Wutai Shan
Encyclopedia
Mount Wutai also known as Wutai Mountain or Qingliang Shan, is located in Shanxi
, China
. The mountain is home to many of China's most important monasteries and temples. Mount Wutai is home to 53 sacred monasteries, and they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
It takes its name from its unusual topography
, consisting of five rounded peaks (North, South, East, West, Central), of which the North peak, called Beitai Ding or Yedou Feng, is the highest, and indeed the highest point in northern China.
. Each of the four mountains are viewed as the abode or place of practice (dàocháng; 道場) of one of the four great bodhisattva
s. Wǔtái is the home of the Bodhisattva
of wisdom, Manjusri
or Wénshū (文殊) in Chinese.
Wǔtái was the first of the four mountains to be identified and is often referred to as "first among the four great mountains." It was identified on the basis of a passage in the Avatamsaka Sutra
(Ch: Húayán jīng; 華嚴經), which describes the abodes of many bodhisattvas. In this chapter, Manjusri is said to reside on a "clear cold mountain" in the northeast. This served as charter for the mountain's identity and its alternate name "Clear Cool Mountain" (Ch: Qīngliáng Shān; 清涼山).
The bodhisattva is believed to frequently appear on the mountain, taking the form of ordinary pilgrims, monks, or most often unusual five-colored clouds.
Mount Wǔtái has an enduring relationship with Tibetan Buddhism
.
Mount Wǔtái is home to some of the oldest existent wooden buildings in China
that have survived since the era of the Tang Dynasty
(618–907). This includes the main hall of Nanchan Temple
and the East Hall of Foguang Temple
, built in 782 and 857, respectively. They were discovered in 1937 and 1938 by a team of architectural historians including the prominent early 20th century historian Liang Sicheng
. The architectural designs of these buildings have since been studied by leading sinologists
and experts in traditional Chinese architecture, such as Nancy Steinhardt. Steinhardt classified these buildings according to the hall types featured in the Yingzao Fashi
Chinese building manual written in the 12th century.
In 2008, there were complaints from local residents that in preparation for Mount Wutai's bid to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they were forced from their homes and relocated away from their livelihoods.
: 南山寺) is a large temple in Mount Wǔtái, first built in the Yuan Dynasty
. The whole temple comprises seven terraces, divided into three parts. The lower three terraces are named Jile Temple (极乐寺); the middle terrace is called Shande Hall (善德堂); the upper three terraces are named Youguo Temple (佑国寺). Other major temples include Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple and Pusading Temple.
Other important temples inside Mount Wutai include: Shouning Temple, Bishan Temple, Puhua Temple, Dailuo Ding, Qixian Temple, Shifang Tang, Shuxiang Temple, Guangzong Temple, Yuanzhao Temple, Guanyin Dong, Longquan Temple, Luomuhou Temple, Jinge Temple
, Zhenhai Temple, Wanfo Ge, Guanhai Temple, Zhulin Temple, Jifu Temple, Gufo Temple
, etc.
Outer Mount Wutai temples include: Yanqing Temple
, Nanchan Temple
, Mimi Temple
, Foguang Temple
, Yanshan Temple
, Zunsheng Temple
, Guangji Temple
, etc.
is currently under construction in nearby Dingxiang County
, and is expected to open in 2012.
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. The mountain is home to many of China's most important monasteries and temples. Mount Wutai is home to 53 sacred monasteries, and they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
It takes its name from its unusual topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
, consisting of five rounded peaks (North, South, East, West, Central), of which the North peak, called Beitai Ding or Yedou Feng, is the highest, and indeed the highest point in northern China.
Introduction
Mount Wǔtái is one of the Four Sacred Mountains in Chinese BuddhismBuddhism in China
Chinese Buddhism refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China since ancient times. Buddhism has played an enormous role in shaping the mindset of the Chinese people, affecting their aesthetics, politics, literature, philosophy and medicine.At the peak of the...
. Each of the four mountains are viewed as the abode or place of practice (dàocháng; 道場) of one of the four great bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
s. Wǔtái is the home of the Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
of wisdom, Manjusri
Manjusri
Mañjuśrī is a bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism. In Esoteric Buddhism he is also taken as a meditational deity. The Sanskrit name Mañjuśrī can be translated as "Gentle Glory"...
or Wénshū (文殊) in Chinese.
Wǔtái was the first of the four mountains to be identified and is often referred to as "first among the four great mountains." It was identified on the basis of a passage in the Avatamsaka Sutra
Avatamsaka Sutra
The is one of the most influential Mahayana sutras of East Asian Buddhism. The title is rendered in English as Flower Garland Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, or Flower Ornament Scripture....
(Ch: Húayán jīng; 華嚴經), which describes the abodes of many bodhisattvas. In this chapter, Manjusri is said to reside on a "clear cold mountain" in the northeast. This served as charter for the mountain's identity and its alternate name "Clear Cool Mountain" (Ch: Qīngliáng Shān; 清涼山).
The bodhisattva is believed to frequently appear on the mountain, taking the form of ordinary pilgrims, monks, or most often unusual five-colored clouds.
Mount Wǔtái has an enduring relationship with Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
.
Mount Wǔtái is home to some of the oldest existent wooden buildings in China
Ancient Chinese wooden architecture
Ancient Chinese wooden architecture is among the least studied of any of the world's great architectural traditions from the western point of view. Although Chinese architectural history reaches far back in time, descriptions of Chinese architecture are often confined to the well known Forbidden...
that have survived since the era of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
(618–907). This includes the main hall of Nanchan Temple
Nanchan Temple
Nanchan Temple is a Buddhist temple located near the town of Doucun on Wutaishan, Shanxi Province, China. Nanchan Temple was built in 782 CE during China's Tang Dynasty, and its Great Buddha Hall is currently China's oldest preserved timber building that is still extant, as wooden buildings are...
and the East Hall of Foguang Temple
Foguang Temple
Foguang Temple is a Buddhist temple located five kilometres from Doucun, Wutai County, Shanxi Province of China. The major hall of the temple is the Great East Hall, built in 857 AD, during the Tang Dynasty . According to architectural records, it is the third earliest preserved timber structure...
, built in 782 and 857, respectively. They were discovered in 1937 and 1938 by a team of architectural historians including the prominent early 20th century historian Liang Sicheng
Liang Sicheng
Liang Sicheng was the son of Liang Qichao, a well-known Chinese thinker in the late Qing Dynasty. Liang Sicheng returned to China from the United States after studying at the University of Pennsylvania...
. The architectural designs of these buildings have since been studied by leading sinologists
Sinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
and experts in traditional Chinese architecture, such as Nancy Steinhardt. Steinhardt classified these buildings according to the hall types featured in the Yingzao Fashi
Yingzao Fashi
The Yingzao Fashi is a technical treatise on architecture and craftsmanship written by the Chinese author Li Jie , the Directorate of Buildings and Construction during the mid Song Dynasty of China. A promising architect, he revised many older treatises on architecture from 1097 to 1100...
Chinese building manual written in the 12th century.
In 2008, there were complaints from local residents that in preparation for Mount Wutai's bid to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they were forced from their homes and relocated away from their livelihoods.
Major Temples
Nanshan Temple (ChineseChinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 南山寺) is a large temple in Mount Wǔtái, first built in the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
. The whole temple comprises seven terraces, divided into three parts. The lower three terraces are named Jile Temple (极乐寺); the middle terrace is called Shande Hall (善德堂); the upper three terraces are named Youguo Temple (佑国寺). Other major temples include Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple and Pusading Temple.
Other important temples inside Mount Wutai include: Shouning Temple, Bishan Temple, Puhua Temple, Dailuo Ding, Qixian Temple, Shifang Tang, Shuxiang Temple, Guangzong Temple, Yuanzhao Temple, Guanyin Dong, Longquan Temple, Luomuhou Temple, Jinge Temple
Jinge Temple
Jinge Temple , or "Golden Pavilion Temple", is a Buddhist temple in Shanxi province, China.The temple is located on Mount Wutai, north of the South Peak and south of the Central Peak, about 15 kilometres from Taihuai town...
, Zhenhai Temple, Wanfo Ge, Guanhai Temple, Zhulin Temple, Jifu Temple, Gufo Temple
Gufo Temple
Gufo Temple is located on the bank of Qingshui River, Jingangku, Shanxi province, China and is the first temple to see if entering the Mount Wutai area from the south route. According to Mount Wutai's history, there are only records of the renovation of this temple, but nothing concerning its...
, etc.
Outer Mount Wutai temples include: Yanqing Temple
Yanqing Temple
Yanqing Temple is a Buddhist temple located to the west of Wutaishan City, Shanxi, China. -History:The Yanqing temple was founded during the Jin Dynasty, and its Great Hall also dates from that period. The Great Hall contains three bays, six rafters, and is thirteen square meters...
, Nanchan Temple
Nanchan Temple
Nanchan Temple is a Buddhist temple located near the town of Doucun on Wutaishan, Shanxi Province, China. Nanchan Temple was built in 782 CE during China's Tang Dynasty, and its Great Buddha Hall is currently China's oldest preserved timber building that is still extant, as wooden buildings are...
, Mimi Temple
Mimi Temple
Mimi Temple is located on Mimi Hill , Weiping Mountain, 38 kilometers southwest of Taihuai County in Mount Wutai, Shanxi, China. It is named after the hill. Another name for the hill is Mimo . So an alternative name for the temple is Mimo Temple .It was founded in Tang Dynasty....
, Foguang Temple
Foguang Temple
Foguang Temple is a Buddhist temple located five kilometres from Doucun, Wutai County, Shanxi Province of China. The major hall of the temple is the Great East Hall, built in 857 AD, during the Tang Dynasty . According to architectural records, it is the third earliest preserved timber structure...
, Yanshan Temple
Yanshan Temple
Yanshan Temple is a preserved location of national historical and cultural relics. It used to be named Lingyan Temple . It is located in Tianyan Village of north side of Mount Wutai, Yukou, south of Fanshi County , Shanxi Province of China....
, Zunsheng Temple
Zunsheng Temple
Zunsheng Temple is located in Huyangling, 20 km northeast of the seat of Wutai County.It was founded in Tang Dynasty and was initially called "Shan Zhu Ge Yuan" . It was rebuilt in Tiansheng 4th year, Northern Song Dynasty, and named "Zhen Rong Chan Yuan" . After renovation in Wanli 19th year of...
, Guangji Temple
Guangji Temple
The Guangji Temple of Beijing, located at inner Fuchengmen Street, in the Xicheng District, is a renowned Buddhist temple. It is also the headquarters of the Buddhist Association of China....
, etc.
Transportation
The Wutaishan AirportWutaishan Airport
Wutaishan Airport , formerly called Dingxiang Airport, is a military air base in Dingxiang County, Shanxi Province, China. It is being converted to a dual-use military and civilian airport to serve the city of Xinzhou and Wutaishan, a Buddhist sacred mountain and World Heritage Site. The airport...
is currently under construction in nearby Dingxiang County
Dingxiang County
Dingxiang County is a district of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Xinzhou city.-References:*...
, and is expected to open in 2012.
Further Reading
China's Holy Mountain: An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism by Christoph Baumer. I.B.Tauris, London 2011. www.ibtauris.com ISBN 9781848857001Gallery
External links
- International Network of GeoparksInternational Network of GeoparksThe Global Geoparks Network is a UNESCO programme established in 1998. Managed under the body’s Ecological and Earth Sciences Division, the GGN seeks the promotion and conservation of the planet’s geological heritage, as well as encourages the sustainable research and development by the concerned...
- List of Geoparks