Gazetteer of Laoshan Mountain 崂山志

Written by Huang Zongchang in the Ming Dynasty.

It has eight volumes in total and is included in the category of Topography of Palaces and Temples in Daoist Texts Outside the Canon.

Gazetteer of Laoshan Mountain

According to Notes on the Gazetteer of Laoshan Mountain: "There was no gazetteer of Laoshan Mountain in ancient times; the first one was compiled by the late Censor (referring to Huang Zongchang), and later completed by the late lay scholar Qiu Shui of Pujiang." It also states: "The late Censor lived in the late Ming Dynasty, suffering the great changes of the times. He remained loyal to his dynasty yet felt frustrated, and expressed his grief and indignation through writing—this work is therefore more than a mere record of scenic spots and historical relics. At that time, literary censorship was extremely strict and many topics were taboo, so the book was completed but never printed." It was not until the fifth year of the Republic of China that Huang Tan collated the book, added additional content, and published it to the world.

A general map of Laoshan Mountain is attached at the beginning of the gazetteer, reflecting the overall landscape of the mountain. The contents of the gazetteer include textual research, general records, scenic spots, hermitages, immortals and monks, and local products, which serve as precious materials for understanding Laoshan Mountain and studying the The Dao on the mountain.

Appended to the end of the gazetteer is Guide to Visiting Laoshan Mountain by Zhou Shikun, which was added in the reprint in the 23rd year of the Republic of China. It records the evolution of Laoshan Mountain, its mountain ranges and rivers, scenic sites, travel tips for visitors and other contents, and is an excellent travel guide to Laoshan Mountain.