Opening hours of Mount Wutai Scenic Area: 8:00-19:30
Introduction to the attractions of Mount Wutai Scenic Area:
Mount Wutai is located in the northeastern part of Shanxi Province. The northern end of the Taihang Mountains. It spans Wutai County, Fanzhi County, Dai County, Yuanping County and Dingxiang County in Xinzhou area, covering more than 100 miles on Friday. The central area, Taihuai Town, is 90 kilometers away from Wutai County, 160 kilometers away from Xinzhou City, and 240 kilometers away from Taiyuan City, the capital of Shanxi Province.
Mount Wutai is one of the first landmasses on earth to emerge from the water. Its gestation can be traced back to the Archean Era 2.6 billion years ago. During the Sinian period, it also experienced the famous Wutai uplift movement, forming the most majestic mountainous area in North China. During the Quaternary Period, glaciers covered Mount Wutai, leaving behind precious periglacial landforms. The Wutai Mountain strata are complete and rich. In particular, the Precambrian strata have typical development and have become a key area for research and comparison across the country. Most of the stratigraphic sections in Mount Wutai are named after mountains, waters, villages and towns in the area, fully demonstrating their role in geological location.
Wutai Mountain, with the lowest altitude only 624 meters above sea level and the highest altitude reaching 3061 meters, is the highest peak in North China. There are many mountains and mountains, and nature has created many unique landscapes for it. There are strange peaks and cliffs everywhere, and there are more than fifty famous ones. Among them, if the writing cliff is wet with water and wiped carefully with a handkerchief, the cliff surface will show writing similar to seal script and official script, and the writing will be hidden when the water is dry. Someone once peeled off the outer stone layer, and the result was that words could still be erased from the lower layer. There are words in each layer, and each word is different. It is reported that a couplet of the three treasures of heaven, sun, moon and stars, the three treasures of earth, water, fire and wind, and the three treasures of man, essence, energy and spirit, have been discovered.
Clear springs and green pools are inlaid all over the mountain. There are more than 20 places known as having spiritual energy in history. Among them, the Yueyu Grottoes are located on a cliff and are about a foot in diameter. Every year around Tomb-Sweeping Day, fish crowd out of the cave with the flowing water, even breaking out of their bodies and bursting with gills. They stop in May and June. The big fish weigh more than 100 pounds, and the small ones number two. Most of them are carp and crucian carp, and they taste particularly delicious. Zhang Shen of the Qing Dynasty described it as not allowing eagles and cranes to cross, but whales and carps would come. The rushing wind breaks the wall, and the water stirs up thunder.
There are more than thirty places named after the wonderful stones in the Buddha Cave. Among them, the ox heart stone looks like beef liver. Legend has it that the Bull Demon King converted to Buddhism and achieved enlightenment. His wife, Rakshasa, was in love with her, so she chased him here. The Bull Demon King committed suicide by caesarean section to reveal his true feelings. Later, it turned into this stone. After scraping the stone powder and eating it, it can cure heart diseases. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty visited Mount Wutai, and his ministers competed to ask for it. Emperor Kangxi wrote the word "years" in his imperial pen, which means that although the stone is large, time is ruthless, and if it is chiselled at will, it will inevitably destroy the scenic spot.
"Qingliangshan Zhi" describes Mount Wutai in this way: Qingliangshan is the name of Manjusri. The army occupied Yandai, covering several states and covering more than a hundred miles in the four passes. It borders Hengyue on the left, showing off thousands of peaks; overlooks Hutuo on the right, and the Changliu area; the purple barrier in the north prevents the smoke and dust of thousands of miles; and embraces the Central Plains in the south, shielding the great country. The situation of the mountain is beyond description. The five peaks are neutral and surrounded by thousands of obstacles. It is graceful and graceful, locking the long stream of thousands of roads. Overlapping green hills return to the mist, and there are hundreds of steep mountains behind. He is tall and honest, and there is no other mountain like him, so he has the appearance of a great man. In the meantime, the springs are ringing, and the valleys are rushing. The mountains are thick with mountains and dense mountains. A mysterious divine object, a dragon that stores and releases clouds. Being entangled and entrenched is nothing more than the dwelling place of the holy life. Hidden and visible in the surroundings are the houses of real people. Although the cold wind is strong, the auspicious grass is fragrant. The snow is falling in summer, and famous flowers are blooming. White clouds gather over the Chengjiang River thousands of miles away. The sun is about to rise, and I see the vast sea. This is the usual state. The beautiful scenery of Wutai Mountain can be said to be passed down through the ages.
The most wonderful natural landscape in Mount Wutai is the round light that casts shadows on tourists. Generally, rainbows usually occur after rainfall and are arc-shaped. Even if it doesn't rain in Mount Wutai, a rainbow will appear in the shape of a ring. Sometimes the ring can reach two circles, inside and outside. What is even more peculiar is that in the colorful circle, various landscapes will appear, including birds, running animals, palaces, Buddha statues, and even the observers themselves. This kind of natural landscape, which is a combination of physical, geographical, meteorological and other conditions, is magnificent and mysterious, and has always been regarded as the treasure of the mountain by the religious circles.
Mount Wutai has more than 600 plant species. Among them, there are nearly 400 kinds of high-quality forage, forming a unique natural pasture, leading to the long-standing June Mule and Horse Conference. There are more than 200 species of flowering plants with ornamental value. In the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian returned home from a visit and heard about the strange flowers in the Buddha's land. She transplanted many precious flowers and plants from Mount Wutai and planted them in the Imperial Garden. There are more than 150 kinds of medicinal plants, among which medicinal materials such as Taiwan ginseng, Huangmao, and Huangling are of high quality and well-known at home and abroad. The fungus plant Mushroom taiga is both a precious medicine and a delicacy. It was designated as a tribute in history, and today it has become an excellent gift for relatives and friends. When you visit Wutai Mountain in summer and autumn, the flowers are in full bloom and colorful. In the Shanyin Ancient Cave, you can enjoy thousands of years of ice and ten thousand years of snow. It is really cool and refreshing. The wind and snow are flying in all seasons, creating a silvery world; magnificent bliss, lotus flowers begin to bloom in June, turning into a golden universe.
Wutai Mountain was originally called Wufeng Mountain, which means that five main peaks rise abruptly from the mountains and ridges. After religious activities became popular in the mountain, it was discovered that five peaks stood out with no trees on the top, like a platform of earth. According to the development and evolution process in Chinese history, it was renamed Wutai Mountain. In addition, Mount Wutai also has other nicknames such as Qingliang Mountain, Zifu Mountain, Yuanguang Mountain, Baiyun Mountain, Yanmen Mountain, Lingjiu Mountain, Wuding Mountain, and Wulong Mountain. Some are based on historical facts, some scriptures, or some legends, all of which are full of interest.
The five main peaks of Mount Wutai are named after the five directions. They are called Dongtai, Beitai, Xitai, Nantai and Zhongtai respectively.
The five platforms are pointed, and the east platform Wanghaifeng and the west platform Guayue Peak are always like this. The remaining three have undergone historical changes. Beitai was first named Dahuangjianshan, and later changed to Ye Doufeng; Zhongtai was first named Ye Doufeng, and later changed to Cuiyan Peak; Nantai was first named Cuiyan Peak, then changed to Gu Nantai, and finally Jinxiu Peak. The changes of Wutai Guzhi should be in the religious activities in history. It must be an objective reflection of development from north to south. Today there are five main peaks in Mount Wutai. Dongtai, Beitai, Xitai and Zhongtai are a series of mountains, and South Taiwan is an independent peak. The rocks are mostly composed of gneiss, marble, and quartzite, which are strong and difficult to denudate. It has formed a special feature with a gentle mountain top, suitable for landing airplanes, and deep valleys, shaped like a U. There are five platform tops, each with its own landscape. There are Liyue Huozhu in the east, Yujian Agar in the north, Linong Yao Chamber in the west, Dongguangzhu tree in the south, and the self-illuminating gold and ring-light wall on the middle peak. Yuan Haowen, a poet of the generation, marveled: This scene only exists in the sky, how could you know that you are on a wonderful peak?
Dongtai is famous for its Wanghai Peak, with an altitude of 2,795 meters. The top is like a ridge, and it is surrounded by Wanghai Temple for three miles. Standing on the platform, you can see the clouds and mist filling the mountains, revealing the peaks of the mountains. The scene is like a floating boat on the sea. Sometimes the sea of ??clouds is calm and as gentle as silk; sometimes it is tumbling up and down, with billowing cloud waves. The peaks on the sea of ??clouds appear and disappear, as if they are drifting in the rapid waves. When you climb to the top to watch the sunrise, you can see a red sun leaping out of the sea of ??clouds. The sea and sky are as red as red silk, which is really spectacular.
Nantai is known as Jinxiu Peak, with an altitude of 2,485 meters. The top is like a bowl, and the Puji Temple is built around it for a mile. "Qingliang Mountain Chronicles" says: The peaks are towering, the smoke is green, the grass is fine and the flowers are mixed, and the mountains are covered with brocade, so it is named Yan.
The west platform is named Guayue Peak, with an altitude of 2,773 meters and a flat and wide top. On Tuesday, there is Fa Lei Temple. It got its name from the fact that when the moon sets in the west, it looks like a hanging mirror when viewed from a distance.
Beitai's name is Ye Doufeng, with an altitude of 3,058 meters. It is the highest peak in North China. Its top is flat and wide. On the fourth floor, there is Lingying Temple. There is a folk saying of lying on the top of Beitai and reaching out to touch the stars. "Qingliangshan Zhi" records: Looking up at it, it is holding a ladle on top, so it is named after it. Storms, clouds and thunderstorms come from half a foot of the mountain. Sometimes there are showers below, and sometimes it's sunny above, or there are strong winds and thunder, which is terrifying. There is a strong wind, which blows people into the stream and makes them lose their ears. You can see the sea air to the east and the desert to the north.
Cuiyan Peak in Zhongtai is 2,894 meters above sea level with a flat and wide top. On Friday, there is a Yanjiao Temple. The peak sits arm-in-arm with Beitai and Xitai, overlooking Jinyang Pingchuan in the south and Yanmen Xiongguan in the north. The peaks are majestic and green mist floats in the sky, hence the name Cuiyan Peak.
Mount Wutai is a well-known Buddhist holy land at home and abroad. Together with Mount Emei in Sichuan, Mount Jiuhua in Anhui, and Mount Putuo in Zhejiang, it is also known as the four famous Buddhist mountains in my country. Mount Wutai, with its long history of temple building and large scale, ranks first among the four famous Buddhist mountains. Throughout the ages, emperors have admired the construction and eminent monks have visited countless places. Chinese and foreign Buddhist believers and tourists have come in droves to pay homage to the Buddha and visit the mountain.
Five peaks are majestic, all with flat and wide tops, surrounded by thousands of peaks, and beautiful bells and bells. Buddhists regard this as the spiritual area of ??Foshan. The Mahavatam Sutra says: There is a place in the northeast called Qingliang Mountain. From ancient times, all the Bodhisattvas have stopped in it. There is now a Bodhisattva named Manjushri, together with his retinue and a group of ten thousand Bodhisattvas, who are always preaching the Dharma among them. The "Treasure Dharani Sutra" also says: The Buddha told the Vajra Secret Tract and said: After my extinction, in the northeast of Qianfanbuzhou, there is a country named Dazhenna. There is a mountain in it named Riwuding. Manjusri, a boy, walks around and lives, preaching Dharma to all sentient beings. Da Zhen Na, or the Kingdom of Cathay, all refer to China. Manjushri, or Manjushri, is a transliteration of Sanskrit, one of the Mahayana Bodhisattvas of Buddhism, sometimes called Manjushri, sometimes called Manjushri, which refers to various transformations. The Avatamsaka Sutra lists Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva as attendants of Sakyamuni Buddha. Manjushri Bodhisattva is on the left, and most of his statues are riding lions. It is recorded in general Buddhist scriptures that Mount Wutai is the place where Manjushri Bodhisattva performs his teachings.
Sakyamuni is the founder of Buddhism. He was born in Kapilavastu (now Nepal) in ancient India in the 76th century BC. Sakyamuni's surname was Gautama and his given name was Siddhartha. After he attained enlightenment, he was called Buddha, or simply Buddha, which means the enlightened one. Because his family belongs to the Sakya clan, he is generally called Sakyamuni, which means the saint of the Sakya clan. Sakyamuni was a prince who once married and had children. He later became a monk and practiced asceticism. After becoming enlightened, he traveled throughout ancient India to promote his teachings and the number of followers increased. According to the classics, the Buddha said that there is a mountain called Wuding in the northeast, and Manjushri Bodhisattva, who is dedicated to wisdom and is the left side attendant of Sakyamuni Buddha, preaches in it. Therefore, Mount Wutai is also famous at home and abroad as a Buddhist holy place.
In what era did monasteries begin to be built in Mount Wutai?
According to records from various ancient books, there were temple buildings in Mount Wutai during the Yongping period of the Eastern Han Dynasty. According to legend, Emperor Liu Zhuang of the Han Ming Dynasty dreamed at night that a golden man was sitting upright on auspicious clouds, floating from the western sky. Knowing that there was a message from the Buddha, he immediately sent his ministers Cai An, Qin Jing and others to the west to seek for Buddha's teachings. Cai, Qin and others obtained Buddhist scriptures and statues in Dayueshi, and happened to meet Gao Zengshe Moteng and Zhu Falan of Tianzhu Kingdom (today's India) who were preaching there, and they invited them to come to China with them. In the tenth year of Yongping (AD 67), envoys from Sanskrit monks and Han Dynasty arrived in Luoyang carrying scriptures and Buddha statues on white horses. When Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty saw the Sakyamuni Buddha statue, it was indeed the same as what he saw in his dream. He believed in Buddhism more and more, so he ordered the construction of the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, and took pictures of Mo Teng and Zhu Falan to spread Buddhism in China. In the 11th year of Yongping, two eminent monks came to Wutai Mountain, a holy place of coolness. They saw the hinterland surrounded by five platform tops. Its mountain topography was indistinguishable from Lingjiu Mountain, the place of cultivation of Sakyamuni Buddha. After returning to Luoyang, He asked Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty to build a temple in Mount Wutai.
Therefore, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty issued an edict to build the Dafu Linghuan Temple in Mount Wutai. Dafu means Hongxin. The name of the temple is Lingjiu, which means that the hinterland of Mount Wutai in the East is similar to the Lingjiu Mountain in the West. In this way, the White Horse Temple in Luoyang and the Dafu Lingjiu Temple in Mount Wutai became the earliest temples established in my country. Dafu Linghuan Temple is the predecessor of today's Xiantong Temple.
Historically, with the spread of Buddhism, the admiration of emperors, and the conduct of eminent monks, Mount Wutai’s reputation as the dojo of Manjushri Bodhisattva spread further and further, its status became higher and higher, and there were more and more temple buildings. , the scale is getting bigger and bigger. During this period, there were also the ups and downs of Buddhism, and the situation in each period was not quite the same. Since Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, Moteng and Zhu Falan promoted Buddhism and built the Dafu Lingjiu Temple. By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, more than 200 temples had been built in Mount Wutai. Zhou Wu destroyed the law, and the destruction of temples in Wutai Mountain was very serious, just like other places. In the early Sui Dynasty, temples were rebuilt and Buddhism revived. In the Tang Dynasty, when Buddhism was at its peak, there were more than 360 temples in Mount Wutai. Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty exterminated Buddhism in Huichang, Buddhism in Mount Wutai declined, and the number of temples decreased. Although there were many constructions in the Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan dynasties, they were not fully restored due to the damage caused by wars. In the Ming Dynasty, Buddhism revived, and more than a hundred temples and nunneries were rebuilt and built in Mount Wutai. Since the Qing Dynasty, with the introduction of Lamaism into Wutai Mountain, some green temples have been converted into yellow temples, and new yellow temples have been built. The green and yellow temples have their own characteristics, and Buddhist monks from Han, Tibetan, Mongolian and Manchu ethnic groups live in harmony. Landscape. Since the founding of New China. The party and the state have correctly implemented religious policies, attached great importance to the protection of cultural relics, and have allocated a large amount of funds to repair and renovate temples. Monks also used temples to support temples and remodeled holy statues with alms coins. Rebuild palaces and tidy up temples. Picking up a piece of grass at random is always like a golden lion. Mount Wutai has made a huge contribution to the development of Chinese Buddhism.
Mount Wutai was the center for studying the Huayan Sutra in the north during the Qi Dynasty. Cheng Guan, an eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty, developed the Huayan sect to its peak. He was a teacher of the Seven Emperors, was awarded the title of Professor Monk, Qingliang Imperial Master, etc., and was revered as the fourth ancestor of the Huayan Sect. The real prosperity of Huayan Sect was during the Chengguan period. The Avatamsaka Sutra states that Manjushri Bodhisattva’s sermon is located in Qingliang Mountain in the northeast. Mount Wutai is not only located northeast of Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, but also northeast of ancient India, the birthplace of Buddhism. The climate in the mountain is full of ice year after year, with snow falling in the summer, and there has never been a scorching heat, which is consistent with what the Avatamsaka Sutra says. For all these reasons, Mount Wutai Buddhism invited Manjushri to settle in the east. It was renamed Mount Wutai as Qingliang Mountain and revered as the dojo on the land of China where Manjushri brought his family members, lived in processions, and gave sermons. Later, he carried out detailed research on Manjushri Bodhisattva, making the image of Manjushri Bodhisattva continue to grow taller and fuller, and finally he was promoted to the teacher of the seven Buddhas and the mother of all the Buddhas of the three generations. It has become the most worshiped Buddhist god by Buddhist believers of all ethnic groups, and Mount Wutai is also revered as a golden world and a cool and pure place. On the basis of learning and inheriting ancient Indian Buddhism, Mount Wutai Buddhism established a Bodhisattva belief that is different from ancient Indian Buddhism based on China's national conditions, and achieved a high degree of harmony and unity through the combination of Buddhist theory and Buddhist practice. It played a typical role in the final formation of the four famous mountains. In the history of the development of Chinese Buddhism, it has a decisive influence.
Wutai Mountain is located at the foot of the Great Wall, at the junction of the farming nation and the nomadic nation in history. It has always been extremely valued by the feudal royal family. Since Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty established a summer resort in the mountain, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Yingzong of the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Shengzu of the Qing Dynasty, and Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty all visited Mount Wutai. As for the number of emperors and empresses of all dynasties who sent envoys to pay homage to Mount Wutai, they have never stopped and are countless. When you open the history books of major temples in Mount Wutai, the word "Imperial Construction" is always written clearly on the first page. High-ranking officials and dignitaries followed suit one after another. A man of letters expresses his feelings with his pen. Buddhism often meets Longmen guests, and Hanlin people gather in Zen forests. This is a true portrayal of the history of Mount Wutai. Because of this, Mount Wutai Buddhism, with its special position and effect in the history of Chinese thought, has always played a vital role in the issue of national unity and integration in the northern region. If the Great Wall is the product of ethnic confrontation, then Mount Wutai Buddhism is a symbol of ethnic integration.
Wutai Mountain has always been a place where famous monks gathered their knowledge. The eminent monk Huiyuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty was born in Yuanping County at the eastern foot of Mount Wutai. Tanluan, Lingbian, Lingxiu, Facong, and Jiafu in the Northern Wei Dynasty; Liu Qianzhi in the Northern Qi Dynasty; Huilong and Jiejie in the Sui Dynasty; Daoxuan, Queji, Huixiang, Chengguan, Fazhao, and Jian in the Tang Dynasty Zhen; Huiwu, Chengjue, and Shanhui in the Song Dynasty; Sutuo Shili, Huihong, and Fachong in the Jin Dynasty; Pasiba, Danba, Zhenjue, Lingxing, Hongjiao, and Haiyun in the Yuan Dynasty; Ming Dynasty The Karmapa, Miaofeng, Hanshan, Zibai, Zhencheng, Shida Yeshi, Ruxin Lawyer, etc. These famous teachers and masters in the history of Chinese Buddhism were either born locally, lived in the mountains for many years, or practiced lifelong practice. The mountain temples have all made outstanding contributions to the construction of Buddhism in Mount Wutai, and even played a huge role in the development of Chinese Buddhism.
Mount Wutai’s prominent position in Chinese Buddhism has attracted many foreign Buddhist believers to come here. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, Mount Wutai became an institution of higher learning for foreign believers to study and listen to scriptures. After the Tang Dynasty, foreign eminent monks continued to worship and visit Mount Wutai. Wutai Mountain Buddhism continues to spread its influence outwards with its strong vitality. During the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, Ci Zang, an eminent monk from the Silla Kingdom, came to Mount Wutai to study. After returning to China, he opened Mount Wutai on the Korean Peninsula. With the Zhenru Temple in Central Taiwan as the center, we actively promoted the Manjusri faith, allowing the Manjusri faith in Mount Wutai in China to blossom and bear fruit on the Korean Peninsula.
Japan has been influenced by Mount Wutai Buddhism since the Nara period. Emperor Shomu imitated China's Empress Wu Zetian in conferring the title of Dai Kegon Temple on Mount Wutai, and also hung a plaque of Dai Kegon Temple on the south gate of Kunis Todai Temple in Japan. Ennin, a Japanese eminent monk, has a detailed description of Mount Wutai Buddhism in his "Pilgrimage to the Tang Dynasty to Seek Dharma", which has a great influence in Japan. During the Taiping and Xingguo years of the Song Dynasty in China, eminent monks from Todai Temple in southern Japan came to China and paid homage to Mount Wutai. After returning to China, he planned to rename Mount Aiyan to Mount Wutai and create Japan's Grand Cheryang-ji Temple, modeled after the oldest Grand Cheryyo-ji Temple in Mount Wutai in China. It's a pity that when the great wish comes true, the person passes away first. His disciples requested the imperial court's permission to rename the Sakyamuni Hall in Qixia Temple to Qingliang Temple, which later became a famous temple gathering all the faiths in the world. The ancient temple of Mount Wutai in China was moved to Japan. It can be said that the belief in Mount Wutai has spread to East Asia. Today, Mount Wutai Buddhism attracts many believers from Southeast Asia, and an endless stream of people come to the mountain to worship Buddha every year.
The Buddhist sects in Mount Wutai are broadly divided into two systems: the Green Sect and the Yellow Sect. Qingjiao is the general name of Han Buddhism, which has successively included Faxiang Sect, Lu Sect, Tiantai Sect, Huayan Sect, Pure Land Sect, Esoteric Sect, Zen Sect and its subordinate Linji Sect, Linji Cha Sect, Caodong Sect, etc. The more special one is the Motenfalan Sect. Historically, the monks of Xiantong Temple believed that the temple was founded by Motenfalan, so they called themselves the Motenfalan Sect. Its teachings are a blend of Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism, and the era should not be earlier than the Ming Dynasty. Huang Jiao is the general name of Tibetan Buddhism. There are two theories about when it was introduced into Mount Wutai, the Tang Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty, and it reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty. In the early Qing Dynasty, the imperial court changed the ten green temples in Wutai Mountain into yellow temples, and the monks also changed from monks to lamas. Since then, Han lamas have appeared in Mount Wutai, which is still rare in the country. In the Qing Dynasty, Huangjiao in Mount Wutai was divided into two major systems: Bodhisattva Dingzasak and Zhenhai Shouzhangjia. The monks have believers from all ethnic groups including Han, Manchu, Mongolian, Tibetan and Turkish, and it has become a holy place for ethnic unity and harmonious coexistence.
There are two types of Wutaishan temple organizations: Sun and Shifang. The Zisun Temple accepts novice novices and ranks them in the order of master, master, disciple, and disciple. A temple is divided into multiple families. In addition to the temple's own property, each family can also have private property, such as houses, gold and silver, etc. After the master passes away, the disciple will share the inheritance. Zisun Temple strictly stipulates that the temple’s ministers must be held by monks from the temple. When a family auctions private property, it must be sold to other families in the temple. Most of the temples in Mount Wutai belong to Zisun Temple, which is the basic organizational form that maintains the everlasting prosperity of Buddhism in Mount Wutai. In Shifang Temple, no ordination is allowed, and all monks are called their peers. When a wandering monk enters a temple and puts the gear in gear, he becomes a natural member of the temple. As long as you abide by the precepts and have considerable abilities, you can hold important positions. The famous Shifang Temples in Mount Wutai include the Lion's Nest, Qingliang Bridge, Bishan Temple, Shifang Hall, etc. Among them, Bishan Temple has the greatest influence.
There were more than 200 temples in Mount Wutai during the Northern Qi Dynasty. During the Dazhong period of Tang Dynasty, 64 famous people could be found. During the Jiayou period of Song Dynasty, 72 famous ones could be found. In the 31st year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (16O3), there were 90 steles, divided into four levels, including 12 large temples, 5 five-top temples, 39 small and medium-sized temples in the mountains, and 34 quiet temples in the mountains and jungles. In the early Qing Dynasty, "Qingliang Mountain Chronicles" was revised and collected 104 temples. Among them, the temples within the five platforms are called temples inside the platform, with 68 temples; the temples outside the five platforms are called temples outside the platform, and there are 36 temples. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, among the temples in Mount Wutai, there were the Ten Great Green Temples and the Ten Great Yellow Temples. Among the two green and yellow temples in the mountain, the first one is called the Five Great Places. There are three green temples, namely Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple, and Shuxiang Temple; and two yellow temples, Bodhisattvading Temple and Luohou Temple. A survey in 1956 found that there were 124 temples, including 99 green temples and 25 yellow temples. There are forty-three existing temples, including thirty-seven inside the platform and six outside the platform.
Today, Mount Wutai has become a rare treasure house of ancient Chinese architecture.
The earliest wooden structures of temples preserved in our country are relics from the Tang Dynasty. The main hall of Nanchan Temple in Mount Wutai and the east hall of Foguang Temple are the originators and models of wooden structures in the Tang Dynasty. After the Tang Dynasty, the Song, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and until the Republic of China, typical large wooden structures were left in Mount Wutai. The architecture of the Tang Dynasty was solemn and simple, the architecture of the Song Dynasty was soft and gorgeous, the architecture of the Liao and Jin Dynasties boldly reduced columns, the architecture of the Yuan Dynasty was rough and natural, the architecture of the Ming Dynasty was strict in rules, the architecture of the Qing Dynasty was luxurious and exquisite, and the architecture of the Republic of China period was delicate and complicated. The ancient wooden structures of temples in Mount Wutai are unique in the country due to their strong historical continuity, magnificent architectural scale, fine details, various styles and typical techniques. It can be said that the typical buildings of various historical periods preserved in Wutai Mountain are themselves a voluminous history of wooden structure architecture of ancient Chinese temples.
Wutai Mountain also has many pagodas and temples. From the perspective of materials used, there are brick towers, stone towers, glazed towers, wooden towers, iron towers, copper towers, silver towers, jade towers, crystal towers, etc.; from the perspective of architectural forms, there are traffic-blocked wave towers and dense eaves towers. Towers, pavilion-style towers, pavilion-style towers, Vajra throne-style towers, and combined towers; in terms of nature, they can be divided into Buddhist pagodas and tomb pagodas. Among the pagodas are the relic pagoda, the spiritual trace pagoda and the general worship pagoda. Tomb towers can be divided into Gaozeng tomb towers and general memorial towers; from the perspective of time, the earliest is the Northern Wei Dynasty stone tower, and there are others in various periods thereafter. The latest is the relic tower built in recent years for the eminent monk who passed away in Wutai Mountain; from the scale Looking up, the big one is 56.4 meters high, piercing the sky, trying to compete with the sky. The smallest one is only 0.05 meters, exquisite and exquisite.
From the perspective of the value of existing pagodas in the country, the Asoka Pagoda built in the Yuan Dynasty in Yuanguo Temple, the Sakyamuni Buddha Relic Pagoda in Tayuan Temple, the combined copper pagoda in Xiantong Temple, and the Huayan Sutra Zi pagoda are all Rare treasures can all stand out. The long history, large number, wide range of materials, complete shapes and complex nature of the pagodas in Mount Wutai are all rare in similar areas across the country.
For Buddhist statues in Mount Wutai, the relevant departments only investigated 37 temples, and the number reached 17,445. The number of Buddha statues in the entire mountain may be doubled. In terms of materials used and production, it can be roughly divided into eight types: clay sculpture (including hanging sculpture and mold extension), metal casting (including iron, copper, gilt, gold), stone carving (including jade carving. It can be divided into full carving, Reliefs, cliff carvings), wood carvings, porcelain burning, yarn rubbings, embroidery, portraits (including murals, scroll paintings, scroll illustrations and leaf paintings). The earliest Buddha statues are relics from the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and the artistic techniques of Gandhara are obvious. The largest number of Buddha statues are clay sculptures, which have been created continuously from the Tang Dynasty to the present, forming a unique and complete evolutionary system. The rarest one is the Eighteen Arhats painted on bodhi leaves by the famous painter Ding Yunpeng of the Ming Dynasty. There are 12 paintings in total, with odd numbers painted single and even numbers painted double, with meticulous brushwork and heavy colors, compiled into one volume. The Buddha statues in Mount Wutai have different raw materials, different craftsmanship, and different techniques of the times. The entire work is bright red, purple, and mottled, enriching Mount Wutai into a rare treasure house of Buddhist statue art.
There are a large number of bells, drums, bowls, boards, steles, tablets, buildings, plaques, plaques, couplets, poems, articles, etc. preserved both inside and outside the Wutai Mountain Temple. Many of them are precious national cultural relics.
Mount Wutai is also a famous summer resort. In the sixth and seventh months of the lunar calendar, the sun is scorching and the heat is unbearable. However, Mount Wutai has a cool, refreshing and pleasant climate. Here there are verdant peaks, lush trees, brilliant wild flowers, clear springs everywhere, and Jialan temples scattered throughout. Sometimes a gentle breeze blows on one's cheeks, white clouds in the blue sky float over the head, and a burst of rain falls, and the sun shines brightly again, and the eyes are fresh. During the day in midsummer, the temperature is moderate, with a slight chill in the morning and evening. It is indeed a satisfying and pleasant thing to recuperate from the summer heat in this cool and holy place.
In short, Wutai Mountain has magnificent scenery and unique scenery. There are many Buddhist temples and cultural relics in the territory. Among them, there are pines and pavilions, gurgling springs, rising clouds, mountains and mist, and beautiful pavilions. The fragrance of the ancient temple floats in the morning and dusk, and the golden bells of the Buddhist temple ring in the morning and evening. Three steps and one interesting story, five steps and one anecdote. There are scenery everywhere, and magical secrets are hidden everywhere. People praised him and said, "I will not visit the temple when I return from Wutai."