Other Scenic Spots in the High-elevation Area
Jade-like Hard Rime
In the primitive forest in the alpine region above Xixiangchi, there are over 150 days from late autumn to early spring when rain droplets and fog form into ice, like towering jade trees and blooming jade flowers. This phenomenon is called hard rime in meteorology.
Lianwang Slope
It is a famous dangerous slope in Mt. Emei, also known as Yanwang (King of the Hell) Slope. Located between the former site of Dacheng Temple and Baiyun Pavilion, the slope is two kilometers long, with 13 turns and over 1100 steps. A dangerous part of the slope is called Huseng(Foreign Monk) Stairs, also named Lingyun Stairs and Husun Stairs. It is said that once there was a foreign monk piled up stones with a wood board on the top to show directions to the passers-by. This anecdote can be found in Fan Chengda, the great poet’s poem Husun Stairs.
Leidongping
Leidongping was called Xieshen Shrine in the Song Dynasty and renamed Xieshen Hall in the Yuan Dynasty. When Monk Qingyue worshiped seven Buddha statues inside the hall in the Wanli Period of Ming Dynasty, the hall turned into a temple. Currently, the first hall worships Maitreya Buddha while the second hall is under restoration.
Leidongping-Wannian Temple Maple Watching Zone
The Zone is located on the mountaineering trail from Wannian Temple to Leidong Temple. With a investment of RMB600,000, a total of 17,000 maple trees have been planted in Baoguo Temple Scenic Zone and Wannian Temple Scenic Zone. Together with a maple observation deck in Leidongping area, a maple watching zone with an area of one sq km came into being, showing the beautiful views of red maple leaves of Mt. Emei to tourists.
Clouds and Mists in Leidongping
The road between Baiyun Pavilion and Jieyin Temple is secluded and known for its uniqueness and danger. Scholars of all periods praised the steepness of the peaks, intangibility of the clouds and mists and the tranquility of Leidongping. After the overnight rains, clouds and mists curl upwards from the steep valley, swinging and swaying with the mountain breeze, presenting a magnificent meteorological view of the alpine region in Mt. Emei. It is said that silence must be maintained here, otherwise the God of Thunder will be annoyed and thunderbolts will arise from the bottom of the rocks.
Sea of Azalea in Suoluoping
Nearly one third of azalea species of the mountain are concentrated in Suoluoping and Leidongping. From late spring to early summer, various species of azalea come into blossom one by one according to their own florescence with different colors, light yellow, light purple, snow white, pink or purplish red. Guest-greeting azalea meets climbers with its yellow flower while Rhododendron wiltonii stands at the cliffside and looks proudly at the valley, dignified and graceful. Wandering in Suoluoping is like walking in the sea of flowers. Looked closely, the mountain and the flowers are like a large natural bonsai on a dangerous slope, grand and magnificent; like a delicate basket of flowers or a vase of flowers hanging on a rock, free and unrestrained. Looked from the top, clusters of azalea flowers form flower balls, flower terraces and flower sea, like a garden in the air. Walking inside of it, you will feel you are a flower fairy yourself!
Jieyin Temple
It is called Xindian in the Song Dynasty and Jieyin Temple in the Ming Dynasty. During the reign of Shunzhi Emperor in the Qing Dynasty, an old monk from Hebei came here.Seeing a Buddha statue lying in the snow,he then took an oath to starve himself for seven days in order to raise money to restore the temple. That’s why the temple is called Jieyin Temple(“Jieyin”means teach, deliver and show direction in Chinese). Now there are three halls in Jieyin Temple: the Main Hall, the Samantabhadra Hall and Jieyin Hall.
Qili Slope (Seven Li Slope)
Qili Slope, also called Qili Corridor, is another well-known dangerous slope in Mt. Emei and the last dangerous slope on the way to the Golden Summit. Its name originated from its length: 7 Huali. There are 31 turns and 2380 steps winding upwards, making people feel as if they were climbing to the sky. Fir, azalea, Yushania niitakayamensis and various groves make up an alpine green corridor, dotted with oddly-shaped trees and stone, resembling stone bonsais. Walking on the slope is like touring in a picture.
First Mountain Promises a Fruitful Year
This spot is situated on the surface of a rock near Jieyin Temple. There are three natural red moss-grown Chinese characters on the rock vertically, Di Yi Shan, meaning the First Mountain. However, it is not easy to see all of the three characters. Sometimes only Di and Yi can be seen; sometimes only Yi and Shan. It is said that if all of the three characters show up, a fruitful year is promised. That’s how this site is named.
Dressing Table
It is on the way to Qili Slope, with a view called Dress to Keep the Moon. On the platform locates a small pavilion. It is said that when Empress Dowager Cisheng, mother of Wanli Emperor of Ming Dynasty made her pilgrimage here, she got off her sedan chair and dressed herself property in order to show her piousness.
Taiziping
Located above Qili Slope, Taiziping was firstly built in the Ming Dynasty and called Wanxing Temple. Because Empress Dowager Li gave birth to Wanli Emperor after she prayed in Mt. Emei, the then Temple was renamed Taiziping, worshipping the prince’s statue. When casting coins to the statue, if your coin touches the statue, you will get a baby boy. Under the rock in front of the temple, there is a stone resembling an elephant, which is said to be the incarnation of Samantabhadra’s elephant.
Tianmen Stone (Sky Gate Stone)
Also known as Stone Gateway, the stone, which is 6 meters high, 16 meters long and 12 meters wide, seemingly been split into two halves by the immortal with a sword. Thestone is like a gate to a castle.And the incision is very smooth, forming a one-meter-wide stone lane. There are four Chinese characters: Tian Kai Bu Er and several inscriptions made in Ming and Qing dynasties carved on the surface of the stone. The legend goes that when Samantabhadra passed by and saw a large stone in the way, he asked Lingzu Buddha to clear the way. While reciting the mantra, the Buddha cut the stone with the sacred ax, making way in the middle of the stone for Samantabhadra to go through with his elephant to the Golden Summit.
Jingang Rocks
At the side of the Sheshen Cliff, many large rocks are standing there, like towering pillars pointing to the sky. The top of the pillars are flat enough to be used as an observation platform. As the stones are steep like rock mouths, the place is also called Jingang Mouth.
Sheshen Cliff
The cliff is on the Golden Summit, with a height of over 700 meters. Standing at the edge of the cliff, you cannot see the bottom; instead, you can only see the terrifyingly precipitous stones. Below the stones is a mysterious place blocked by clouds and fogs throughout the year with few people treading.
Holy Palaces Encircling the Golden Buddha
The Golden Palace, Silver Palace, Bronze Palace and Iron Palace are collectively known as Holy Palaces. The four palaces all face the 48-meter-high four-face and ten-direction golden Samantabhatra statue, encircling and protecting the statute, implying that Samantabhatra will deliver all living creatures from torment. The architectural complex on the Golden Summit all adopt ancient temples’ style, with the Golden Palace, Bronze Palace and the Golden Buddha Statue as the central axis, the Silver Palace on the left, and the to-be-restored Wish Pagoda and Avalokitesvara Hall (Iron Palace) on the right.
Sightseeing in the Heaven
It means watching the six wonders of the Golden Palace, Golden Buddha, Buddha’s Light, Holy Lights, Sea of Clouds and Sunrise on the Golden Summit. The Golden Summit Observation Platform consists of Sheshen Cliff, Jingang Mouth, Duguang (See the Light) Platform and Xiuxin (Cultivate the Mind) Platform, with a total length of 1200 meters and an area of 16000 sq m. Accomodating thousands of people sightseeing in the meantime, it is the most splendid observation platform in the world. Standing on the peak surrounded by mountains of mountains and looking around at the snow-covered landscape, you will have a panoramic view of the grandness of Mt. Gongga and the unique features of Mt. Emei.
Woyun Temple
It was firstly built in the Tang Dynasty, which is also called Silver Palace. The current Woyun Temple was restored in accordance with the principle of “restoring the old as the old”, with an investment of over RMB10 million. Amid the ever-changing sea of clouds, the peaks are like shipping sailing on the sea. So it is with the temple. That’s how Woyun Temple got its name. There are three halls in the Temple, namely, Maitreya Hall, Avalokitesvara Hall and Jade Buddha Hall. As the tin roof tiles shine in the sun, the temple is also called Silver Palace and Silver Summit.
Wanfo Summit
Walking from the Golden Summit horizontally towards the west, you will come to Qianfo Summit. There once existed a temple named Qianfo Temple on the peak, but it is nowhere to be seen now. Passing Qianfo Summit you will arrive at Wanfo Summit, the highest peak of Mt. Emei, with a height of 3099 meters above the sea level. There was a temple named Manjusri Temple, or Qingliang Temple, Jile Hall. It was constructed in the Zhengde Period (1506-1521) of Ming Dynatry, and reconstructed in during the reign of Guangxu Emperor of Qing Dynasty (1871-1908). The Depository of Buddhist Sutras built then had a collection of thousands of Buddhist texts, leading other temples in Mt. Emei. Firs here are luxuriantly spread with azalea and bamboo scattering aside. Looking from the bottom of Mt. Emei, Wanfo Summit, Qianfo Summit and Golden Summit standing abreast, resemble the forehead of a beauty.
7. Buddhist Culture
Mt. Emei is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and has been made a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.The Committee commented that: “The first Buddhist temple in China (Mt. Emei) was built here in Sichuan Province in the 1st century A.D. in the beautiful summit of Mt. Emei. The addition of other temples turned the site into one of Buddhism's holiest sites.”
As a major part of ancient China’s Southern Silk Road, Mt. Emei had become a place essential for connecting with Southeastern countries before the Han Dynasty(202B.C-220). In the 1st century AD, Buddhism was introduced into Mt. Emei via the Southern Silk Road from India.Mt. Emei Records recorded the storythatMt. Emei’s medicinal herb collector, a man surnamed Pu built Puguang Hall on the peak of Mt. Emei in the East Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), starting Mt. Emei’s Buddhism history. In 399 AD, Master Huiyuan’s younger brother, Monk Huichi came to Sichuan and was warmly treated by the governors. In 400 AD, when Huichi came to Mt. Emei, seeing some thatched huts halfway on the mountain, he constructed a temple with local monks on the site where now Wannian Temple locates. They built a Samantabhadra statue and named the Temple Puxian (Samantabhadra) Temple.
The four Buddhas worshiped in China have four different representation. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva is associated with Buddhist practice and meditation; Manjusri Buddisattva represents transcendent wisdom; Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is associated withinfinite compassion or mercy; and KṣitigarbhaBodhisattva practiced filial piety. Avatamsaka Sutrais the king of Buddhist classics, while Practices and Vows of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra which represents Samantabhadra’s principles is the essence of the Sutra. The summary of the Sutra is that in order to become a Buddha, one will practice compassion and mercy, and the merits and virtues of the Buddha could never be fully described. Those wishing to achieve these merits and virtues should cultivate ten vast and great practices and vows.First, pay homage and respect to all Buddha’s; Second, praise all the Buddha’s; Third, make abundant offerings; Fourth, repent misdeeds and evil karma’s (actions); Fifth, rejoice in others’ merits and virtues; Sixth, request the Buddha’s to teach; Seventh, request the Buddha’s to remain in the world; Eighth, follow the teachings of the Buddha’s at all times; Ninth, accommodate and benefit all living beings; and Tenth, transfer all merits and virtues universally. Only when the ten practices and vows are cultivated can one realize the perfection of the Buddha’s of all the ten directions for many eons and all the living beings.
In Chinese, the pronunciation of Fo (means Buddha) is similar to that of Fu (means good fortune, blessing); therefore, worshipping Buddha may bring good luck and blessings to you, helping you realize your dreams.
Mt. Emei Vision Culture is rooted in Mt. Emei with its special characteristics. It closely integrates the ten Practices and Vows of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra with people’s physical, psychological and spiritual pursuit so as to realize their wishes of good luck, health and safety. It originates from Samantabhadra’s Ten Practices and Vows with a core of perfection. It mainly advocates the worship of Smantabhadra so as to make wishes come true. Good luck, health, safety, successful career and family harmony are common people’s wishes, while cultivating oneself to become a Buddha is the Buddhists’ dreams. Both kinds will be realized if you spare no effort to attain your dreams. Samantabhadra is the eldest son of all Buddhas. Where there is a Buddha, there is Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. The Practices and Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra imply that his virtues and merits are universally spread, and his actions and wishes can not only perfect the mortal beings, but also all Buddhas. That’s why Samantabhadra is also called the Perfection Buddha, whose practices and vows are omnipresent and attainable.
Bodhisattva Samantabhadra advocates action, by which everyone could make his own dreams come true. Climbing to the Golden Summit is a representative of such progress. The trilogy of worship in low-elevation, mid-elevation and high-elevation areas as well as visiting the Buddhist sites are ways to cultivate the ten vast and great practices and vows.
As it is on the Golden Summit of Mt. Emei that Bodhisattva Samantabhadra presents himself as a human being, advocates Buddhism and helps the mortal beings, visiting the Golden Summitsymbolizes success and perfection and worshiping the ten-direction and four-faced golden statue on the pilgrimage path signifies perfection and the realization of everyone’s wishes.
