Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t3.8

v1.c7.s3.t3.8

The history of Mount E'mei as the *ashram* of Samantabhadra can be traced back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty. According to legend, Puxian Temple was already built at that time which was the predecessor of present-day Wannian Temple. The temple was renamed Baishui Temple during Tang Dynasty. People during the period of Northern Song Dynasty had already enacted a huge copper statue of Samantabhadra in Mount E'mei and this was the reason for renaming the Baishui Temple as Baishui Samantabhadra Temple and from then on, the belief in Samantabhadra dramatically enhanced.