This paper attempts to confirm Xiaokouyu Cave 小口峪洞 as a specific case of the stone chambers in famous mountains 名山石室 where early Daoist priests pursued their hermitic practice in mountainous seclusion. It classifies the cave as a site for early “Immortal Taoism 神僊道教” practice aimed at cultivating immortality. By cross-referencing with the knowledge system of mountain-dwelling practices outlined in Baopuzi Neipian 抱樸子內篇, the cave’s internal and external physical features, such as natural stone altars, stalactites, and the female genital symbol-like rock formation, can be correspondingly linked to the Daoist priests’ activities of jiao rituals 醮祭, Ingesting Elixirs 服食, and Intensive Meditation 精思. Meanwhile, from the perspectives of philology, visual culture, and fine arts, this paper discusses the implications of Daoist visual culture in the mountain where Xiaokouyu Cave is located and its possible connection with Mountain Dwelling and Spiritual Cultivation of Daoist Zhang Zhong 張忠 in a comprehensive manner.
Meng Han (Wed,) studied this question.