Temples in Mount Wutai

Mount Wutai has the earliest Chinese Buddhist temple constructions, which can date back to as early as the Yongping regime of the East Han Dynasty (58-75AD).

The Chinese Buddhist temples in Wutaishan were constructed in different dynasties and regimes. Some of the temples are like towers pointing to the sky. Some are like palaces that are spacious and grand. Some of them are splendid and magnificent.

The sculptures, carved stone, wall paintings, and calligraphies can be found everywhere in the temples, which reflect high artistic values.

Dating back to the prosperous time of the Tang Dynasty, there were as many as 300 temples in Mount Wutai. After several transitions, a great number of temples were damaged. Now, only 47 temples are left in the area.

Among the remaining 47, the Foguang Temple and Nanchan Temple are the earliest wood structured constructions remaining in China.

The Xiantong Temple (which is also called Lingjiu Temple), Tayuan Temple, Pusading Temple, Shuxiang Temple, and Luohou Temple are listed as the five most famous Buddhist constructions.

Taihuai town is the place where most temples are clustered as well as the center of the religious and economic events.

According to legend, Mount Wutai was the place where Wenshushili Bodhisattva gave speeches and promoted Buddhism. In history, a great many Buddhism followers from India, Nepal, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka visited Wutaishan to study Buddhism.

Mount Wutai is the only Buddhist site of enlightenment that includes both Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism.

Each mid summer, tourists stream nonstop from both inside and outside the country to Mount Wutai for traveling, sightseeing, joss stick burning, and worshiping Buddha.

Each June, Mount Wutai holds a huge trade conference and fair for goods and resources of communication, performances, and recreation.