Wutai Mountain

Located in Wutai County, Shanxi Province, Wutai Mountain is a famous scenic spot under state protection and is one of the country's four well-known Buddhist shrines but also the only Chinese mountain mentioned in Buddhist scriptures.

In the mountain area, spring arrives in April, and snow falls in September but it is cool and pleasant even in mid-summer. Therefore, the mountain is called a "cool platform" and has been regarded as an ideal place for escaping summer heat since ancient times.

During the reign of the Emperor Mingdi of the Eastern Han Dynasty(25 -220), there was an initial effort started to cut into the mountain and build temples. Construction lasted 1,900 years, sometimes busy and sometimes silent. There are a total of 76 temples now remaining on the mountain, ranking it first in China.

With a history of 1,200 years, the main hall of the Nanchan Temple on the mountain houses 17 painted figurines in the pearliest wooden structure preserved today. Its eaves stretch out and there is not a single column in the hall. Its outer appearance looks simple and its structure concise.

Fogang Temple is famed as the light of Asian Buddhism. The temple's existing eastern main hall covering 677 square meters was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The painted clay figurines, 12 frescos, the writings on roof beams and the style of the structure are considered by authorities of ancient Chinese architecture as "four uniqueness in one hall".

The Big White Pagoda for Buddha's Sarira, the symbol of the Wutai Mountain, is said to have been built on the site by the Emperor Mingdi of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The pagoda, in Nepalese style and shape, has a base circumference of 83.3 meters and is 75.3 meters high. Inside the pagoda is a small Indian-made iron monument where some of the remains of Skt. Sakyamuni are held.

The Xiantong Temple is the first temple built on Wutai Mountain but the original temple built in the Eastern Han Dynasty had been destroyed and the existing one was built between the Ming(1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties(1644-1911). Coveringeight hectares, the temple has 400 halls making it the biggest on Wutai Mountain. Inside, there is a pure copper hall cast during the Ming Dynasty, engraved with fine patterns and bronze Buddhist figurines. On the sides, two 13-storied bronze towers, each with a height of eight meters, are covered with cast Buddhist figurines, carved patterns and various inscriptions. The two towers and the engraved decorations were also made in the Ming Dynasty. The hall of Buddhist Scriptures in the temple holds more than 200 pieces of Buddhist works. The temple also boasts other famous ancient architectures such as the Hall of Measureless.

The Lingjiu Peak has the most luxurious temple -- Pusading Temple, where Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) stayed the night as recorded on an imperial stele posted.

Numerous temples on Wutai Mountain hold a treasure chest of relics with many different features. In Luohou Temple, one can see the wonder of "Buddha appears amid flowers". Shuxing Temple has the largest halls and statues. Jinge Temple has gilded copper tiles. Bishan Temple is famous for its Burmese-made jade Buddha's. The picture of "Bodhisattva Sending Offerings" at Nanshan Temple is done with fine skills, and the temple also has 84 frescoes engraved during the Ming Dynasty. Youguo Temple is full of engravings, and has more than 1,160 pieces of carvings. Zhenhai Temple, which had Zhang Jia Living Buddha from Tibet as its abbot, has the finest Lama pagoda. Longquan Temple is famous for its three white marble structures: screen wall, gate way and pagoda.

Go to other highlights in Shanxi>>> Hengshan Mountain