Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t4.3

v1.c7.s3.t4.3

According to legend, Kim Gyo-gak (696-794 CE), an eminent monk from ancient Silla came to China to learn Buddha Dharma during Kaiyuan period of Tang (713-741 CE) and lived in Mount Jiuhua to practice Buddhism. Some local rich men built temple for him. In the Zhide second year of Tang Dynasty (757 CE), the temple was completed. From then on, Kim Gyo-gak began to accept disciples to promote Buddhism and gradually became more and more famous. He even attracted many monks from Silla to learn Buddhism from him. He lived at Mount Jiuhua for more than 10 years and passed away in the Zhenguan 10th year of the Tang Dynasty (794 CE) at the age of 99. His body still seemed alive even after three years. People, in accordance with so many magic events that took place before and after his death, believed he was the reincarnation of Ksitigarbha and with reverence called him golden Ksitigarbha. Therefore, Mount Jiuhua became the ashram of Ksitigarbha. Later, with some major changes in the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties, Mount Jiuhua Buddhism was greatly developed until the early Ming Dynasty and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, there were around 300 temples accommodating more than 4,000 monks in the mountain. Since 1978, a grand Ksitigarbha *Dharma* assembly would be held by the Mount Jiuhua Buddhist Association each year to pray for world peace. In 2013, the consecration ceremony for the 99 m high outdoor bronze statue of Ksitigarbha was grandly launched at the Dayuan Cultural Park of Mount Jiuhua. The statue was made of more than 3,000 bronze plates which consumed over 1,100 tonnes of bronze with three elevators inside it to carry visitors to the top.