Shindokan Goju Kai Karate-Do
Shuudoji Temple
Gl. Kongevej 23
1610 København V
tel: 33244233
fax: 33240766

According to the Chinese ancient mythology, When Pangu, the ancestor of all things, died, his head turned into Mount Tai, his belly turned into the Central Mountain, his left arm turned into the South Mountain, his right arm turned into the North Mountain and his feet turned into the West Mountain. Mount Tai thus has become the head of all mountains. As the symbol of China national spirit, Mount Tai is no doubt the most significant mountain under heaven as well.

Mount Tai is closely related with the forming of Chinese nation's psychology and spirit. The reason why Mount Tai was named "Ancestor of all mountains as well as the Head of the Five Mountains" lies in the ancient people's geographical concept that dwelling in the centre of the universe was the most desirable. From this point of view, the original worship of Mount Tai was linked essentially with the forming of the nation's thinking model of centrality. The centrality and achievement-maintaining thinking models thus have played an important role in the unity of the country and in the solidarity and prosperity of the nation. As the materialization of the national spirit, Mount Tai has often been taken to symbolize the greatness, diligence, honesty, intelligence and tenacity of the Chinese people.

From ancient times up till now Mount Tai has been regarded as the resting place of the human spirits by the Chinese people, And a concept has been thus formed that all spirits (souls) ought to go back to Mount Tai for a peaceful rest, which has exerted an far reaching influence on the Chinese culture and derived the patriotism - the national spirit.

The old saying goes "One has eyes but may fail to recognize Mount Tai". This may emphasize the depth and magnificence of the mountain. Mount Tai is no longer only famous in China. Its great influence, which has passed the limits of space and time, has become world wide.
Mt. Tai had been regarded as the supreme Mountain God over all other mountains by emperors of the past dynasties. Temples, statues as well as numerous steles were established and erected in their names to show their homage to the sacred moutain. Tourists can find many of the relics along the steps up to the top of the mountain.