Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t1.4

v1.c7.s3.t1.4

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).