Three Holy Snow Mountains in Qinghai
20,2009
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Lofty snow mountains always seem mysterious, and they are considered holy when there are fairy tales behind them told for generations. Some faithful pilgrims even come a thousand miles to worship them.
The Kunlun runs westwards along the northern part of the Tibetan plateau to form the border range of northern Tibet. The Kunlun Mountain is believed to be Taoist paradise. The first to visit this paradise was, according to the legends, King Mu (976-922 BCE) of the Zhou Dynasty. He supposedly discovered there the Jade Palace of Huang-Di, the mythical Yellow Emperor and originator of Chinese culture, and met Hsi Wang Mu (Xi Wang Mu), the "Spirit Mother of the West” usually called the “Queen Mother of the West”, who was the object of an ancient religious cult which reached its peak in the Han Dynasty, also had her mythical abode in these mountains. Now Yuzhu Peak and Yuxu Peak, which have been opened to the public, are regarded as holy lands for pilgrimage and practice.
Animaqing Snow Mountain
Animaqing is a famous snow mountain in Tibetan plateau. Due to its high and steep topography, the weather here is changeable and the icy mountain peak towers over the plateau. “Animaqing” means “the supreme servant in front of the Buddha” in Tibetan and it is regarded as a holy mountain by Tibetan people. Legendary said that the god of Animaqing Mountain is a martial god on horseback, with a Moni Bag (a kind of treasure) in hand. He gives response to every prayer especially those come from afar. Every year, a large number of faithful pilgrims endure the hardships of traveling to worship him.
Nianbaoyuze
Nianbaoyuze, also named Guoluo Mountain, is a holy mountain in Guoluo Grassland in Qinghai. Nianbaoyuze is made up of numberless mountains more than 4,000m above the sea lever. Nianbaoyuze’s main peak, wrapped in snow all year round and at an altitude of 5369m, is said to be the cradle of Guoluo tribes. Legend has it a long time ago, a hunter saved the only son of Ninabaoyuze Mountain God. Later, when the god was fighting with a monster, the hunter helped kill the monster. Nianbaoyuze Mountain God betrothed his little daughter to the hunter in order to thank him. After marriage, the couple had three sons named Angqianben, Ashiqiangben and Banmaben respectly. Now the three Guoluo Tribes are their descendants. Therefore, Nianbaoyuze was regarded as the ancestor of Guoluo Tibetan nationality.