The Sacred Mountain as a Realm of Memory: Daoist Priests, Spirit Mediums, and the Officials at Mount Tai

This paper examines the collective memory surrounding the Mount Tai in contemporary Chinese society, with a focus on the interactions between Daoist Priests, spirit mediums, and the official state. These parties engage in an enduring struggle and compromise, each claiming to possess the most accurate memory and understanding of Mount Tai but differing in their perspectives. Consequently, their divergent memory traditions lead to distinct activities and practices in present-day society. Drawing on fieldwork conducted between September 2023 and January 2024, this study unveils the complex dynamics and competition for control over the discourse surrounding Mount Tai. It argues that Mount Tai has become a "relam of memorie" (lieu de mémoire) for different entities, where seemingly contradictory memories are actually different facets of historical development. Furthermore, this struggle has elevated Mount Tai to China's most significant sacred place.