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Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t2: Mount Putuo

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t2

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English

Mount Putuo

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Mount Putuo is among the four Buddhist holy mountains in China, located in the sea, east of Zhejiang province, which is one of the islands of the Zhoushan Islands measuring 12.7 sq km. It is governed by the Putuo County and widely known as the generic terms of Buddhism architectural complex in the island built to worship and enshrine the Goddess of Mercy.

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Historical Background

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Mount Putuo has a close link with the belief in Avalokitesvara (Guanyin). In a Buddhism scripture, *The Sutra on the Completion of Brightness*, translated by Zhiyao, a foreign eminent monk in the Later Han Dynasty, the name of Guanyin was mentioned. The book was translated in the Zhongping second year of Emperor Ling of Han (185 CE). After that, in *Infinite Life Sutra* translated by Kang Sengkai in 252 CE, Guanyin was the retinue of Amitabha. In 406 CE, Kumarajiva successfully translated *Saddharmapundarika Sutra* in which, not merely did Guanyin have magic power but was able to change into 33 different shapes and save ordinary people out of disasters and suffering with different identities. From then on, the influence of Guanyin was drastically enhanced. Around 420 CE, the earliest clay sculptures of Guanyin were built in the 169 caves in the Bingling Temple of Gangsu province. In the meantime, people along the regions south of the Yangtze River also began to establish its statues which showed the Chinese people had begun to worship Guanyin. Among the mythical stories created during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there were some stories about Guanyin helping people in distress. In 663 CE, Master Heun Sang finished the translation of *Mahā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra* which further propelled the Chinese people’s belief in Guanyin. Since the mid-6th century CE, under the influence of Esoteric Buddhism, the images and statues of Guanyin with multiple arms and heads showed up. During this period, Yaogupta translated the *11th-side Avalokitesvara Mantra Sutra* and *Avalokiteshvara Amoghapasha Mantra*. Later, from the Tang Dynasty to Song Dynasty, a large number of similar Buddhism classics were translated by Master Xuanzang, Vajrabodhi, Amoghavajra, Bodhiruci, Fatian, Tianximie and Dharmabhadra thus ushering the Chinese Esoteric Buddhism into its prime and endowing the image of Guanyin with so many changes.

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*Fayu Temple, Mount Putuo, Zhejiang, China*

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Development

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According to records, during the Dazhong period of the Tang Dynasty (847-860 CE), an Indian monk came to an overseas island around Zhejiang province, who burnt his 10 figures to express his strong desire to see Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) and Guanyin eventually showed up. And therefore, this island was closely connected with Guanyin. In 858 CE, Huie, a Japanese monk got a Guanyin statue from Mount Wutai. On its way home, he stopped on the island to rest. However, he encountered a huge storm so he had to live on this island and later built the Not-willing-leave Guanyin Temple. From then on, the belief of Guanyin began to become very popular on the island. In the Jiading seventh year of the Southern Song Dynasty (1214), Mount Putuo was appointed as the *ashram* of Guanyin to mainly pay homage to Avalokitesvara (Guanyin). According to the records of Buddhist scriptures, the island was also widely thought of as similar as Potalaka (Putuo in short), the residence of Avalokitesvara in south India. Then Potalaka was divided into two parts: Mount Pota and Mount Laka. Mount Laka is also on this island.

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Status quo

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Mount Putuo owned more than 200 temples, Buddhist nunneries and thatched tents accommodating more than 4,000 monks during the era of Republic of China. Later due to major historical changes, there are now just more than 20 temples and Buddhist nunneries with more than 20 sight spots. Puji Temple, Fayu Temple and Huiji Temple are the three greatest temples on Mount Putuo. Puji Temple is located south of Baihuangding, Mount Putuo. Originally built in the Yuanfeng third year of the Northern Song Dynasty (1080) and expanded in the Wanli 33rd year of the Ming Dynasty (1605), Puji Temple was destroyed by the armed forces of Netherlands on the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (1665) and was rebuilt on the 38th year of the reign of Kangxi (1699). At present, there are more than 200 palace halls and rooms covering an area of 11,400 sq m. The main palace hall was rebuilt on the ninth year of the reign of emperor Yongzheng (1731) and could accommodate more than 1,000 people for religious services. The sitting statue of Avaloktesvara and statue of Thousand-Hand Guan-yin are both modern works. Fayu Temple is located east of Baihuangding at the foot of the Guangxi Peak. It was built in the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Wanli, Ming Dynasty (1580) and originally named as Haichao Nunnery and later renamed Huguo Zhenhai Temple. The temple was once damaged by fire but in the 28th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi, Qing Dynasty (1689), it was rebuilt and renamed Fayu Temple on the 38th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi, with an area of about 8,800 sq m. In the Hall of Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva, a huge statue of Avalokitesvara was consecrated with the statues of 18 Arhats on both sides. Huiji Temple is located at the top of Mount Putuo. At first, there was just a stone pavillion with a Buddhist statue for people to worship on its original location but later it was built into Huiji Nunnery. In the 58th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Qing Dynasty (1793), the Nunnery was rebuilt and expanded into Huiji Temple. As they rolled into the 33rd year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Qing Dynasty (1907), another large-scaled expansion for the temple was completed.

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Memorial Archway at Mount Putuo, Zhejiang, China

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