Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t1.14

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.