《岱史》Vol. 1

The first volume of The History of Mount Tai (Dai Shi) documents geographical surveys and cartographic records of the sacred mountain. The opening passage explains the purpose of these maps—to study Mount Tai's majestic landscape and render it in cartographic form. At the dawn of creation, when all things took shape, mountains stood as the most magnificent of formations. Among all mountains, the Five Sacred Peaks (Wuyue) tower supreme, and of these, Mount Tai reigns as the grandest. Nearby, it spans the lands of Qi and Lu, linking the Jiang and Huai river basins; from afar, it dominates the Nine Provinces, bestowing blessings upon the Four Seas. Truly, it is the splendor of the Central Plains and the borderlands, a holy mountain revered across ages.

Yet capturing the mountain's full grandeur on a mere sheet of paper is no easy task. Since ancient times, geographical study and orientation have relied on maps. Without them, even extensive travels would fail to reveal all its wonders, and written records could never fully describe its majesty. Even if refined scholars wished to "roam while reclining" (woyou—spiritual travel through imagery), where would they begin? Thus, this work draws from historical and contemporary research to map Mount Tai: the Mount Tai Diagram illustrates its role as the pillar of the earth, first marking celestial divisions to align with heavenly patterns; the Temple Diagram depicts the abode of deities; the Palace of Azure Dawn Diagram (Bixia Gong) reflects the devotion of the people; the Zhou Mingtang Diagram preserves traces of imperial governance; and the Five Sacred Peaks True Form Diagram (Wuyue Zhenxing Tu) is included because Mount Tai, as their leader, naturally encompasses their collective majesty.

Mount Tai gave birth to divine spirits and nurtured Confucius, later generations honoring the sage as they honor the mountain itself. Hence, the Confucian Temple Diagram and records of sacrificial rites are presented to illuminate the legacy of the wise and highlight the mountain's numinous power. How could the breathtaking spectacle of nature's creation ever be matched by human effort? Yet these diagrams ingeniously emulate the work of the cosmos, allowing viewers to step into the scene as soon as they unroll the scroll—as if witnessing the descent of spirits, stirring awe in their hearts. This is not merely for visual delight or the pleasure of virtual travel, but carries profound significance.