Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t1: Mount Wutai

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t1

Language: English

Mount Wutai

v1.c7.s3.t1.1

Mount Wutai, also known as the Mount Qingliang, is one of the four Buddhist holy mountains, which is located on Northeastern Wutai County, Xinzhou, Shanxi province.

v1.c7.s3.t1.2

Buddhist Temple at Wutai Mountain, Shanxi, China

Mount Wutai can be explained in the broad and narrow sense. From the perspective of the narrow sense, Mount Wutai just means five plateaus ie east plateau, west plateau, south plateau, north plateau and middle plateau, each of which is flat on the top thus being literally named as Mount Wutai (the Five Plateau Mountain in Chinese). In terms of broad sense, Mount Wutai includes the five plateaus as well as the areas around them and the central zone is the Taihuai town which is encircled by five plateaus. The east plateau, also referred to as Wanghai Peak (sea viewing in Chinese) measuring 2,795 m above sea level, is a good place to view the sea in Autumn when the weather is fine. This is also why people give it this name. The south plateau is 2,458 m above sea level and during summer, there are lots of wild flowers and fine grass everywhere at the top just like its another name the Jinxiu Peak (prosperity and luxury in Chinese); the west plateau, which is 2,773 m above sea level, is called as Guayue Peak (which means moon hanging above the mountain in Chinese) because when the moon comes out in the west, it’s just like a bright mirror hanging above the top of the peak; the north plateau, 3,061 m above sea level, is also named as Yedou Peak (since it rises directly into the sky as if it were able to touch the stars); the middle plateau which measures 2,894 m above sea level features huge rocks and green grass and tresses and therefore, is called as Cuiyan Peak (the prosperity of green plants in Chinese).

v1.c7.s3.t1.5

History

v1.c7.s3.t1.6

According to legend, Indian eminent monks Kāśyapamātanga and Dharmaratna who are among the first group of Indian monks coming to China, once arrived at the Mount Wutai and believed it as the residence of Manjusri and therefore, suggested Emperor Ming of Han to build a temple here. There are three kinds of views about the connection between Manjusri and Wutai Mountain. The first one is that Manjusri lived in Himalayas but later, the snow-capped mountain was changed into the Mount Qingliang just like what the Avatamsaka Sutra · Bodhisattva Dwellings says: In the north-east, there is a *Bodhisattva* dwelling named as the Mount Qingliang. In the past, *Bodhisattvas* always chose this place to live and Manjusri was just one of them who had 10,000 retinues. This also has nothing to do with Mount Wutai. Therefore, Mount Wutai is not famous during the eastern and western Jin Dynasty and Northern and Southern dynasties. In the 7th century, due to the decay of Buddhism in India and prosperity in China and also due to China's geological position which is in the north east of India and Mount Wutai’s climatic features of being icy cold in winter and snowing in summer, the Mount Wutai was called as Mount Qingliang so that Dharani Sutra says: Buddha told Vajra Secret –Traces Spirits that after he passed away, there was a country named Dazhendan in the northeastern Jambu-dvipa. A mountain named Wuding was just located there which was also the dwelling of Manjusri and a place for him to disseminate the *dharma*”.

v1.c7.s3.t1.7

During Northern Wei and Northern Qi Dynasty, Mount Wutai was gaining attention from the emperor. In Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, the Emperor Wen of Sui (581-604) once ordered to establish a temple in each plateau of the Mount Wutai to enshrine and worship Manjusri but none of them is reserve up to now. Present-day Wanghai Temple in the east plateau, Falei Temple in the west plateau, Puji Temple in the south plateau, Lingying Temple in the north plateau and Yanjiao Temple in the middle plateau were all established after the Tang Dynasty and it was just in this Dynasty that Mount Wutai was ushered into its prime, especially after Buddhist tantra was formed in China and Manjusri, as the God of tantra, was specially worshipped and respected. Not merely did the Chinese Buddhism circle think of the Mount Wutai as the *ashram* of Manjusri, but foreign Buddhists also had such kind of thoughts and paid a visit to this place. Through incessant exploration and expansion of later generations, especially after Tibetan Buddhism made this place a Buddhist holy land, Mount Wutai became even more famous with a large number of grand Buddhist events launched here. Gradually, this mountain, along with the areas around it, developed into the greatest centre of Buddhist culture in Northern China. Today, it has a total of 95 temples in various sizes, recognised as the biggest Buddhism temple complex in China and listed into the Directory of World Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 2009.

v1.c7.s3.t1.8

Xiantong Temple at Wutai Mountain, Shanxi, China

v1.c7.s3.t1.9

Main hall of the Nan Chan Temple, Wutai Mountain, Shanxi, China

v1.c7.s3.t1.10

Mount Wutai is not only a place collecting the essence of Buddhism culture but a historical witness of culture exchange between China and India. There are a large number of names of places which have a close link with the Buddhist holy lands of India and Buddhism celebrities such as Griddhraj Parvat, Narayana, Guanyinping, Samantabhadra Pagoda, Rahu Temple, Luohantai, Jingangku, Dishigong etc. After Tang Dynasty, Mount Wutai cultivated a large group of eminent monks thus making a significant contribution to the prosperity of Buddhism culture in China. In addition, some Indian monks also came to this place to worship Manjusri, disseminate the *dharma* and translate Buddhism scriptures such as Buddhapala from Kawmira (present-day Kashmir) on northern India who, after hearing of Manjusri living in Mount Wutai, crossed the desert, travelled thousands of miles and eventually arrived at Mount Wutai in 676 CE, it is said that he came to Mount Wutai with a tin staff (Khakkhara) in his hand, worshipping and weeping piously. Later, he came to Changan (present-day Xi’an) to translate Buddhism scriptures and it is said that he lived in seclusion at Jingangku of Mount Wutai in his later years. Amoghavajra, an Esoteric Buddhism monk in Tang Dynasty who came from north India, was praised highly by the emperor since he admired Manjusri very much and then sent to Mount Wutai in the summer of 770 CE to preside over a *dharma* event and perform meritorious works for the emperor for three months. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Sudhaśrī, a monk of the Nalanda Monastery, highly admired the *Avatamsaka Sutra* and Mount Qingliang and he, at the age of 85, led seven of his disciples to come to China by sea. During a journey full of hardships and dangers, only one of his disciples survived and eventually accompanied him to Mount Qingliang. Three of his disciples returned and the rest all died. Sudhaśrī passed away in the Lingjiu Peak, east plateau and his *sarira* was taken back to India by his disciples. Master Sahajasri, another Indian monk who arrived at the Mount Wutai in 1369 to pay respect to this world renowned Buddhism holy land. Later, he went to Nanjing to do missionary work and returned to Mount Wutai again before death. Sha-kya ye-shes, an Indian monk, descendant of Sakyamuni, paid a pilgrimage visit to Manjusri at Mount Wutai in 1414. He lived in Xiantong Temple and returned to his own country in 1431. There were also thousands of unknown pilgrims who once visited the Mountain.

v1.c7.s3.t1.11

Major Temples

v1.c7.s3.t1.12

Currently, there are six State Protected Historic Sites and 15 Shanxi Province Protected Historical Sites at Mount Wutai.

v1.c7.s3.t1.13

Xiantong Temple

v1.c7.s3.t1.14

According to legend, during Yongping Period of the Later Han Dynasty (58-75 CE), Dafulingjiu Temple, one of the earliest temples in China was built at Mount Wutai whose name can be originated from the Griddhraj Parvat of India since the west of the mountain was just like the Griddhraj Parvat. It is located in north of Taihuai town ie the original foundation of present-day Xiantong Temple. In the Yuanhong period of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei (471-499 CE), the Dafulingjiu Temple was expanded and renamed as the Garden Temple. Later, Emperor Taizong of Tang (627-649 CE) rebuilt the Xiantong Temple. During the period of Empress Wu Zetian (684-704), the Garden Temple was expanded and as a result of the newly translated Avatamsaka Sutra in which Mount Wutai was mentioned, the temple was renamed as Avatamsaka Temple. From then on all the way to the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1398 CE), a large-scaled overhaul was conducted and the temple was renamed as Xiantong Temple. As the time rolled into the Qing Dynasty, the temple was repaired several times and gradually formed into the size we see today. It totals more than 400 rooms and occupies an area of more than 80,000 sq m thus well-known as the biggest temple at Mount Wutai.

v1.c7.s3.t1.15

Foguang Temple

v1.c7.s3.t1.16

Foguang Temple is located at Mount Foguang, 25 km away from the north east of Wutai County. It was originally built in the Yuanhong period of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei and then became very famous. In the temple, a hexagonal pagoda named as Zushi Pagoda (Master Founding Pagoda) is a relic of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Maitreya Pavilion, rebuilt in the Tang Dynasty, seems huge, majestic and impressive. It was damaged in a fire during the Huichang fifth year (845 CE), and rebuilt until the Dazhong 11th year (875 CE). Now, the temple still treasures some precious cultural relics and artworks such as frescos, statues and stone Dhanari column of Tang. What’s more, the Manjusri Hall built during the Jin Dynasty is maintained and treasures six statues including Manjusri’s statue which can be dated back to the Jin Dynasty.

v1.c7.s3.t1.17

Rahu Temple

v1.c7.s3.t1.18

Rahu Temple is located on the east of the Xiantong Temple in Taihuai town which is named after Rahula, son of Sakyamuni. Manjusri is enshrined here. It was originally built during the Tang Dynasty and then became the monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. During the first stage of the Qing Dynasty, several emperors once paid a pilgrimage visit to the temple and granted funds to repair and expand the temple so its scale was increasing gradually. Now there are more than 500 halls and monk room. It was said that Rahula looked up to Manjusri so he celebrated the birthday of Manjusri on June 14 in lunar calendar every year. Up to now, lamas in the temple also follow this custom. They dance in strange clothes and masks on this day.

v1.c7.s3.t1.19

Jinge Temple

v1.c7.s3.t1.20

Jinge Temple is situated on the Northwest of the south plateau, 15 km far away from Taihuai town. It was built in the Dali fifth year of the Emperor Daizong of Tang (770 CE). At that time, Amoghavajra, an eminent monk from India, was ordered by the emperor to make merit and build the temple at Mount Wutai. It was named as Jinge Temple (Golden Pavillion in Chinese) because its tiles were made out of copper and painted with gold. Avalokitesvara, the Goddess of Mercy, is enshrined as the main Buddha. In the temple, there are more than 2,000 statues of a variety of Buddhism figures.

v1.c7.s3.t1.21

Shuxiang Temple

v1.c7.s3.t1.22

Shuxiang Temple is built to pay respect to Manjusri. There is a huge Manjusri statue in it which is why the temple was named Shuxiang Temple. It was located in the southwest of Yanglin Street, Taihuai town. It was built during the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Yanyou period of Yuan Dynasty (1314-1320). Later, it was completely damaged in the fire. In Chenghua 23rd year of Ming Dynasty (1487), the temple was built again and in the Hongzhi ninth year (1496), a gigantic statue of Manjusri riding on a lion, which is nine metre high, was erected in the temple.

v1.c7.s3.t1.23

Nanzen-ji Temple

v1.c7.s3.t1.24

Nanzen-ji Temple is situated on the west of Lijia town, southwest of Wutai County. The time of its original establishment is unclear. The temple is rebuilt on the Jianzhong, third year of Emperor Dezong of Tang (782 CE) and the Great Buddha’s Hall (Mahavira Hall) built at that time has successfully survived from numerous natural and manmade disasters and has been preserved up to now as the only one wood structure architecture established during the Tang Dynasty, we can see today. The statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, along with the colourful statues of its disciples, Bodhisattvas and heavenly king are all the relics of the Tang Dynasty, a perfect embodiment of sculpture style of that time.

v1.c7.s3.t1.25

*(Xue Keqiao)*

Linked texts (1)

大方廣佛華嚴經 — Classical Chinese