青海省(sheng)南(nan)朔山(shan)(shan)(shan),在(zai)湟中(zhong)縣境內(nei),最早稱(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)朔山(shan)(shan)(shan),道(dao)(dao)(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)徒(tu)居住(zhu)此(ci)山(shan)(shan)(shan)后,改(gai)(gai)稱(cheng)(cheng)西玄山(shan)(shan)(shan),傳說元(yuan)、明時(shi)期(qi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)各有(you)一名道(dao)(dao)(dao)士修(xiu)煉(lian)成(cheng)仙(xian),即(ji)被道(dao)(dao)(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)定為(wei)(wei)(wei)全(quan)國(guo)道(dao)(dao)(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)十大洞天之(zhi)四,命(ming)名為(wei)(wei)(wei)“太玄極真(zhen)洞天”,后改(gai)(gai)“玄”為(wei)(wei)(wei)“元(yuan)”稱(cheng)(cheng)“西元(yuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”,道(dao)(dao)(dao)名“太元(yuan)極真(zhen)洞天”。明代(dai)是西元(yuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)道(dao)(dao)(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)活動(dong)的全(quan)盛(sheng)時(shi)期(qi),建(jian)筑規模(mo)宏大,道(dao)(dao)(dao)士眾多,香(xiang)火旺盛(sheng)。清順治初,塔爾寺阿嘉活佛(fo)(fo)(fo)朝(chao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)進香(xiang),認為(wei)(wei)(wei)這里是靜(jing)修(xiu)的好地方,即(ji)在(zai)廣(guang)闊平衍的山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂上修(xiu)建(jian)了(le)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)殿,因此(ci)山(shan)(shan)(shan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)道(dao)(dao)(dao)合一,為(wei)(wei)(wei)道(dao)(dao)(dao)家(jia)、佛(fo)(fo)(fo)家(jia)共同尊崇的修(xiu)行“靈山(shan)(shan)(shan)”故而又(you)被稱(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)南(nan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。遠(yuan)眺該山(shan)(shan)(shan),如彩繪(hui)的屏風(feng),故民國(guo)年間文人墨客又(you)稱(cheng)(cheng)它為(wei)(wei)(wei)朔屏山(shan)(shan)(shan)。
山(shan)頂稱(cheng)弗屏臺,廣闊平坦(tan),上有鰲頭閣、奎光閣、玄芳(fang)嘴、歇涼亭,右(you)峰(feng)為(wei)求(qiu)壽臺,東邊(bian)有三(san)清宮(gong)、三(san)宮(gong)殿、玉皇(huang)洞、藥石(shi)洞和(he)平樓3間,坪臺四周有8座天然(ran)石(shi)峰(feng),酷似人形,姿態各異(yi),栩栩如生,道佛信(xin)眾(zhong)稱(cheng)之為(wei)“八大金剛”。由于該山(shan)自然(ran)景(jing)觀秀麗(li),空氣新(xin)鮮,山(shan)清水秀,鳥語花香(xiang),成為(wei)各族人民消夏(xia)、游(you)覽的勝(sheng)地,每(mei)當春(chun)夏(xia)之交到夏(xia)秋之交,西寧和(he)海東地區各族群眾(zhong)云集(ji)這里尋芳(fang)攬勝(sheng),盡興消遣。
南朔山(shan)(shan)位于(yu)縣城(cheng)魯沙爾(er)鎮(zhen)西面15公里處(chu),自然景(jing)色秀麗迷人,山(shan)(shan)下沿公路邊流淌著清澈(che)見底(di)的(de)(de)湟水支流石惠溝(gou)水,山(shan)(shan)峰奇異,高聳(song)入云(yun),五彩繽(bin)紛的(de)(de)灌木(mu)花(hua)卉清香(xiang)四溢。一(yi)條陡峭(qiao)的(de)(de)羊腸小(xiao)道(dao)(dao)直達山(shan)(shan)巔(dian)。半山(shan)(shan)腰,被(bei)稱作“滴水崖”的(de)(de)山(shan)(shan)泉瀉(xie)玉噴珠,清冽甘甜,穿(chuan)過山(shan)(shan)泉飛瀑(pu),即到達道(dao)(dao)教廟觀所(suo)(suo)在地(di)。廟觀依(yi)山(shan)(shan)勢修(xiu)建,原(yuan)(yuan)有(you)大(da)小(xiao)洞(dong)府9處(chu),現有(you)5處(chu),分散(san)在山(shan)(shan)坳處(chu),規(gui)模有(you)大(da)有(you)小(xiao),中間一(yi)排平房為道(dao)(dao)士、道(dao)(dao)姑食宿和接待(dai)朝山(shan)(shan)者之(zhi)所(suo)(suo)。洞(dong)府、客房、宿舍均隱(yin)藏在樹木(mu)花(hua)草叢中,清幽(you)寧謐(mi),香(xiang)煙繚繞,給人以飄飄欲仙(xian)之(zhi)感(gan)。天然形(xing)成(cheng)的(de)(de)綠陽(yang)洞(dong),傳(chuan)說為張道(dao)(dao)士修(xiu)煉成(cheng)仙(xian)之(zhi)所(suo)(suo),洞(dong)中有(you)小(xiao)洞(dong)名黑虎洞(dong),小(xiao)洞(dong)口原(yuan)(yuan)繪有(you)黑虎飼子圖,洞(dong)前(qian)原(yuan)(yuan)有(you)一(yi)個600斤重(zhong)的(de)(de)古(gu)銅(tong)鼎,洞(dong)頂(ding)有(you)古(gu)柏一(yi)株,形(xing)似盤(pan)龍(long),皂角樹兩株,盛夏開(kai)花(hua),周(zhou)圍的(de)(de)山(shan)(shan)杜(du)鵲、映山(shan)(shan)紅等爭奇斗艷,花(hua)香(xiang)宜(yi)人。