Wutai Mountain has the longest and most prestigious
history in the four well-known Buddhist Mountains.
Located in Wutai Country of Shanxi Province, 240
kilometers from the provincial capital of Taiyuan, the mountain is actually a
cluster of five terrace-like peaks -- East Terrace, West Terrace, South Terrace,
North Terrace and Central Terrance, hence the name Wutai (Five Terraces). The
North Terrace is the highest peak -- about 3,058 meters above sea level -- and
is named as the Roof of North China. Wutai Mountain covers 2,873 square meters,
spanning more than 100 kilometers.
Wutai Mountain is a famous scenic spot under national
protection. It is famous for its Tibet-like bright blue sky and the breath
taking natural beauty -- beautiful surroundings, with trees covering ancient
temples and monasteries. The buildings look exceptionally impressive, and the
stone carvings are of superb craftsmanship. The painted sculptures are of
various shapes and types and no two sculptures are of the same kind.
In the mountain area, spring arrives in April, and snow
falls in September and even in mid-summer, it is cool and pleasant. The cool and
pleasant summer climate of Wutai Mountain has also given rise to another name:
Qingliang (Cool and Pleasant) Mountain. The mountain has been regarded as an
ideal place for escaping summer heat since ancient times.
Today, most of the temples are still in good
condition. Within their walls is a rich legacy of over 100,000 superb sculptures
and paintings, along with a great quantity of Buddhist cultural
For hundreds of years, Wutai Mountain has been China's
most sacred Buddhist ground mainly because it was where the highly revered
Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of wisdom, once lived and taught Buddhism. Numerous
temples on Wutai Mountain contain many relics and have different
With a history of 1,200 years, the main hall
of the Nanchan Temple on the mountain, which houses 17 painted figurines, is the
earliest wooden structure of its kind preserved in China today. And it's a real
treasure of China. Its eaves stretch out, and the hall has not a single column.
Its outer appearance looks simple and its structure concise, which are similar
in style to the Tang Dynasty art.
The Big White Pagoda for Buddha's Sarira,
the symbol of the Wutai Mountain, is said to have been built there before the
Emperor Mingdi of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The pagoda, in Nepalese style, has a
base circumference of 83.3 meters and is 75.3 meters high. Inside the pagoda,
there is small India-made iron stupa, where some remains of Sakyamuni are
Xiantong Temple is the oldest temple in
China and also the biggest on Wutai Mountain. Originally built in the Eastern
Han Dynasty, it has been placed under state protection. Covering eight hectares,
the temple has 400-odd halls. Inside, there are 3 pure copper halls cast in the
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), engraved with fine patterns and bronze Buddhist
figurines. On the sides, two 13-storied bronze towers also made in the Ming
Dynasty (1368-1644), each with a height of eight meters, are covered with cast
Buddhist figurines, carved patterns and various inscriptions.
For hundreds of years, Wutai Mountain has
drawn emperors from various dynasties here on pilgrimage, adding more
significance to the mountain. Furthermore, Wutai Mountain is China's only holy
mountain where both Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Lamaism are practiced. Dalai
Lamas, Panchen Lamas and Lcangskyahothogthu (a living Buddha) have visited and
preached here, some are even buried here.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a
Buddhist academy was established here, attracting believers from both at home
and abroad through the ages, such as India, Japan, Mongolia, Korea, Nepal and
Sri Lanka, etc.