Buddhism was introduced to China from India during the Eastern Han
Dynasty (25-200) and during the following 500 years, it continued to
develop.
By the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, Buddhist sects
with Chinese characteristics were formed. Wenshu, Puxian, Guanyin and Dizang
were the Buddhists mostly worshipped and the places where rites were held for
worshipping them, Wutai Mountain, E'mei Mountain, Putuo Mountain and Jiuhua
Mountain, have become famous among Chinese Buddhist believers.
Wutai Mountain, A Cool and Holy Place
Wutai Mountain
(zaobao.com)Located within Wutai County, Shanxi
Province, Wutai Mountain covers an area of 250 kilometers. The name "wutai"
comes from its five flat-topped peaks (tai meaning platform in Chinese). Its
highest "tai" is the northern peak, which is 2,893 meters above the sea level,
also the highest peak in northern China. Temples were built, dating back to the
Eastern Han Dynasty. In its prime, there used to be more than 200 temples and
today more than 40 remain.
The Nanchan Temple and Foguang Temple are the two earliest wooden-structured buildings still existing in China and are considered treasures. In these temples at Wutai Mountain are the collective expressions of the artistic achievements in the Buddhist construction, carving, sculpting and murals with a very high value in arts.
Wutai Mountain has steep peaks and crags, tall and straight pines and
cypresses, surging clouds and mist, resplendent and magnificent buildings.
Looking as far as one can when one climbs to the top of the northern "tai" in
midsummer, one gets a broad view of numerous peaks and a sea of clouds. Rarely
seen visions also appear there sometime: When it rains cats and dogs at the
bottom of the hills, it shines at the top; when the bottom is green with spring,
the top is still covered with ice and snow.
The Magic Light, strange natural
phenomena in Wutai, is even more amazing. It usually happens on fine days. A
bright and colorful half circle of light, three meters high and two meters wide,
might appear. In the circle, your figure and movements may also be seen. If you
wave, the figure also waves.
Wutai Mountain has five flat-topped peaks in five directions: the east, west,
south, north and the middle. The scenes differ in the five peaks, forming an
attractive summer resort and a place for sightseeing. It is said that Wutai is
where people worship Wenshu or Bodhisattva
Manjusri.
Transportation:
Tourists can go to
Taiyuan or Datong by plane or take a train from the Beijing-Taiyuan Line and get
off at Wutai, Shahe, Fanzhi, Daixian, Yuanping, Xinzhou or Taiyuan to change to
a bus. Since no trains and planes can arrive directly at Wutai Mountain, highway
transportation is important. There are buses, more in Tainyuan, to Wutai along
the railway. Direct buses go to Wutai Mountain every day from Taiyuan Railway
Station and the Bus Terminal.
Accommodation:
Accommodation is convenient at Wutai Mountain with many hotels of all grades
and family-run hostels.
Useful Telephone Numbers for
Tourists:
0351-4047525 Shanxi Provincial Tourism Bureau;
0354-6542810 Government of the Wutai Mountain Scenic Spot
(Source: Women of China English Monthly March 2004)
