道觀(guan)創建(jian)于唐朝天寶年(nian)間(742-756年(nian)),是時武(wu)夷山(shan)仙靈之說吸(xi)引大(da)(da)批(pi)高士(shi)來(lai)此隱(yin)居修(xiu)(xiu)煉(lian)。會稽女(nv)冠孔氏(shi)、莊(zhuang)氏(shi)、葉氏(shi)(后人稱(cheng)三(san)皇元君)結(jie)伴(ban)來(lai)武(wu)夷修(xiu)(xiu)煉(lian),后皆結(jie)茅于桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)洞(dong),并開發(fa)成一(yi)方避(bi)(bi)世(shi)隱(yin)居的樂土,桃(tao)樹(shu)成林(lin)。宋(song)儒(ru)陳(chen)石堂、高士(shi)吳(wu)正理也曾居此煉(lian)養著述,道教南宗五(wu)祖白(bai)玉(yu)蟾真(zhen)(zhen)人也隱(yin)居桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)煉(lian)丹。元朝時擴建(jian)劉文(wen)簡祠(ci)、三(san)元庵,主奉(feng)三(san)官大(da)(da)帝、劉文(wen)簡公等神像。明(ming)朝,桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)道觀(guan)已遠近聞名,是武(wu)夷山(shan)主要道觀(guan)之一(yi)。當時修(xiu)(xiu)建(jian)了(le)三(san)清殿(dian)、三(san)皇元君殿(dian)、三(san)官殿(dian)、真(zhen)(zhen)武(wu)殿(dian)、娘娘殿(dian)、功德祠(ci)等殿(dian)堂,殿(dian)堂占(zhan)地面積有二千多(duo)(duo)平方米,修(xiu)(xiu)真(zhen)(zhen)高道多(duo)(duo)選(xuan)此地居之;明(ming)吳(wu)拭《小桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)洞(dong)訪道人》詩云∶「……,窮源(yuan)(yuan)有古村,二三(san)避(bi)(bi)世(shi)客(ke);避(bi)(bi)世(shi)非避(bi)(bi)秦,棲心(xin)煉(lian)精(jing)魄(po);春田自(zi)耕(geng)割(ge),衣食無需索;風動棕花落,雨過藥苗摘。」道觀(guan)經過清朝衰(shuai)微破落,已有多(duo)(duo)處殿(dian)堂倒塌(ta)。民國二十五(wu)年(nian)(1936年(nian)),著名華僑胡文(wen)虎(hu)先生偕(xie)同海(hai)軍司令薩鎮冰(bing)先生來(lai)此朝山(shan)游玩,見道觀(guan)破爛不堪(kan),胡先生當場捐(juan)贈五(wu)百大(da)(da)洋作為重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)資(zi)金,并一(yi)同題寫(xie)「小桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)」匾額(e)掛于山(shan)門上。道觀(guan)經過「文(wen)革」破壞(huai),只剩下中(zhong)間一(yi)座殿(dian)堂空殼。
1990年,桃(tao)源道觀(guan)(guan)獲批準為對(dui)(dui)外開放宮(gong)觀(guan)(guan)。福建(jian)省宗教局對(dui)(dui)道教重(zhong)振十分重(zhong)視,并介紹(shao)三名從中(zhong)國道教學院畢業的(de)福建(jian)省籍道士到(dao)武(wu)夷山桃(tao)源道觀(guan)(guan)開展教務工作,把(ba)桃(tao)源道觀(guan)(guan)列為該(gai)省重(zhong)點宮(gong)觀(guan)(guan)之(zhi)一。1991年,住觀(guan)(guan)道士對(dui)(dui)大殿內部(bu)進(jin)行(xing)整修,并用閩北(bei)珍貴(gui)木(mu)杉---紅(hong)豆杉雕(diao)刻了三清道祖圣像(xiang),像(xiang)高二米(mi)一五,雕(diao)刻精細;裝配紅(hong)豆杉供桌、銅香(xiang)爐、燭臺和宗教用品,開展正常宗教活動。
1993年,道觀根據(ju)省(sheng)人民政(zheng)府頒布(bu)的《福(fu)建省(sheng)宗教活動場所登記暫行規定》,經核準給予(yu)登記發證,道教文化活動全面開(kai)展。1995年7月,桃源道觀和武夷山景(jing)區(qu)籌集資金刻制了世界目前最大(da)(da)老君(jun)巖雕(diao),并(bing)于1996年3月4日舉行盛(sheng)大(da)(da)開(kai)光大(da)(da)典,中國道協、省(sheng)、地、市領導主(zhu)持了開(kai)光儀式,海內外信(xin)眾三千多(duo)人參(can)加了開(kai)光盛(sheng)典。老君(jun)圣像高十(shi)六(liu)米,寬(kuan)十(shi)一米,厚十(shi)米;造(zao)像逼真莊嚴,神(shen)態(tai)和藹可(ke)親(qin),線條暢然,灑(sa)脫自在,超然物外。
桃源(yuan)洞道(dao)(dao)觀(guan)(guan)重修(xiu)(xiu)面積占地約為(wei)六千(qian)多(duo)平方米,主殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)有三清殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、玉皇(huang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、靈官殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、山(shan)門(中(zhong)軸(zhou)部(bu)份)組(zu)(zu)成(cheng),左右配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)有三皇(huang)元(yuan)君殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、真武殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、三官殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、藏經閣(ge)等殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)。有道(dao)(dao)教徒開(kai)展道(dao)(dao)務和修(xiu)(xiu)真之(zhi)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)房,也有培養道(dao)(dao)教人才和宣傳道(dao)(dao)教文化之(zhi)場所。1995年桃源(yuan)道(dao)(dao)觀(guan)(guan)和武夷山(shan)景區籌集資金刻(ke)制了世(shi)界目前最大老君巖雕。
俗話(hua)說:「山上白草(cao)(cao)皆為藥」,武夷(yi)山人經過長(chang)期實踐,總結了筍(sun)多(duo)利用(yong)草(cao)(cao)藥治(zhi)病的膳食方(fang)法。如:「八珍(zhen)(zhen)燉(dun)兔肉」,其八珍(zhen)(zhen)為黨參、白術、茯苓、芏草(cao)(cao)、川(chuan)芎、當歸(gui)、白芍(shao)、熟地等(deng)。又如,栗加(jia)(jia)糖清(qing)(qing)(qing)燉(dun)能(neng)清(qing)(qing)(qing)涼治(zhi)眩(xuan)暈;栗加(jia)(jia)蹄清(qing)(qing)(qing)燉(dun)能(neng)補(bu)胃健脾(pi)養(yang)精(jing)(jing)神;栗加(jia)(jia)肉清(qing)(qing)(qing)燉(dun)清(qing)(qing)(qing)涼降治(zhi)氣管炎(yan);栗帶殼蒸熟補(bu)氣強身潤膚生精(jing)(jing);野毛栗生吃能(neng)止小兒半夜盜(dao)汗,蓮子心可清(qing)(qing)(qing)心火。紅(hong)菇(gu)祛(qu)風去濕。香菇(gu)浸(jin)酒消腫風。農家家膳、進補(bu)匡節宴的菜肴(yao)還有多(duo)種:即甲魚燉(dun)當歸(gui)、豬干(gan)煮枸杞、紅(hong)菇(gu)燉(dun)番鴨、紅(hong)菇(gu)煮螃(pang)蟹(xie)、清(qing)(qing)(qing)燉(dun)童子雞(ji)(ji)、肚包(bao)雞(ji)(ji)、雞(ji)(ji)包(bao)雞(ji)(ji)、鴿包(bao)參。