Bodhisattva Summit

Bodhisattva Summit

Bodhisattva Summit is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Bodhisattva Summit is located on Lingjiu Peak of Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province. Dazzlingly splendid and richly colorful with an imperial palace style, it is the largest temple on Mount Wutai and one of the nationally key Buddhist temples in Han Chinese regions designated by the State Council.

Introduction

The largest Gelug monastery in Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province. It is located on Lingjiu Peak, north of Xiantong Temple in Taihuai Town of Mount Wutai. Legend has it that this is the bodhimanda of Manjushri Bodhisattva, his dwelling place, hence it is also called Zhenrong Temple or Great Manjushri Temple; it is one of the five major meditation sites of Mount Wutai. The temple was founded during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (471–499) and has been renovated many times throughout history. After the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, Mongolian and Tibetan Buddhists moved into Mount Wutai, making it the foremost among the Yellow Temples of Mount Wutai. Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Mount Wutai several times and stayed at Bodhisattva Summit. They bestowed the Great Lama Commander Seal upon the temple and ordered all officials across Shanxi Province, including the Shanxi Governor, Datong Military Commander, and Daizhou Daoist Official, to pay tribute to the great lama.

Covering an area of 45 mu, the temple's halls are built along the mountain slope with a rigorous layout. There are 108 stone steps leading up to the temple. Inside the mountain gate are structures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Bell and Drum Towers, and Mahavira Hall. All halls are covered with tricolor glazed tiles. In addition, the temple houses an imperial stele of Emperor Kangxi, which stands on a square pedestal with dragon heads, located in the front courtyard; the imperial stele of Emperor Qianlong is housed within the stele pavilion of the East Zen Courtyard. Carved from a massive square stone, it is six meters high and one meter wide on each side, inscribed with texts in four languages: Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan.

Architecture

Bodhisattva Summit is the name in the Manchu language, meaning the dwelling place of Manjushri Bodhisattva. With a long history, by the Qing Dynasty, it had essentially become an imperial family temple, enjoying an extremely noble status.

The golden age of Bodhisattva Summit was during the Qing Dynasty. In the 13th year of the Shunzhi reign, it was converted into a lamasery. Emperor Kangxi granted the temple the Great Lama Commander Seal and ordered all officials in Shanxi Province, including the Shanxi Governor, Datong Military Commander, and Daizhou Daoist Official, to offer tribute to the great lama. The reason is said to be related to a romantic episode of Emperor Kangxi on Mount Wutai. Once, while traveling on Mount Wutai, he passed through Yingfang Street and saw a common girl named Meizhi hulling rice. She looked as beautiful as plum blossoms. That night, staying at the Imperial City (a palace specially built for him on Mount Wutai), Kangxi was moved and composed a poem: “Riding a fine horse, passing the Imperial Manor, I met a maiden hulling millet. Her jade-like fingers held the pole, her golden lotus feet busy beneath the skirt. Gently lifting the winnowing basket, slowly tossing the chaff, she straightened her dress and adjusted her appearance when turning back. Sweat glistened on her powdered face like dew on flowers, dust on her delicate brows like frost on willows. What a pity for such a graceful maiden, to whom will she be married, a farmer’s son?” Kangxi left the poem on his desk, where an eunuch found it and guessed the emperor’s intention. That night, the eunuch visited Meizhi and took her to the Imperial City. Later, Meizhi became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was taken by Kangxi elsewhere and given the title “First Rank Official of the Realm.” Meizhi was also made a concubine and lived in the Concubine Temple below Bodhisattva Summit. After the titled great lama died, successive ones inherited all privileges, levying excessive taxes and exploiting both local people and monks, which made everyone hate them deeply. In the first year of the Yongzheng reign, Zheng Xi, a native of Jiangfang Village, Wutai County, who served as a reviser at the Hanlin Academy, went to northern Shaanxi and northwestern Shanxi to investigate the disaster situation, comfort victims, and visit his hometown. After learning about the people’s conditions, he and the magistrate of Wutai County, Lu Changhua, submitted a memorial exposing the crimes of the great lama. The Yongzheng Emperor ordered imperial investigators to handle the case. Fearing punishment, the great lama fled, and the Commander Seal was revoked. By 1918, the 13th Dalai Lama appointed the great lama Lobsang Puncog, who resided at Bodhisattva Summit. Patriotic and devoted to Buddhism, he earned high prestige, serving three consecutive six-year terms. Lobsang Puncog supported the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Government, was one of the founders of the Buddhist Association of China, served as an executive director, and was a representative of the Shanxi Provincial People’s Congress and a member of the CPPCC. He passed away in Beijing in 1954.

Climbing the 108 stone steps, according to Buddhist belief, means treading upon the 108 worldly afflictions underfoot. Standing under the memorial archway and touching the pillars, looking around, you can see the distant mountains, the clouds above them, the nearby Qingshui River, and the majestic temple complex — all come into view, making you truly feel the aptness of the words “Spiritual Peak Scenic Realm.” This is a wonderful vantage point for enjoying the view from above. In the spring of 1948, when the Central Committee of the Party traveled from Yan’an to Xibaipo, Hebei, they passed through Mount Wutai. Comrade Chen Yi wrote a poem: “I hadn’t planned to visit Mount Wutai, but due to tight schedules, I took a detour. To this day, I still feel joy, for I once stepped on Bodhisattva Summit.”

Bodhisattva Summit now covers an area of 9,160 square meters, with over 100 halls, monk quarters, and other buildings of various sizes. The layout is compact yet varied, all constructed during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. The temple can generally be divided into three parts: the front courtyard, middle courtyard, and rear courtyard. The main structures along the central axis include the mountain gate, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Manjushri Hall. On both sides, symmetrically arranged, are the Bell and Drum Towers, Zen Courtyards, and others. The main halls are centrally located, tall and majestic; the auxiliary halls flank them, symmetrically arranged. The layout of the entire temple complex not only highlights the center but is also magnificent and grand. Coupled with red pillars, red walls, and golden glazed tiles, it appears even more resplendent and luxurious. Its form and grandeur are no less than those of royal palaces, truly resembling a heavenly Buddhist realm.

The arrangement and sculptures of the main halls of Bodhisattva Summit are rich in Buddhist color. The Mahavira Hall, which is seven bays wide, houses the Buddhas Vairocana, Amitabha, and Bhaisajyaguru at the back, while the front features a statue of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The statue of Manjushri in the Manjushri Hall differs from those in Han Chinese Buddhist temples (Green Temples); it is made according to the classic regulations of the Gelug school — the head is tilted sideways, the waist twisted, the hair loose, and the body adorned with jewelry, appearing particularly lively and vivid. On the walls on both sides hang thangkas — Tibetan paintings on cloth. Additionally, on the column capitals of the Mahavira Hall and Manjushri Hall hang small peach-shaped plaques inscribed with Sanskrit mantras. These are unique decorations in the architecture of Buddhist temples.

Bodhisattva Summit is located on Lingmeng Peak northwest of Xiantong Temple. It is the largest and most complete Gelug monastery on Mount Wutai, covering 45 mu with over 430 halls and rooms. It has always been valued for its grand architecture and magnificent Buddha statues. Legend says Bodhisattva Summit is where Manjushri Bodhisattva resides. Founded in the Northern Wei period and originally named Zhenrong Temple, it is also called Manjushri Temple. After the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, Mongolian and Tibetan Buddhists moved into Mount Wutai, and the great lama resided at Bodhisattva Summit. Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty stayed here during their visits. Bodhisattva Summit sits atop a mountain peak, with a relatively high terrain, and the clustered halls and strict layout make it appear majestic. The 108 stone steps in front of the mountain gate symbolize the 108 counties formerly under Shanxi. Visitors often look down at the panoramic view of Taihuai Town from these steps and take photos. Inside the mountain gate are the main temple structures: the Heavenly King Hall, Bell and Drum Towers, Bodhisattva Summit, and Mahavira Hall. The roofs of these buildings are covered with tricolor glazed tiles, appearing vibrant. Despite centuries of weathering, the colors remain as fresh as new. In the East Zen Courtyard stands a stele pavilion with two imperial steles of Emperor Qianlong, each six meters tall. The inscriptions in Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan briefly describe the history of Bodhisattva Summit and Emperor Qianlong’s visit to Mount Wutai. The calligraphy is smooth and powerful. The existing buildings of Bodhisattva Summit were all rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. Their design and craftsmanship mostly follow the styles of imperial palaces and official buildings, appearing luxurious and splendid. The carving art is especially precious.

Festivals

Since the introduction of Tibetan Buddhism to Mount Wutai in the Qing Dynasty, every year from the 4th to the 15th day of the 6th lunar month, rituals and dharma assemblies are held. Bodhisattva Summit is naturally the center, and other Green Temples also open their doors to welcome pilgrims and tourists from all over. On the 14th, lamas across the mountain wear various masks and costumes, chant scriptures, and perform Vajra dances to “subdue demons” at Bodhisattva Summit. On the 15th, they perform “spirit dances” at Luohou Temple and parade through the streets. Leading the procession is a statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva, followed by the great lama riding in a palanquin carried by eight men, the second lama on horseback, and other monks beating drums, sounding gongs, and playing temple music — a lively scene. Locals and tourists flock to watch. Although the content and form of this ancient temple fair have changed over time, it has been passed down to this day. It is said that the June temple fair of Mount Wutai originated from Tibet. During the Tang Dynasty, a Tibetan king named Langdarma emerged. Reflecting on the lessons of previous kings who excessively revered Buddhism — allowing high monks to decide state affairs and basing administrative systems entirely on sutras, which caused dissatisfaction among the people — he implemented a policy to suppress Buddhism in the first year of the Huichang era of Emperor Wuzong of Tang (841 AD), resulting in the closure of temples and the flight of monks. Thus, a legend spread among Tibetan Buddhists: when Langdarma suppressed Buddhism, only four monks who had taken full precepts remained. They devised a plan to hold a dance performance to lure the king out and kill him. On the 15th of June, led by the four monks who had taken monastic vows, along with other unordained monks, they danced wearing various masks under the Quezamzan Tower while the king watched from above. The great lama Lhalung Palgyi Dorje hid a bow and arrow in his robe sleeve and dyed his white horse black. When the dance reached its climax and the king was enthralled, an arrow suddenly shot and hit his throat. The great lama quickly mounted his horse and fled. The black horse crossed the Yarlung Tsangpo River, and after being washed by the water, it turned white again. The king’s men, not seeing the black horse, stopped chasing. Lhalung Palgyi Dorje safely escaped to a remote place and attained nirvana in a cave. Since five ordained monks were needed to pass on the precepts, and only three remained, they invited two Chinese monks to form a new group of five. To commemorate the two Chinese monks, the monks switched from using yellow thread to blue thread for their robes. To honor Lhalung Palgyi Dorje’s bravery, every lamasery holds grand dharma assemblies from the 4th to the 15th of June each year. This legend reflects the long history of friendly exchanges between Han and Tibetan monks.

Dongzhuang Village: Dongzhuang Village is located in Taihuai Town, Wutai County. The village has a total population of 330 and 120 households. The cultivated land area is 157 mu, including 157 mu of cultivated land and 2,179 mu of forested land, with a total oilseed yield of 1 mu.

Dongzhuang Village has a total population of 330: there is 1 rural Party branch, with 23 rural Party members, accounting for 6%. Among these 23 rural Party members, 9 are over 55 years old, accounting for 40%; 6 have a high school education or above, accounting for 30%; and 6 are local leaders in wealth generation, accounting for 30%.

The Village Party Branch Committee consists of 5 members, all over 35 years old... More details about Dongzhuang Village++