概述
明永樂(le)年(nian)間,國(guo)家(jia)“北建故宮,南(nan)修(xiu)武當”,在武當山建造(zao)了規模宏大(da)的(de)皇家(jia)廟(miao)觀(guan),而玉虛(xu)宮則是整(zheng)個(ge)建筑群中(zhong)最大(da)的(de)廟(miao)宇。明朝著(zhu)名文學家(jia)王(wang)世貞為此不禁發出“玉虛(xu)仿佛秦阿房”的(de)贊(zan)嘆(tan)。
主要建筑
據文獻記(ji)載,玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)當年(nian)(nian)有七(qi)十二(er)個道院,每個院里有一口水井。從(cong)這(zhe)個數(shu)字我們可以(yi)看出玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)當年(nian)(nian)的(de)規模。 玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)是城(cheng)內套(tao)城(cheng),共有三(san)(san)城(cheng),即外樂(le)城(cheng),里樂(le)城(cheng)和紫(zi)金城(cheng)。三(san)(san)城(cheng)都各有宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)墻間隔連圍,形(xing)成等(deng)級鮮明(ming),規模宏大的(de)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)城(cheng)。而現在由宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)墻圍住的(de)這(zhe)部(bu)分,是玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)紫(zi)金城(cheng)。相傳玄武得(de)道升(sheng)天(tian)后曾被玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)大帝(di)嘉(jia)封為(wei)“玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)相師(shi)”,故玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)建成后,永樂(le)皇(huang)帝(di)欽定為(wei)“玄天(tian)玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”。明(ming)朝中葉嘉(jia)靖年(nian)(nian)間,玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)又得(de)到了(le)大規模的(de)擴建。自此,玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)占地(di)面積(ji)525萬平方(fang)米(mi),房屋(wu)達(da)2200多間。放眼望去,飛金流碧,富麗輝煌(huang),了(le)無邊(bian)際。難怪(guai)古(gu)人游玉(yu)(yu)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)后感慨道:此日閑(xian)游疑夢幻,身從(cong)碧落踏虛(xu)(xu)(xu)歸。
當年的(de)玉(yu)虛(xu)宮(gong)是(shi)(shi)管理武(wu)當山的(de)大(da)本營,住在這(zhe)里的(de)由皇帝欽選的(de)武(wu)當提點都官(guan)至正六品。這(zhe)口在宮(gong)墻外面的(de)有(you)著井亭石柱(zhu)的(de)水井被稱為龍井。這(zhe)口井的(de)水不能隨便用,只有(you)為皇室(shi)舉(ju)行齋(zhai)醮大(da)典時(shi)才允許由專人在這(zhe)里取(qu)水。可見當時(shi)的(de)規制是(shi)(shi)多么的(de)嚴格和(he)分明(ming)。
明天啟七年,即1627年,玉虛(xu)宮(gong)發(fa)生了毀滅(mie)性火災(zai),其(qi)軸(zhou)線主要建筑(zhu)均遭(zao)火劫。百(bai)年后,即清 乾隆十年,玉虛(xu)宮(gong)再(zai)次遭(zao)到大火,其(qi)附屬(shu)建筑(zhu)一并化為(wei)灰燼。1935年夏,山洪暴發(fa),數十萬(wan)方沙泥直泄玉虛(xu)宮(gong),大片房屋被(bei)吞沒,號稱南方“故宮(gong)”的玉虛(xu)宮(gong)自此成(cheng)一片殘垣斷壁。