Outside the Parents' Hall of Zixiao Palace

Behind the Zixiao Hall, on the tall platform, there is a Parents' Hall, dedicated to the biological parents of Emperor Zhenwu. Here, ancient trees tower into the sky, and the mountains are as dark as ink. It is spacious and secluded, making it one of the best scenic spots on Wudang Mountain. According to research, the Parents' Hall was originally built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty and was destroyed in the early years. The existing buildings were rebuilt in the late Qing Dynasty and still retain the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty. All the major temples and monasteries on Wudang Mountain have parents' halls, which is one of the important features of the royal temples and monasteries on Wudang Mountain. Here, the religious feature of Wudang Mountain Taoism advocating the "unity of the three religions" is reflected. As early as the 12th century during the Jin Dynasty, Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen School, integrated the thoughts of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, advocating the equality and unity of the three religions. In the Yuan Dynasty, Qiu Chuji, the master of the Quanzhen School, brought the Quanzhen School to its peak. The Zixiao Palace is an important activity venue for the Quanzhen School in the south of the Yangtze River. By the Ming Dynasty, the emperor had divided Taoism into two major schools, namely Quanzhen and Zhengzheng. The Taoists of the Quanzhen School on Wudang Mountain follow Wang Chongyang's principle of "Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism go hand in hand, and the three religions have always had the same ancestral tradition", change the old rule that "monks and nuns do not recognize their relatives", and promote filial piety. Thus, the Parents' Hall became a place to honor parents and educate the world.