中国多名山。在诸多名山中，因山东省的泰山、湖南省的衡山、陕西省的华山、山西省的恒山和河南省的嵩山分峙于国之东、南、西、北方的中部，自古被视为镇守一方的神山，统称为五岳。五岳之中，东岳泰山根盘东方，影照大海，有拔地通天之势，赋存丰富，文化积淀深厚，被尊为五岳之首、国之镇山。自远古时期至18世纪末，一直是历代帝王祭祠、封禅、巡游的首选之地。本书内容囊括了泰山的形成，历代帝王祭祀、封禅泰山的史实，泰山的文化、宗教和民俗民情，以及古代思想家、政治家、诗人、名士在泰山的遗迹等等，是目前所见描述泰山的著作中最详尽的一部。书中配有二百二十余幅图片，与文字相辅相成，形象地展现泰山峰峦泉水的神奇灵秀、晨昏阴晴景色的变幻、楼阁嵯峨的佛寺道观。

China has many great mountains,among them Mount Taishan in Shandong, Mount Hengshan in Hunan,Mount Huashan in Shaanxi, Mount Hengshan in Shanxi and Mount Songshan in Henan which are regarded as sacred mountains guarding the country's east, south, west, north and central areas respectively, thus the term Five Sacred Mountains.

Towering Mount Taishan stands rooted in the east and mirrored in the sea. Rich in relics and with profound historical associations, it was honored as Chief of the Five Sacred Mountains and Watch Guard of the State. From antiquity right up to the late 18th century, it was the first place that rulers would come to inspect and hold sacrificial ceremonies.

Encompassing the geological formation of Mount Taishan historical records about imperial ceremonies on the mountain, Mount Taishan culture,religion and folk customs, tales about the ancient philosophers, statesmen,poets and scholars who visited the great place ... of all the books about Mount Taishan, this is indeed the most comprehensive.

The book is lavishly illustrated,with 220 pictures vividly depicting the seasonal changes and the magnificent buildings on this sacred mountain.

Chapter I Towering Mount Taishan

Ancient Myths about Mount Taishan

The Formation of Mount Taishan

The Status of Mount Taishan

Ascending Mount Taishan —— A Great Life Experience

Sea of Clouds on Mount Taishan

Watching Sunrise on Mount Taishan

Chapter II Mount Taishan, the Country's Watch Guard

Mysterious Symbols

Culture of Remote Antiquity at Mount Taishan

Burning Firewood to Worship Heaven -- the Oldest Rite

Theoretical Roots of the "Mountain Worship" Ceremony

First Emperor of Qin Pays Homage to Mount Taishan

Emperor Wu's Eight Visits to Mount Taishan

The Ailing Emperor Guangwu Comes to Mount Taishan

The Regrets of Tang Emperor Taizong

Emperor and Empress Together Make Sacrifices to Mount Taishan

Emperor Xuanzong Comes to Mount Taishan

The Final Performance of "Feng Shan"

The Ming Emperors and Mount Taishan

Emperor Kangxi and Mount Taishan

Qianlong, the Last Monarch to Visit Mount Taishan

Chapter III The Universe in Miniature  73

The Central Mountain —— A Pillar Leading to Heaven

Divine Song to Heaven

At the Summit

Souls Returning to Mount Taishan

The Netherworld

Great Emperor of the Eastern Sacred Mountain

Rebirth

Chapter IV Mount Taishan and Taoism

Mount Taishan and Living Immortals

Hermits at Mount Taishan

Li Bai's Hunt for Immortals

The Free-wheeling Immortal Lu Dongbin

Queen Mother Pond

Emperors and Taoist Mount Taishan

Taoist Design of Mount Taishan

Chapter V Mount Taishan Deities

Bixia Temple

History of the Goddess of Mount Taishan

Cult of the Goddess

Mount Taishan Rock of Protection

Chapter Vl Mount Taishan and Buddhism

The Origin of Valley Mountain Temple

Buddha Statue Discovered on the Summit

Master Lang and Buddhism at Mount Taishan

Divine Rock Temple and Its Group of Arhat Statues

The Pagodas of Mount Taishan

Monastery of Omnipresent Light, Buddhism and Confucianism

Buddhism Assimilated by Mount Taishan

Chapter VII Mount Taishan and Confucianism

Confucius ascends Mount Taishan

Confucius praises mountains

Confucius' respect for Mount Taishan

The Confucius Temple on the Summit

Confucius' Disciples from Mount Taishan

Confucius' Encounters on Mount Taishan

Mencius, like Mount Taishan in Character

The Avid Students of Lu

Millennia-old Moral Lessons

Chapter VIII Rock Inscriptions on Mount Taishan

Why Carve Words in Rocks?

Wealth of Rock Inscriptions on Mount Taishan

Temple of Mount Taishan Inscriptions

Two Approaches to Climbing Mountains

Theme of Stone Inscriptions on Mount Taishan: Ascending

Stone Inscriptions at Cloud Step Bridge

Four Inscriptions of the Same Poem

Landscape and Sentiment in Accord

Sutra Rock Valley

Appendix

Sunrise & Sunset Timetable of Mount Taishan

Monthly Average Temperature of Mount Taishan (centigrade)

Best Time to Visit Mount Taishan

Ranking of Hotels in Tai' an