Travel China - Four Mountain Sanctuaries Travel

The Four Mountain Sanctuaries

There are more than 200 mountains in China, which have associations with Buddhism. Among them are the famous Buddhism's Four Mountain Sanctuaries. They are the domains of Buddhism's four most venerated Bodhisattvas.

Mount Wutai of Shanxi Province is the domain of Manjusri, or the Universal Great Wisdom Bodhisattva. Mount Emei of Sichuan Province is the domain of Samantabhadra, or Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence (Universal Worthy Great Conduct Bodhisattva). Mount Putuo of Zhejiang Province is the domain of Avalokitesvara or Guan Shi Yin Great Compassion Bodhisattva (Goddess of Mercy). Mount Jiuhua of Anhui Province is the domain of Ksitigarbha or Earth Treasury King Great Vow Bodhisattva (Guardian of the Earth).

Wutai has four peaks thoughtfully laid out by Mother Nature according to the natural points of the compass, with a fifth in the middle. They have been worn smooth and wide by time, hence the mountain's name, "Five Terraces" or Wutai in Chinese. Wutai sits 3, 000 meters above sea level. According to statistics, Wutai has more than 70 temples containing over 20, 000 Buddhist statues.

Emei is located in western Sichuan Province. It features many attractive places, especially the summit, or "golden peak." Atop the peak are many unusual scenes of nature such as "Buddha's halo," and the local monkeys that call Emei their home are well accustomed to the foibles of visitors.

Jiuhua is located in southern Anhui Province, and it too is home to many ancient Buddhist temples. There are seven Buddhist pagodas and over 60 temples still standing, including the Dharmakaya statue of the eminent monk Yingshen of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Putuo is located in the East China Sea in Northeast Zhejiang. There are three temples here, Puji, Fayu and Huiji, occupying a special position in Chinese Buddhist architecture.

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