Pusa-Ding of Mount Wutai
Dear Rinpoche,
I came across this article today which features The Summit of Bodhisattva, Pusa-Ding Monastery – Wutaishan.
According to the article, Emperor Kangxi visited this monastery in 1714.
This place gave lodging to Qing Emperors, Mongolian warlords and Tibetan lamas whenever they traveled to Wutaishan for pilgrimages.
Here is the link to the site: http://sukhasights.blogspot.com/search?q=kangxi
I will share some pictures with Rinpoche.
Thank you,
Pastor Antoinette Kass
The Summit of Bodhisattva, Pusa-Ding Monastery – Wutaishan
The Monastery of Pusa-Ding (菩萨顶), sitting at the highest point of the Central Terrace at the peak of Lingjiu-feng (灵鹫峰), north-west of the town Taihuai-zhen (台怀镇), looks like another Potala-Gong Monastery of Tibet from a distance. It is the largest and most complete Tibetan Monastery in Wutaishan. The Temple was called The Great Monastery of Manjushri (大文殊院) when it was first established in the Northern Wei Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen-Di (孝文帝 671-499 BC). After the restoration in the year 631 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) by a monk named Rev. Fayun (法云法师), the name was changed to Zhenrong-Yan (真容院). The temple site was expanded to enshrine an image of Manjushri by an imperial order in the year 1004 during the Song Dynasty. A plague written with Fengzhen-Ge (奉真阁) was then presented by the Emperor. In the Ming Dynasty, Zhenrong-yuan was ordered to rebuild it into The Great Temple of Manjushri (大文殊寺) within the years 1403-1425 and the name has continued to be used until today. The monastery is now commonly known as Pusa-Ding which literally means the summit of Bodhisattvas.
The most glorious period of the Monastery was during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when it was converted into a Lamasery by Emperor Shunzhi (顺治帝) in the year 1656. In order to further increase the faith from Tibetans and Mongolians, Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) bestowed the title of Provincial Commander-in-Chief to the monastery’s Senior Lama and ordered the whole state of Shanxi to allocate contributions to the temple. The roofing tiles of the Monastery were also changed to royal yellow glazed tiles in the years 1683-1691, like those used for imperial buildings. All Lama temples were then under the control of Pusa-Ding as the Imperial authority had made it the highest leading position of the region. The site has been the accommodation lodge for Qing Emperors, Mongolian warlords and Tibetan Lamas whenever they traveled to Wutaishan for pilgrimage.
It is said that the sign located above the gate was written by Emperor Kangxi
The 108 steps are made up of whole pieces of stone and they are like layers of stone plastered towards the sky, steep and precipitous. The colourful Gateway on the platform above the top of the 108 stone steps is said to be erected by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty when he visited Wutaishan in the year 1714. It is supported by four pillars and has three layers on top with three entrances. The four Chinese characters 灵峰仙境 (meaning the fairy site at Lingjiu Peak) inscribed at the centre were written by the Emperor. When we stand below the Gateway, the enclosed scenic sights and the magnificent undulating view of the close and distant mountainous region are under our bird eye view.
The interesting legend of Pusa-Ding is related to Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) of the Qing Dynasty. It is said that when he once visited Wutaishan and stayed in Xiantong-si Monastery, the Abbot gladly informed him about a good sign that two water source wells were discovered at the main hall of the Entrance Gate at Pusa-Ding. The Emperor listened but gave no response. After few days of wandering at the town area, he one day suddenly ordered two of his written stone steles to be placed over the two newly found spring wells. The monks had no alternative but to follow the imperial order and seal up the wells forever. The officials were confused at the Emperor’s decision and asked for the reason one day when he was happy in the palace. The Emperor revealed that when he looked back at Pusa-Ding from the town that day, he saw there were two huge pine trees by the two sides of the Entrance Gate as if they were a pair of dragon horns and the temple itself appeared exactly like a dragon head. The two newly found spring wells served as the dragon’s eyes, putting the dragon in a take-off position. It was believed that if there was a dragon symbol in a ready-to-fly posture, the place would deliver a future emperor. Qing Emperors were Manchurians who had just defeated the Han and conquered China. Kangxi was afraid that Wutaishan might produce a future Han Emperor that would take back his Kingdom. Thus, he covered up the two spring wells to destroy a dragon symbol.
Source: http://sukhasights.blogspot.com/search?q=kangxi
The stupa. The well-maintained complex occupies a total land area of 45 acres with 430 building structures at the site.
At the centre court, there is a huge board inscribed with the mantra Dabei-zhou and a Dragon Stele embossed with several pairs of dragons guarding the pearls.
The Main Shrine Hall is the venue for all large activities held at site. The Hall enshrines three Buddha images of Shakyamuni, Amitabha and Maitreya, representing the Buddhas of the Past, the Present and the Future. Many Tibetan Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas in the past have given Dharma talks at this Hall.
The Vajra Hall
The front yard of the Manjushri Hall also has some steles and inlaid at the cross beam of the stone wall are four Chinese characters 五台圣境 which means the sacred site of Wutaishan. It is the hand writing of Emperor Kangxi.
The Hall of Manjushri is also known as Water Dripping Hall (滴水殿) as water was found dripping down from the roofing eaves for a long period and had caused stalagmites at the stone steps under it. Leaving a hole at the roofing tiles to receive water during the raining season to be stored at the leak-proof area underneath, was actual a special architectural design of the ancient construction. Stalagmites were gradually formed when water slowly seeped out from the storage area during non-raining months and dripped from the roof eaves onto the ground. Currently there is no more water dripping down from the eaves as the people who did the restoration work did not know how to preserve it.
The golden glaring yellow roof of the Manjushri Hall and its awesome metal caldron.
The large Chinese word 福 (pronounced as fu) which means blessing, is another hand writing of Emperor Kangxi.
Being a symbol of the emperor, this golden illustration of five clawed dragon looks vivid and lively.
For more interesting information:
- Pilgrimage to Mount Wutai
- Wonderful Wu Tai Shan – Manjushri’s holy place
- Mount Wutai – The Earthly Abode of Lord Manjushri
- Sacred Mountain of Manjushri
- A Kecharian Pilgrimage to Wu Tai Shan
- 五台山——文殊菩萨人间道场
- 五台山朝圣之旅
- Must visit Bodhgaya – The Navel of the World
- Power Place: Jog Falls
- Holy Place of Kuan Yin
- 74 Grand Statues of the World
- Wonderful Sri Lanka
- Must visit Chengdu (exotic and exciting)
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Mantras in the waters of Kechara Forest Retreat-Malaysia
Mantras represent the blessings of the enlightened beings in the form of sound. When we recite mantras they stimulate the various parts of our body to heal itself, to clear itself, to purify itself and to gain higher states of consciousness. Therefore, mantras are very powerful. They can be written, visualised or recited out aloud. The mantras of enlightened beings bless ordinary beings, animals, ethereal or formless beings and everyone in the environment.
In Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia, we have a koi fish pond, on which sits a magnificent statue of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. When the fish circumambulate around Manjushri they are blessed by his divine presence. At the same time, people who come to visit the pond and circumambulate around Manjushri receive the same blessings.
Along with the Manjushri fish pond, we also have a lake in Kechara Forest Retreat. In the middle of this lake is a Shakyamuni Buddha statue. In both these places we have placed Manjushri mantra stones underneath submerged under the water so that the animals, humans and beings who circumambulate these holy statues, not only circumambulate the images of the Buddhas but also sacred mantras. The is done in order to plant the seeds of enlightenment in their mindstreams so that in the future they are able to realise Bodhicitta, the realisation of Emptiness and higher states of consciousness. So, I thought I would share this little video with everyone. Thank you.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1542840739.mp4
This video, narrated in Chinese, features Manjushri mantra stones. These are stones carved with the sacred mantra of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. The mantra of any Buddha is basically the manifestation of the enlightened being in the form of sound. Therefore, Manjushri’s mantra embodies the special qualities of his transcendent wisdom. Offering of these mantras stones is likened to an offering of Manjushri-like speech to the Three Jewels.
Sponsoring and offering such stones has the benefit of gaining deeper insight into spiritual practice, improving one’s memory, critical thinking, creativity, language and the purification of negative karma related to speech. It also promotes the development of powerful speech that has a positive impact on others.
In the video we see mantra stones placed at the majestic Four-armed Manjushri statue in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia. The more stones are offered there, the more benefit it brings to the person circumambulating and paying homage to Lord Manjushri. These stones are available at Naropa’s Cave in Kechara Forest Retreat and can be offered to the statue of Manjushri here just as you see in the video.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1542838906.mp4
This is a place, it seems to be a place of power whereby the elite Chinese people and rulers gathered to pay homage to Wu Tai Shan. It was also favoured heavily by the Qing Dynasty, receiving patronage from the Emperor Shunzhi himself, as the Qing dynasty were practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism like most of Mongolian tribes.
It has the feel of those basecamps in Nepal, before one were to scale the Himalayan mountains. It has that feel of a doorway to Manjushri and Dorje Shugden’s abode.
Very interesting history of Pusa Ding. Wonderful history and photos linking back to Emperor Kangxi who is the reincarnation of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen as well as an emanation of Buddha Manjushri . A very beautiful place to go for pilgrimage. Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Antoinette for this wonderful write up ? ?
Thank you Pastor Antoinette Kass for sharing the article written about Pusa-Ding Monastery with many beautiful and sacred photos of the temple structures as well as the surroundings at Wutaishan, China. The 108 stairs to the entrance of Pusa-Ding temple is an auspicious reminder of the 108 volumes of Kangyur (teachings or words spoken by the Buddha himself). According to this article, Emperor Kangxi had ordered the whole state of Shanxi to allocate contributions to the temple and hence, through these contributions, people from Shanxi were able to accumulate merits and create the causes for the growth and preservation of Buddhadharma in China. As there are many Chinese characters written by Emperor Kangxi himself and long history of Buddhadharma in Wutaishan, it is very meritorious and auspicious for anyone who has made the effort and time to go for pilgrimage trip in Wutaishan, pay homage to the Buddhas, recite prayers and mantras, and make auspicious wishes for the benefit of all sentient beings. Emperor Kangxi is the reincarnations of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen as well as an emanation of Manjushri Buddha. Please refer to the link below for more information about Emperor Kangxi.
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/art-architecture/emperor-kangxi.html
May the Buddhadharma continues to grow and spread to the ten directions until samsara ends.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
???Thank you Pastor Antoinette for sharing.
Is full of historical.
A great place to visit at least once.
The history of Pusa Ding is really interesting. Before this, Pusa Ding was named as Great Monastery of Manjushri then Zhenrong-Yan then after rebuild it renamed as Pusa Ding till today. Emperor Kangxi did allocate much contributions to Pusa Ding and change the roof tiles to royal yellow glazed tiles. It is really beautiful.
I never been Mt Wutai. After read this article, I can get to know more about Mt Wutai and I wish I can visit this place one day in future.
Thanks Rinpoche and Pastor Antoinette Kass for kindly sharing.
Jason
Reading this beautiful post reminds me of my pilgrimage to this Holy place last year september with those wonderful kecharains. Pusa Ding (Bodhisattva’s Peak) sits on top of Vulture Peak, with stunning architecture ancient buildings and wonderful scenery to view. Built between 471 and 499, it has been rebuilt and renamed many times. Having a flight of 108 steps which represent the 108 distractions from the spiritual life. This temple was popular with Qing emperors Kangxi and Qianlong and it was in 1714 Emperor Kangxi visited this temple. Pusa Ding is famous for its yellow roofs and imperial dragon imagery. It seem that this temple is the largest of Gelugpa sect in Wutaishan. I am glad I made it there a place worth going as Wu Tai San is one of the place where Dorje Shugden abides and the abodes of Lord Manjushri. Its a fruitful pilgrimage for all of us.
For those of them who have not been to there, i wish everyone could visit to the beautiful Pusa-Ding of Mount Wutai . A pilgrimage worth going.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Antoinette Kass for this wonderful sharing.
Pusa-Ding is the largest monastery in Wutaishan. It is the main monastery out of the 10 Gelugpa monasteries in Wutaishan. The architecture of this monastery is magnificient that almost looks like the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
During the Qing Dynasty, Pusa-Ding became a royal temple, and its status was extremely honorable. The roofing of the main building were covered with royal yellow glazed tiles. The monastery has provided accommodation for Qing Emperors, Mongolian warlords and Tibetan lamas whenever they had pilgrimage in Wutaishan.
Pusa-Ding has always been favored by the Qing Dynasty’s Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong. Emperor Kangxi had 5 times pilgrimage to Pusa-Ding. Not only did Emperor Kangxi give financial support, Kangxi ordered many prayers regularly for the protection of the state and the longevity of the royal family members.
Until now, Pusa-Ding is must visit tourist attraction site as well as pilgrimage destination to Buddhists. The monastery is in good conditions. Several of steles and boards and stone plaque inscribed with characters written by varies emperors from different dynasties are well preserved too.