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Mount Wutai, also known by its Chinese name Wutaishan and as is a sacred
Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
site at the headwaters of the Qingshui in
Shanxi Province Shanxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, formerly romanised as Shansi) is a landlocked Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China and is part of the North China region. The capital and largest city of the province is ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. Its central area is surrounded by a cluster of flat-topped peaks roughly corresponding to the
cardinal direction The four cardinal directions, or cardinal points, are the four main compass directions: north, east, south, and west, commonly denoted by their initials N, E, S, and W respectively. Relative to north, the directions east, south, and west are at ...
s. The north peak (Beitai Ding or Yedou Feng) is the highest () and is also the highest point in northern China. As host to over 53 sacred monasteries, Mount Wutai is home to many of China's most important monasteries and temples. It was inscribed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
in 2009 and named a AAAAA tourist attraction by China's
National Tourism Administration The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA; ) was a Chinese government authority responsible for the development of tourism in the country. The CNTA was subordinate to the State Council. Its headquarters are in Beijing, with regional branche ...
in 2007.


Significance

Mount Wutai is one of the Four Sacred Mountains in
Chinese Buddhism Chinese Buddhism or Han Buddhism ( zh, s=汉传佛教, t=漢傳佛教, p=Hànchuán Fójiào) is a Chinese form of Mahayana Buddhism which has shaped Chinese culture in a wide variety of areas including art, politics, literature, philosophy, ...
. Each of the mountains is viewed as the
bodhimaṇḍa Bodhimaṇḍa (Sanskrit and Pali) or daochang () is a term used in Buddhism meaning the "position of awakening". According to Haribhadra, it is "a place used as a seat, where the essence of enlightenment is present". Bodhimaṇḍas are regularl ...
() of one of the four great
bodhisattva In Buddhism, a bodhisattva ( ; sa, 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 (Brahmī), translit=bodhisattva, label=Sanskrit) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood. In the Early Buddhist schools ...
s. Wǔtái is the home of the
Bodhisattva In Buddhism, a bodhisattva ( ; sa, 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 (Brahmī), translit=bodhisattva, label=Sanskrit) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood. In the Early Buddhist schools ...
of wisdom,
Mañjuśrī Mañjuśrī (Sanskrit: मञ्जुश्री) is a ''bodhisattva'' associated with '' prajñā'' (wisdom) in Mahāyāna Buddhism. His name means "Gentle Glory" in Sanskrit. Mañjuśrī is also known by the fuller name of Mañjuśrīkumārab ...
or "" () in Chinese. Mañjuśrī has been associated with Mount Wutai since ancient times. Paul Williams writes: Wutai was the first of the 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 ''Avataṃsaka Sūtra'', which describes the abodes of many bodhisattvas. In this chapter, Mañjuśrī 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" (). The bodhisattva is believed to frequently appear on the mountain, taking the form of ordinary pilgrims, monks, or most often unusual five-colored clouds. Reflecting regional rivalries between Buddhist centers, 9th-century
Chan Buddhism Chan (; of ), from Sanskrit '' dhyāna'' (meaning "meditation" or "meditative state"), is a Chinese school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It developed in China from the 6th century CE onwards, becoming especially popular during the Tang and So ...
master
Linji Yixuan Linji Yixuan (; ja, 臨済義玄 ''Rinzai Gigen''; died 866 CE) was the founder of the Linji school of Chan Buddhism during Tang Dynasty China. Línjì yǔlù Information on Linji is based on the ''Línjì yǔlù'' (臨濟語錄; Japanese: ' ...
criticized the prominence of Wutai in
Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...
China. According to the posthumously compiled ''Línjì yǔlù'', Linji Yixuan once said, “There‘s a bunch of students who seek Mañjuśrī on Mount Wutai. Wrong from the start! There‘s no Mañjuśrī on Mount Wutai.“ His campaign was however not successful, and even after the Tang era Mount Wutai “continued to thrive as perhaps the single most famous Buddhist sacred site in China.” Mount Wutai has an enduring relationship with
Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
. Mount Wutai is home to some of the oldest wooden buildings in China that have survived since the era of the
Tang Dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...
(618–907). This includes the main hall of Nanchan Temple and the East Hall of
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 (618–907). According to archit ...
, 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 (; 20 April 1901 – 9 January 1972) was a Chinese architect and architectural historian, known as the father of modern Chinese architecture. His father, Liang Qichao, was one of the most prominent Chinese scholars of the early 20t ...
. The architectural designs of these buildings have since been studied by leading
sinologists Sinology, or Chinese studies, is an academic discipline that focuses on the study of China primarily through Chinese philosophy, language, literature, culture and history and often refers to Western scholarship. Its origin "may be traced to the ex ...
and experts in traditional Chinese architecture, such as Nancy Steinhardt. Steinhardt classified these buildings according to the hall types featured in the ''
Yingzao Fashi The ''Yingzao Fashi'' () is a technical treatise on architecture and craftsmanship written by the Chinese author Li Jie (李誡; 1065–1110), the Directorate of Buildings and Construction during the mid Song Dynasty of China. He revised ma ...
'' 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 A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
, they were forced from their homes and relocated away from their livelihoods.


Major temples

Nanchan Temple () is a large temple in Mount Wǔtái, first built in the
Yuan Dynasty The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after its division. It was established by Kublai, the fifth ...
. The whole temple comprises seven terraces, divided into three parts. The lower three terraces are named
Jile Temple Jile Temple () of Harbin, China, is the biggest Buddhist building complex in Heilongjiang Heilongjiang () formerly romanized as Heilungkiang, is a province in northeast China. The standard one-character abbreviation for the province is (). ...
(); the middle terrace is called Shande Hall (); the upper three terraces are named Youguo Temple (). Other major temples include
Xiantong Temple The Xiantong Temple () is a Buddhist temple located in Taihuai Town of Wutai County, Shanxi, China. The temple covers a total area of about , it preserves the basic architectural pattern of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). The tem ...
, Tayuan Temple and Pusading Temple. Other important temples inside Mount Wutai include Shouning Temple,
Bishan Temple The Bishan Temple or Guangji Maopeng ( or ) is a Buddhist temple located in Taihuai, Taihuai Town of Wutai County, Xinzhou, Shanxi, China. History In the ''Qingliangshan Annals'', a poem described Bishan Temple as "". Baiyun Temple was first est ...
,
Puhua Temple The Puhua Temple () is a Buddhist temple located in Taihuai Town of Wutai County, Xinzhou, Shanxi, China. History The time for the establishment of the Puhua Temple has been unable to be verified. It is also called "Temple of Jade Emperor" ( ...
, Dailuo Ding, Qixian Temple, Shifang Tang, Shuxiang Temple, Guangzong Temple,
Youguo Temple Youguo Temple () is a Buddhist monastery complex located northeast of Kaifeng, in Henan province, China. It was built during the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE). The design features the Iron Pagoda towering in the center of the complex, in a style tha ...
, Guanyin Dong,
Longhua Temple The Longhua Temple (, alternatively Lunghwa Temple; literally ''"Dragon Flower Temple''") is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha in Shanghai. Although most of the present day buildings date from later reconstructions, the temple ...
, Luomuhou 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. It is at an altit ...
, Zhanshan Temple, Wanfo Ge, Guanhai Temple, Zhulin Temple, Jifu Temple, and
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 ...
. Outer Mount Wutai temples include Yanqing Temple, Nanchan Temple,
Mimi Temple Mimi Temple () is located on Mimi Hill (秘密岩), Weiping Mountain, 38 kilometers southwest of Taihuai Town in Mount Wutai, Shanxi, China. It is named after the hill. Another name for the hill is Mimo (秘魔岩). So an alternative name for th ...
,
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 (618–907). According to archit ...
,
Yanshan Temple Yanshan Temple () is a preserved location of national historical and cultural relics. It used to be named Lingyan Temple (灵岩寺). It is located in Tianyan Village of north side of Mount Wutai, Yukou, south of Fanshi County, Shanxi Province of ...
, Zunsheng Temple, and Guangji Temple. A giant statue of Maha Manjushree was presented to the Buddhists of China by foreign minister of Nepal Ramesh Nath Pandey in 2005.


Transportation

The Wutaishan Airport in nearby
Dingxiang County Dingxiang () is a county in the north central part of Shanxi province, China. It is under the administration of Xinzhou Xinzhou, ancient name Xiurong (秀荣), is a prefecture-level city occupying the north-central section of Shanxi Province ...
opened in December 2015.


Climate

Mount Wutai has a
subarctic climate The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate, or boreal climate) is a climate with long, cold (often very cold) winters, and short, warm to cool summers. It is found on large landmasses, often away from the moderating effects of an ocean, ge ...
(
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
''Dwc''). The average annual temperature in Haidian is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around , and lowest in January, at around .


Gallery

Image:Xiantong Temple2.JPG, The Xiantong Temple, a major temple at Mount Wutai Image:五台山-大文殊殿.JPG, A palace hall at Mount Wutai Image:Dailuoding Temple5.JPG, The Dailuoding Temple Image:Lingfeng Temple Pagoda4.JPG, The Lingfeng Temple pagoda Image:Great White Pagoda2.JPG, The
Sarira Stupa of Tayuan Temple The Great White Pagoda (), or Sarira Stupa of Tayuan Temple, is a brick stupa located at Mount Wutai of Wutai County, Shanxi province, China. History The stupa was constructed during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 AD), as r ...
, built in 1582 during the
Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...
File:Zunsheng Temple 11.JPG, View of the Zunsheng Temple File:Qifo Temple7.JPG, Qifo Temple File:Yuanzhao Temple2.JPG, Yuanzhao Temple Image:Mogao Cave 61, painting of Mount Wutai monasteries.jpg, 10th century mural of Mount Wutai. From Cave 61 of
Mogao Caves The Mogao Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes or Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, form a system of 500 temples southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu p ...
in
Dunhuang Dunhuang () is a county-level city in Northwestern Gansu Province, Western China. According to the 2010 Chinese census, the city has a population of 186,027, though 2019 estimates put the city's population at about 191,800. Dunhuang was a major ...
Image:Wutaishan 1846.jpg, 1846,
Qing Dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...
map of Mount Wutai


See also

* List of AAAAA-rated tourist attractions of the People's Republic of China


References


Further reading

*''China's Holy Mountain: An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism'' by Christoph Baumer. I.B. Tauris, London 2011. . * *http://www.thlib.org/collections/texts/jiats/#!jiats=/06/elverskog/b2/


External links

*
International Network of Geoparks UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are geoparks certified by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council as meeting all the requirements for belonging to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The GGN is both a network of geoparks and the agency of the United Nati ...
* List of Geoparks
Photos from inside the temples at WuTaiShan
{{authority control AAAAA-rated tourist attractions Geoparks in China Highest points of Chinese provinces Wutai National parks of China Wutai Tourist attractions in Shanxi World Heritage Sites in China Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Shanxi Buddhist sites in China Mañjuśrī Tibetan Buddhist places Wutai