-‐In the Chinese imagination, mountains were also imbued since ancient times with sacred
power as manifestations of nature's vital energy (qi). They not only attracted the rain clouds
that watered the farmer's crops, they also concealed medicinal herbs, magical fruits, and
alchemical minerals that held the promise of longevity. Mountains pierced by caves and
grottoes were viewed as gateways to other realms—” cave heavens”(dongtian) leading to
Daoist paradises where aging is arrested and inhabitants live in harmony. From the early …