The Sacred Origins of Fengshan

Fengshan, the grandest sacrificial ceremony in imperial China, represented a ruler’s divine mandate from heaven. Emerging during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), Confucian scholars from Qi and Lu states conceived this ritual to legitimize unifying monarchs. They believed Mount Tai—the “Eastern Peak”—was earth’s highest point where rulers should commune with heaven.

Historical records document only seven emperors performing Fengshan, including China’s sole female sovereign, Wu Zetian (r. 690–705). Intriguingly, while six rulers conducted rites at Mount Tai, Wu Zetian broke tradition by selecting Mount Song. This decision reveals much about her political ingenuity and spiritual connection to this sacred peak.

Mount Song’s Imperial Legacy

Long before Wu Zetian, Mount Song (the “Central Peak”) held profound significance. The legendary “Long Live the Mountain” incident occurred here when Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141–87 BCE) allegedly heard the mountain shout “Ten thousand years!”—a phrase later becoming standard imperial homage.

As the geographical center of China (determined by Duke Zhou’s ancient sun-shadow measurements), Mount Song symbolized cosmic order. Its twin peaks—Taishi (3,149 ft) and Shaoshi—framed a valley that became a spiritual corridor. By Tang times, proximity to Luoyang (Wu Zetian’s capital) enhanced its political relevance.

Wu Zetian’s Calculated Divergence

In 696 CE, the 73-year-old empress conducted her historic Fengshan at Mount Song, diverging from Mount Tai for four strategic reasons:

1. Cosmic Positioning
As the “axis mundi” of Chinese cosmology, Mount Song offered direct celestial communication. Its central location mirrored Wu Zetian’s claim as universal ruler.

2. Dynastic Continuity
Asserting descent from the Zhou Dynasty (which worshipped Mount Song), Wu Zetian emphasized legitimacy. Folklore even claimed the mountain’s deity shared her surname—Wu.

3. Practical Convenience
At just 50 miles from Luoyang, Mount Song spared the aging empress an arduous 400-mile journey to Mount Tai.

4. Symbolic Reinvention
Having previously participated in Mount Tai ceremonies as Emperor Gaozong’s consort, choosing a new site severed ties with her Tang Dynasty past, reinforcing her Zhou Dynasty reboot.

Ritual Innovation and Divine Femininity

Wu Zetian’s 20-day ceremony (December 696) introduced groundbreaking elements:

– Toponymic Revolution
She renamed surrounding regions: “Mount Yang County” became “Dengfeng” (Ascending Peak), while “Yangcheng” turned to “Gaocheng” (Great Achievement)—names still used today.

– Deity Promotion
Elevating Mount Song’s god as “Divine Peak Emperor of the Celestial Center” marked the first imperial title for a sacred mountain.

– Goddess Worship
Wu Zetian ingeniously enshrined female deities:
– Heavenly Center Empress: Companion to the mountain god
– Jade Capital Dowager: Mythical mother of Emperor Yu (Xia Dynasty)
– Golden Tower Lady: Yu’s nurturing aunt

This divine femininity mirrored her unprecedented reign, challenging Confucian gender norms through spiritual precedent.

The Golden Tablet and Late-Life Mysticism

Aged 76, Wu Zetian’s 699 CE illness triggered profound spiritual shifts. Her 703 CE “Golden Tablet” ritual—discovered in 1982—reveals fascinating details:

> “The Great Zhou sovereign Wu Zhao, devout follower of the true Dao, respectfully submits this golden tablet at Mount Song’s gate, beseeching celestial officials to absolve her sins and grant immortality.”

This Taoist-leaning artifact contrasts her earlier Buddhist patronage, reflecting mortality anxieties. The tablet’s survival offers rare physical evidence of imperial spiritual practices.

Cultural Legacy and Modern Resonance

Wu Zetian’s Mount Song Fengshan left enduring impacts:

1. Toponymic Permanence
Dengfeng City and Gaocheng Town remain living monuments to her ceremony.

2. Gender Symbolism
Her goddess pantheon inspired later female rulers, including Empress Dowager Cixi.

3. Tourist Pilgrimage
The “Shicong Banquet” poetry carved at Mount Song attracts scholars and tourists, preserving Tang Dynasty calligraphy.

4. UNESCO Recognition
Dengfeng’s “Center of Heaven and Earth” historic monuments gained World Heritage status in 2010, partly due to Wu Zetian’s legacy.

Conclusion: A Peak of Political Theater

Wu Zetian’s Mount Song Fengshan wasn’t merely ritual—it was geopolitical theater. By selecting this sacred peak, she wove together cosmic legitimacy, feminine divinity, and administrative pragmatism. The ceremony’s innovations—from renamed cities to goddess worship—showcased her genius for symbolic governance. Today, as visitors ascend Mount Song’s 6,000 stone steps, they tread the same path where China’s only empress once stood, her voice echoing through the peaks that shouted “Ten thousand years!” to a woman who dared claim heaven’s mandate.