Sacred Mountain of Manjushri
Seen as one of the most holy places of Chinese Buddhism, Wu Tai Shan is a sacred Buddhist mountain located in North-East China in Shanxi Province.
One of the first times I heard of this mountain is from His Holiness Gaden Tripa Jampal Zhenpan in the USA before he conferred upon us the Manjushri empowerment. I had the fortune to visit this holy place over ten years back. Did alot of prayers there also.
Also known as Mount Wu Tai to many foreigners, the Chinese words translate to “Five (Wu 五) Plateau (Tai 台) Mountain (Shan 山)”. The mountain has five peaks, with the highest of these standing at 3,058 meters.
Wu Tai Shan is a popular destination for Buddhist pilgrims as it is one of the Four Sacred Mountains in Chinese Buddhism. The other three are in other Chinese provinces, they are: E Mei Shan (峨眉山), Jiu Hua Shan (九华山) and Pu Tuo Shan (普陀山).
It is believed that on each of the Four Sacred Mountains, there is a residing Boddhisattva. This is because of the sheer number of times the respective Boddhisattvas have manifested on those mountains. E Mei Shan is believed to be the abode of Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha resides in Jiu Hua Shan, Avaloketishvara in Pu Tuo Shan and Manjushri in Wu Tai Shan.
Besides Wu Tai Shan being seen as the abode of Manjushri, the mountain is home to 53 of China’s most sacred monasteries and temples. It also has some of the oldest existing wooden buildings in China dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
It was also during the Tang Dynasty that 360 temples existed… but only 53 of them have survived. Amongst those that survived, the five most famous ones are: Xian Tong temple, Ta Yuan temple, Manjushri temple (Summit Bodhisattva), Shu Xiang temple, and Luo Hou temple.
Wu Tai Shan is also home to over 600 species of plants… of which more than 150 species of grass can be used as rare herbs!
From reading the above, I’m sure that you can see how immensely rich in culture and history Wu Tai Shan is. It is globally recognized and in 2009, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of my students, Paul Yap (Liaison and Head of Kechara Blooms, Kechara Discovery and Kechara Saraswati Arts) paid a visit to Wu Tai Shan. He took a lot of great photos which I would like to share with all of you. Do take a look. I have added them into 5 image galleries… the photos are beautiful.
Take your time to let the photos load up. They are very nice photos and you will be very happy to see this sacred place… May you have the fortune to visit the holy mountain of Manjushri one day!!
Tsem Rinpoche
Selected Galleries of Wu Tai Shan
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Other Forms of Manjushri
Another form of Manjushri known as Manjushri Namasamgiti together with Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
Another form of Manjushri known as Dharmadhatu Vagishvara Manjushri together with Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
For more interesting information:
- 7 FEET-1000-armed Avalokiteshvara arrived!!
- Avalokiteshvara, Turkey Swamp and Me.
- China’s Huge Buddha Statues
- 1000-armed Kuan Yin-Foo Hai Ch’an Monastery
- Falling down’s A Good Sign
- Holy Place of Kuan Yin
- Visiting the Huge Kuan Yin in Pinang
- Deaf, Blind and Mute transforms into 1,000 arm Chenrezig
- Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol
- The Buddhist Protectors of Chinese Zodiac
- Mantras-Holy words of Power
- My Short Bio in pictures
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Wu Tai Shan is really an amazing tourists spot where one can enjoy the nature and culture of the place. Through this article, I got a chance to know some new information about China so I would like to thank you for sharing this with us. I am looking forward to reading other articles.
Hi Kishan,
Glad to know you enjoyed this article on Wu Tai Shan. Rinpoche always recommended us to read up on places before we go on pilgrimage, so that we can get the most benefit out of our trip there. By learning about the place and its significance, and what we can do while we are there, the trip doesn’t become just a holiday but a spiritually fulfilling experience.
Hope you will be able to visit Wu Tai Shan one day!
Thank you,
Pastor Jean AI
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
Mount Wu Tai looks so beautiful and serene. THe statues are also so beautiful. Very blessed to be able to see pictures of Mount Wu Tai or take a pilgrimage trip to visit this holy place. Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team to share about Mount Wu Tai ??
Mount Wutai is one of the four Sacred Buddhist mountains of China, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shanxi Province in China. It is a notable for its religious aspect, the beauty of rising and falling ridges of mountains, exotic rocks, crisscrossed gullies, crystalline waters and towering green forests. The cultural landscape is home to a number of monasteries and temples and is the most holy land of Chinese Buddhism. It became the focus of pilgrimages for many people from near and far. Mount Wutai reflects perfectly the fusion between the natural landscape and Buddhist culture, religious belief in the natural landscape . Mt. Wutai is resplendent in many resources owing to its natural conditions and important role in Buddhism. Amazing there’s over hundreds species of plants found and can be used as rare herbs. WuTaiSan is definitely a place worth visiting, and I am glad I am able to make a pilgrimage with my Dharma sisters and brother last year. Reading this post brings back sweet memories of my trip there.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post and those beautiful pictures taken by Paul.
Dear All
I would like to share with you the sacred prayer of Manjushri – A Concert Names of Manjushri (’Jam-dpal mtshan-brjod, Skt. Mañjuśrī-namasamgiti), which consists of 160 verses and mantra sentences. One version is translated by Alexander Berzin, a scholar, translator, and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and the other one is from FPMT.
Valentina
There are many places in the world today that are deemed as holy and sacred sites. These places hold special energies that often touch the people who visited them.
Wu Tai Shan does not only hold significant meaning in Buddhism but it also amazes us with nature and culture, both which can be considered a form of spirituality. Spirituality takes many forms and religion is only one aspect of it. Sacred and holy places such as Wu Tai Shan offers much more than just a religious pilgrimage site. A must visit for those who travel to China.
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[…] Sacred Mountain of Manjushri […]
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文殊师利菩萨，是无上智慧的代表。
五台山，这里面还有一段鲜为人知的故事。据传说，远古时代的五峰山一带气候异常恶劣，常年酷暑，当地百姓苦不堪言，时逢文殊菩萨在那里讲经说法，见到黎民百姓的疾苦，深表同情，于是发大愿拯救百姓脱离苦海。
文殊菩萨装扮成一个化缘的和尚，行程万里到东海龙王那里寻求帮助。他在龙宫门口发现了一块能散发凉风的巨大青石，于是便把它带了回来。当他把那块大青石（东海龙王的歇龙宝石）放置在五峰山一道山谷里时，刹那间，那里一下就变成了草丰水美、清凉无比的天然牧场。
此后，那条山谷也被起名叫做清凉谷。人们在山谷里建了一座寺院，将那清凉石圈在院内。为此，五峰山又名清凉山。
后来，隋文帝听说此事后，便下诏在五座山峰的台顶各建一座寺院供奉文殊菩萨。即东台顶的聪明文殊，西台顶的狮子吼文殊，南台顶的智慧文殊，北台顶的无垢文殊，中台顶的孺童文殊。在东台顶能看日出，西台顶能赏明月，南台顶能观山花，北台顶能望瑞雪。这就是五台山的由来。
山西五台山是驰名中外的佛教胜地，与浙江普陀山、四川峨眉山、安徽九华山并称为中国佛教四大名山。
五台山也是大智文殊师利菩萨的道场，而五台山又以建寺历史悠久和规模宏大，而居佛教四大名山之首——故有金五台之称，在日本、印度、斯里兰卡、缅甸、尼泊尔等国享有盛名。
五台山成为佛教圣地，并在中外佛教界发生重大影响，是从唐代开始的。唐代是五台山佛教发展史上的一个关键时期。
当时佛教备受推崇，文殊菩萨尤其为佛教徒所尊崇。因此国家规定，全国所有寺院的斋堂，都必须供奉文殊菩萨圣像。
有诗赞曰： ” 群峰面面拥奇观，朝雨和烟积翠峦。策杖千山浑不倦，披裘六月尚余寒。苍崖碧嶂周遭合，古木黄沙四望宽。云雾渐看山半起，却疑身已在云端。”
五台山是我今生一定要朝圣的佛教道场之一。。。。。
Mount Wutai were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
The bodhisattva is believed to frequently appear on the mountain, taking the form of ordinary pilgrims, monks, or most often unusual five-colored clouds.
Mount Wutai has an enduring relationship with Tibetan Buddhism.
Mount Wutai is also home to some of the oldest existent wooden buildings in China that have survived since the era of the Tang Dynasty (618–907). This includes the main hall of Nanchan Temple and the East Hall of Foguang Temple, 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
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing and also Paul with the nice pictures taken. Everyone should have visit this holy place.
In this time where ignorance is so strong, the more we need you wisdom, Lord Manjushri.
I would really love to be able to visit You 1 day in Wu Tai Shan. May all that see You be connected to you always!
I want to go to Wu Tai Shan one day with my grandfather because I think that it will do him good but I do not think that he will be able to climb much so maybe one day I will go with Mama instead. It would be so fun to visit the mountain of Manjushri. By the way, I really like the photos.
I hope to visit this amazing place with you one day, Sean 🙂 I’m not sure if i am any fitter than Ah Kong though 🙂
We can create the causes by doing our sadhanas well and also Gangloma and create a strong link with Manjushri.
I love the photos too.. and it’s amazing to see so many Tibetan images!
Mount Wu Tai looks so beautiful and serene. THe statues are also so beautiful. Can’t help but notice that they have Lama Tsongkapa and other tibetan buddhas in the temple. It goes to show that Lama Tsongkapa’s teachings are very influential in China.
I would really love to visit this sacred place in the future. And would also want to visit all the other 3 sacred mountains before I die. I had the opportunity to visit Mount Pu Tuo last year. 2 more to go. 🙂
Wow there are so many places and pictures to take in. Though the place is not very sunny but the pictures turned out very vibrant in the case of the statues in the temples. I do wish I can be up in Wu Tai Shan some day to pay hoage to Lord Manjushri.
The mount Wutai or “Five platforms or Abodes”, one of the four sacred mountains in chinese buddhism and in Buddhist lore, is the earthly residence of the great Bodhisattva Manjusri(Wensu in chinese). Each of the five platforms or abodes of mount Wutai has a temple and is viewed as the abode or place of practice of one of the four great Bodhisattvas. Nuns, monks and Lamas from different orders and from all over China, Japan, Nepal and Thailand come to Wutaishan during summertime, some to climb the five terraces, others simply to take part in the many activities of the temple. Immensely rich in culture and history, and globally recognised, Wutaisan became officially listed as UNESCO’S WORLD HERITAGE SITE in 2009. MAY ALL HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE AND BLESSINGS TO BE ABLE TO VISIT AND SEE THIS SACRED PLACE AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME!
Everyone must click and see all the beautiful pictures of this place. Make a strong wish to visit one day. It is so important of a place. TR
Thank you very much indeed. Best wishes, always good fortune and a healthy long life.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing these beautiful photos.
May I be fortunate enough to visit Wu Tai San one day…a dream I look forward to.
Yes, you definitely can visit. Do Tsongkapa Guru Yoga daily with lots of Migtseymas daily…It will help create the causes. TR