock was originally built in the Song Dynasty. It was reconstructed in the first year of the Tai Ding era of the Yuan Dynasty and another temple was ordered to be constructed in the tenth year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty. Legend has it that when Zhenwu entered Wudang Mountain, he also practiced here. Zhenwu was given the title of "Jade Void Master", so this place was named Jade Void Rock.