- Kunlun Mountains
-
Kunlun Mountains (Kūnlún Shān) Range 
View of Western Kunlun Shan from the Tibet-Xinjiang highwayCountry China Region Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang Borders on Gobi Desert border1=Alps Highest point Kunlun Goddess - elevation 7,167 m (23,514 ft) 
Karakash River in the Western Kunlun Shan, seen from the Tibet-Xinjiang highway
Peak in Kunlun range
The Kunlun PassThe Kunlun Mountains (simplified Chinese: 昆仑山; traditional Chinese: 崑崙山; pinyin: Kūnlún Shān, pronounced [kʰu̯ə́nlu̯ə̌n ʂán]; Mongolian: Хөндлөн Уулс) are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending more than 3,000 km. In the broadest sense, it forms the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau south of the Tarim Basin and the Gansu Corridor and continues east south of the Wei River to end at the North China Plain.
The exact definition of this range seems to vary. An old source[1] uses Kunlun to mean the mountain belt that runs across the center of China, that is, Kunlun in the narrow sense, Altyn Tagh, Qilian Mountains and Qin Mountains. A recent source [2] has the Kunlun forming most of the south side of the Tarim Basin and then continuing east south of the Altyn Tagh. Sima Qian (Shiji, scroll 123) says that Emperor Wu of Han sent men to find the source of the Yellow River and gave the name Kunlun to the mountains at its source. The name seems to have originated as a semi-mythical location in the Shan Hai Jing.
Contents
Extent
From the Pamirs of Tajikistan, it runs east along the border between Xinjiang and Tibet autonomous regions to the Sino-Tibetan ranges in Qinghai province.[3] It stretches along the southern edge of what is now called the Tarim Basin, the infamous Takla Makan or "sand-buried houses" desert, and the Gobi Desert. A number of important rivers flow from it including the Karakash River ('Black Jade River') and the Yurungkash River ('White Jade River'), which flow through the Khotan Oasis into the Taklamakan Desert.
Altyn-Tagh or Altun Range is one of the chief northern ranges of the Kunlun. Nan Shan or its eastern extension Qilian is another main northern range of the Kunlun. In the south main extension is the Min Shan. Bayan Har Mountains, a southern branch of the Kunlun Mountains, forms the watershed between the catchment basins of China's two longest rivers, the Yangtze River and the Huang He.
The highest mountain of the Kunlun Shan is the Kunlun Goddess (7,167 m) in the Keriya area. The Arka Tagh (Arch Mountain) is in the center of the Kunlun Shan; its highest point is Ulugh Muztagh. Some authorities claim that the Kunlun extends north westwards as far as Kongur Tagh (7,649 m) and the famous Muztagh Ata (7,546 m). But these mountains are physically much more closely linked to the Pamir group (ancient Mount Imeon).
The mountain range formed at the northern edges of the Cimmerian Plate during its collision, in the Late Triassic, with Siberia, which resulted in the closing of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean.
The range has very few roads and in its 3,000 km length is crossed by only two. In the west, Highway 219 traverses the range en route from Yecheng, Xinjiang to Lhatse, Tibet. Further east, Highway 109 crosses between Lhasa and Golmud.
Kunlun Volcanoes
Main article: Kunlun VolcanoesOne of over 70 Kunlun Volcanoes is the highest volcano in Asia and China and second in East Hemisphere (after Mount Kilimanjaro) and one of Volcanic Seven Summits by elevation, with 5,808 metres (19,055 ft) above sea level (35°30′N 80°12′E / 35.5°N 80.2°E), the last known eruption is on May 27, 1951.[4]
Mythology
The Kunlun mountains are believed to be the paradise of Taoism. The first to visit this paradise was, according to the legends, King Mu (976-922 BCE) of the Zhou Dynasty. He supposedly discovered there the Jade Palace of Huang-Di, the mythical Yellow Emperor and originator of Chinese culture, and met Hsi Wang Mu (Xi Wang Mu) , the 'Spirit Mother of the West' usually called the 'Queen Mother of the West', who was the object of an ancient religious cult which reached its peak in the Han Dynasty, also had her mythical abode in these mountains.
"An Orographical map of the Western Regions".Map of the Western Regions appended to the Hsi-yu-tu-chih, compiled on the orders of Emperor Chien-lung in 1762. According to the Government of India Publication, "The map makes clear that Sinkiang extended in the south only up to the Kuen Lun Range". The aforesaid map is reproduced in the Government of India Publication, viz. The Atlas of the Northern Frontiers of India at Pg.20.Kunlun martial arts
See also: Kunlun SectPart of the series on
Chinese martial arts
List of Chinese martial arts Terms Historical places - Shaolin Monastery (少林寺)
- Wudang Mountains (武當山)
- Mount Hua (華山)
- Mount Emei (峨嵋山)
- Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山)
Historical people - Five Elders (五祖)
- Yim Wing-chun / Yan Yongchun (嚴詠春)
- Hung Hei-gun / Hong Xiguan (洪熙官)
- Fong Sai-yuk / Fang Shiyu (方世玉)
- Dong Haichuan (董海川)
- Yang Lu-ch'an (楊露禪)
- Wu Quanyou (吳全佑)
- Ten Tigers of Canton (廣東十虎)
- Chen Fake (陳發科)
- Chan Heung / Chen Xiang (陳享)
- Wong Fei-hung / Huang Feihong (黃飛鴻)
- Sun Lu-t'ang (孫祿堂)
- Huo Yuanjia (霍元甲)
- Yip Man / Ye Wen (葉問)
- Wang Zi-Ping (王子平)
- Bruce Lee / Li Xiaolong (李小龍)
- Jackie Chan / Cheng Long (成龍)
- Sammo Hung / Hong Jinbao (洪金寶)
- Yuen Biao / Yuán Biāo (元彪)
- Jet Li / Li Lian Jie (李連杰)
- Donnie Yen / Zhēn Zǐdān (甄子丹)
Legendary figures - Bodhidharma / Putidamo / Damo (菩提達摩)
- Zhang Sanfeng (張三丰)
- Eight immortals (八仙)
Related The Kunlun mountains are associated with a number of different martial arts, and are considered by some as an alternate source for the Daoist martial arts (Wudang being traditionally claimed as the source.) Some styles associated with the Kunlun mountains:
Kunlun Mountain Fist is a style associated with the Kunlun mountain range, although similarities between this style and Kunlunquan, as well as the name of one of the forms (White Cloud Mountain Fist) suggest that this style may be associated with Kunlun Mountain in Shandong province
Kunlunquan may be named after the Kunlun mountain range, or it may be named after Kunlun Mountain in Shandong province.
References
- ^ L. Richard, 'Comprehensive Geography of the Chinese Empire',1905
- ^ National Geographic Atlas of China,2008
- ^ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/325007/Kunlun-Mountains Kunlun Mountains. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 19, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
- ^ Global Volcanism Program - Kunlun Volcanic Group
Further reading
- Munro-Hay, Stuart Aksum. Edinburgh: University Press. 1991. ISBN 0748601066
External links
Coordinates: 36°00′N 84°00′E / 36°N 84°E
Mountain ranges of China Ailao Mountains · Altai Mountains · Argu Tagh · Changbai Mountains · Daba Mountains · Dabie Mountains · Dalou Mountains · Daxue Mountains · Dzungarian Alatau · Greater Khingan · Helan Mountains · Hengduan Mountains · Himalayas · Jiuling Mountains · Jiuyi Mountains · Karakoram · Kunlun Mountains · Lesser Khingan · Luoxiao Mountains · Lüliang Mountains · Huangshan · Jingshan Mountains · Mount Lang · Min Mountains · Mufu Mountains · Nanling Mountains · Pamir Mountains · Qian Mountains · Qin Mountains · Qionglai Mountains · Taihang Mountains · Tarbagatai Mountains · Tian Shan · Tanggula Mountains · Wanda Mountains · Wudang Mountains · Wuling Mountains · Wuyi Mountains · Xuefeng Mountains · Yengisogat · Yin Mountains · Yunling Mountains · Zhongtiao Mountains
Landforms of ChinaQinghai topics General Geography Cities • Tibetan Plateau • Yellow River • Yangtze River • Mekong River • Tanggula Mountains • Kunlun Mountains • Qinghai Lake • Qaidam Basin • Sanjiangyuan National Nature ReserveEducation Qinghai University • Qinghai Normal University • Qinghai University for Nationalities • Qinghai Medical CollegeCulture Cuisine LiangfenVisitor attractions Xinjiang topics General Geography Cities • Tian Shan • Dzungarian Basin • Tarim Basin • Gurbantünggüt Desert • Kumtag Desert • Taklimakan Desert • Turpan Depression • Karakoram Mountains • Altai Mountains • Tian Shan • Kunlun Shan • Pamir Mountains • Torugart Pass • Karakoram PassEducation Culture Cuisine Dapanji • Sangza • Samsa • Youtazi • Pamirdin • Xurpa • Tohax • Tunurkawab • Chinese Islamic cuisineVisitor attractions Apak Khoja and Xiang Fei Tomb • Flaming Mountains • Jiaohe Ruins • Gaochang • Grand Bazaar, Ürümqi • Id Kah Mosque • Karakul Lake • Kizil Caves • Ruins of NiyaCategories:- Geography of Tibet
- Sacred mountains
- Mountain ranges of China
- Sites along the Silk Road
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
