Mount Hua

It is the easternmost peak of the Qinling Mountains, south of Huayin County in the eastern part of Shaanxi Province, China. It is 1,997 meters above sea level (middle peak). The mountain is made of granite, and the northern side forms a steep cliff caused by a fault. It is so named because its beautiful flower-like shape can be seen from afar. It is also called Taihua Mountain in contrast to Shaohua Mountain to the west. It is the highest mountain in Guanzhong, towering over the point where the Wei River flows into the Yellow River and on the southern edge of the Wei River Basin. It has been counted as one of the Western Mountains of the Five Mountains since ancient times, and has often been written about in poetry. It is a popular tourist destination due to its many strange peaks and caves created by weathering, such as Lotus Peak, Jade Peak, and Chaoyang Peak.

[Motohide Akiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、陝西(せんせい／シャンシー)省東部、華陰(かいん)県の南、秦嶺(しんれい／チンリン)山脈のもっとも東にある秀峰。標高1997メートル（中峰）。山体は花崗(かこう)岩からなり、北側は断層による急峻(きゅうしゅん)な崖(がけ)をなす。花のように美しい山容が遠くからも望めるため、この名がある。西の少華山に対し太華(たいか)山ともいう。渭河(いが／ウェイホー)が黄河(こうが／ホワンホー)に流入する地点を見下ろし、渭河盆地の南辺にそびえたつ関中一の山であるところから、古くから五岳の一つ西岳(せいがく)に数えられ、詩文によく詠まれた。蓮花(れんか)峰、玉女(ぎょくじょ)峰、朝陽(ちょうよう)峰など、風化によってつくられた奇峰、奇洞が多いため、有数の観光地となっている。

［秋山元秀］

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