Jiuhua Mountain is dotted with temples and misted with the smoke of burning joss sticks. It is a sacred place for Buddhist pilgrims. Noted for its beautiful scenery and favorable climate, the mountain is an ideal summer resort. With a unique appeal, Jiuhua has been established as one of the four most important Buddhist mountains in China and is known in and out of the country as “the most worshipped sacred place” and “the first mountain in Southeast China”.
Jiuhua covers an area of 100 square kilometers southwest of Qingyang county in the south of Anhui Province. There are 99 peaks and 18 scenic spots. The peaks stand sheer against each other, yet they are all exquisitely beautiful. In the height of prosperity, the temples numbered 150 and the monks and nuns more than 3,000.
When Li Bai was invited to the mountain, he was overwhelmed by the scene of nine peaks that look like lotus blooms from heaven. Out of admiration he composed the lines:”Two forces preserve between the World and the Heaven; / Nine lotuses blossom on the Jiuhua Mountain.” Since then the mountain has been attracting men of letters throughout the ages, and thus Jiuhua obtained its fame. Just as the Chinese saying goes,”A mountain is famous not for its height but for its holiness”.
History of Jiuhua Mountain
Jiuhu Mountain, known as a Buddhist wonderland and famous for its large number of temples and beautiful scenery, has been a resplendent pearl of Chinese cultural heritage.
Jiuhua Mountain was formed in the late Cenozoic Era, and Buddhism began in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) at the mountain. According to historical records, a monk named Fuhu built Fuhu Convent in 503; Monk Tanhao practised Buddhism here in 713; During 713-755, Jin Qiaojue, a Korean aristocrat, came to Jiuhua Mountain and lived in a stone cave at Dongya Peak. His hard practice moved the local people, and they contributed money to build a temple for him. In 781 the local official Zhang Yan presented a memorial to the emperor for the horizontal inscribed board “Huacheng”. Upon Jin Qiaojue’s nirvana, it was said that the mountain roared, birds and monkeys cried, and the earth gave out fire and light. His body kept lively three years later, so he was respected as the Earth Buddha, wrapped with earth and has been preserved to present. Roushen Pagoda was built to revere him, and thus Jiuhua Mountain has become the place where Earth Buddhist rites are performed.
The history of Buddhism at Jiuhua Mountain can be divided into five periods: founded in the middle of Tang Dynasty ; decayed from the late Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties; slowly developed in the Song and Yuan Dynasties; and greatly developed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty, the emperors granted money to rebuild Huacheng Temple for three times and two emperors bestowed inscriptions. The number of temples and nunneries was over a hundred, and many monks and nuns came. It was listed as one of the four famous Buddhist mountains, besides Wutai Mountain, Emei Mountain, and Putuo Mountain.
Culture of Jiuhua Mountain
The monks studied both Buddhism and Chinese literature. Scripture of Earth Buddha written by
Jin Qiaojue was chanted by later buddhists. Monks Shen Ying, Ying Wu, Leng Ran and Qi Ji were all poets in the Tang Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty Monk Qing Su held Jiuhua Poets Association, and Monk Xi Tan compiled Jiuhua Collection of poems.
Many famous poets and artists have visited Jiuhua Mountain, including Li Bai, Liu Yuxi, Du Mu, Mei Yaochen, Wang Anshi, Wen Tianxiang, Tang Xianzu, Zhang Daqian. Some of their authentic works of painting and calligraphy remain today, and are preserved in Jiuhua Museum of Buddhism Relics.
Among the cultural relics, there are many stone carved reproduction of inscription, scattered along the way from Minyuan Garden to Tiantai Platform. Most inscriptions are related to Buddhism. Some stone tablets which record the building of the temples support the research of the history of Buddhism at Jiuhua Mountain. Buddhism Chops are a distinguished feature of the mountain, such as Nine-dragon Golden Chop, Nine-dragon Bronze Chop, Lion-button Bronze Chop, Dragon-button Bronze Chop and Nine-lion Jade Chop. Buddhist scriptures are important relics. Three from the Qing Dynasty, the statues, instruments and temples are all priceless.
Structures of the Temples
THE GRAND HALL
The Grand Hall of Zhiyuan Temple is 43m high. A huge horizontal board inscribed with gilded “Grand Hall” by Yu Youren, a famous calligrapher, hangs over the entrance. In the center of the hall there is a lotus throne, on which sit three giant images of Buddha, each about 20ft high and all gilded, Tathagata in the middle, Amitabha on the left, and “Medicine Master” on the right. They are the biggest of all images of Buddha in the Jiuhua temples. On either side of the central throne stand nine 3m-high images of arhat. In front of the hall there is an inverted copper bell about 400 jin in weight.
ZHIYUAN TEMPLE
Zhiyuan Temple, or Zhiyuan Buddhist Temple, known in the ancient times as Zhiyuan or Zhishu, is one of the four biggest Buddhist monasteries in the mountain. According to legend, Sakyamuni preached Buddhism in the garden of Zhiyuan for over 20 years. Therefore Zhiyuan used to be the sacred place of the Indian Buddhism. The temple was built afterwards and named after the place. Constructed in the years under Jiajing’s reign (1522-1566) in the Ming Dynasty, it was renovated several times between 1644 and 1911 in the Qing Dynasty.
HUACHENG TEMPLE
Huacheng Temple was the first temple in Jiuhua Mountain. With the longest history and as the site of Ksitigarbha Rite, it is the leading monastery of the mountain. In the 5th year under Longan’s reign (401) in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Monk Beidu built a simple temple here. It was reconstructed and named Huacheng Temple in the Zhide years (756 – 758) of the Tang Dynasty. The word Huacheng is an allusion to a Buddhist story in the Fahua Scripture.
Huacheng Temple is located in Jiuhua Street. Right in front of the temple lies a round plaza. In the center of the plaza is a crescent shaped lotus pond named “Crescent Moon Pond”, into which, it is believed, Monk Jin QiaoJue used to free captive fish. The temple consists of four parts: the lobby, the grand hall, the back hall and the Scripture Tower. The ground slopes up with each part and the whole layout is natural. The doors, windows, brackets. beams, columns, steps and the cornerstone are carved with exquisite designs, In the hall are preserved horizontal boards inscribed by emperors: “Sacred Land of Jiuhua” by Kangxi, “Fentuopujiao” by Qianlong, and “Beneficence Most Enjoyable” by Chongzhen.
THE LONGEVITY PALACE
The Longevity Palace stands on Mokong, a peak on the top of Dongya Cliff. It was originally named Zhaixing (Star-Picking) Hut, renamed Wannian (Ten-Thousand Year) Temple after a renovation in the Qing Dynasty, and now known as Longevity Palace. Since Emperor Chongzhen entitled Monk Wuxia “Incarnation of Buddha” upon his death, this temple has been attracting Buddhists and worshippers, thus established as one of the four most important Jiuhua monasteries.
THE MUMMY OF MONK WUXIA IN THE LONGEVITY PALACE
During the Wanli years (1573-1619) in the Ming Dynasty, a roaming monk named Wuxia came to the Jiuhua Mountain. He built himself a hut on the top of Dongya Cliff and practiced Buddhism piously. He spent 28 years copying 81 volumes of Buddhist scripture with the blood of his tongue and gold powder. He died at the age of 126, and for three years his body did not decay. The other monks, believing that he had been the incarnation of the Living Buddha, gilded his body and referred to him as “Monk Longevity”. Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty granted him the title “Incarnation of Buddha”.
THE ANCIENT BAIJINGTAI TEMPLE
It was said that Jin Qiaojue used to chant the Huayan Suira on a platform here. The temple was built by later monks to honor him and was named Ancient Baijingtai (Sutra-Chanting Platform). The exact spot, where Jin left footprints, is about ten steps away from the hall.
TIANTAI TEMPLE
Tiantai Temple, or Ksitigarbha Buddhist Temple, was built in the early Ming Dynasty and renovated during Guangxu’s reign(1875-1908) in the Qing Dynasty. Towering on a precipitous cliff of the Tiantai Peak, this five-storied run-on architectural complex resembles a magnificent castle from a distance. Over the arched front door are inscribed “Culmination World” in huge charactcrs and “Not This World” beside them. The chief attractions in the temple are the Ten-Thousand-Buddha Tower and arched doors.
Customs of Residents
The monks and nuns usually chant scriptures in the morning and evening. Their daily life varies with the size of the temple or nunnery. At a small one they lead their daily life and do Buddhist service in the same place. In a big one they live according to the beating of bell, drum and other Buddhism instruments. They accommodate travelling monks or nuns. If any of them broke the rule, he would be driven out of the temple. Their life is simple. They wear clothes with many patches on, have vegetarian meals, sleep in bed simply made of a board and two supports. They also work in the fields in hot summer, sit in meditation at cold winter nights.
July 30 of lunar calendar is the birthday of Earth Buddha, and a Great Buddhist ceremony is held on this day. A large number of monks, nuns, pilgrims and visitors come to burn incense, chant, and sacrifice food. Colourful flags fill the mountain area. The activities of each year are different.
The celebration of Spring Festival by the residents at Jiuhua Mountain is very special. They celebrate it twice. On December 28 of lunar calendar, they eat all kinds of meat dishes, including chicken, duck and fish. On December 30 of lunar calendar, they burn incense to worship their ancestors. On Spring Festival, January 1 of lunar calendar, every family goes to Roushen Palace to worship Buddha. The vegetable dishes will be ended on January 3 of lunar calendar.
Historical Sites and Scenic Spots
a bird’s eye view of Jiuhua Town
Jiuhua Mountain is famous not only for its Buddhism relics, but also for its beautiful scenery. In an area of 120 square kilometres, it’s full ol marvellous ridges and peaks, exotic-shaped stones, gushing fountains, flying waterfalls, and clear streams. Birds sing accompanying the beating of bell and drum. Fog and pines set each other off beautifully.
There are more than 30 peaks with an elevation of over 1000 metres. Many interesting stones offer travellers food for thought. The stone in shape of a roc listening to preaching was said to be a roc moved by the preaching and changed into a rock. Guanyin stone on Guanyin Peak, Wooden Fish stone on Shiwang Peak, stone Buddha, Buddha’s Belly in Sunshine on Lotus Peak–all these stones got their names by their looks. There are lots of caves, too, where ancient monks had lived, such as Duiyun Cavc, Dichang Cave, Tiger Cave. Lion Cave, Huayan Cave, Longevity Cave, Flying-Dragon Cave, and Monk Cave.
Streams, fountains, pools, ponds and waterfalls enhance the charm of Jiuhua Mountain: Long, Piao, Shu, Cao, Lian, Lan and Jiuzhi Streams, Wulong, Bitaoyan, Zhuoying. Qibuquan, Baizhangjian, etc.
Guanyin Peak
The representative scenic spots are: sunrise at Tiantai Platform, evening bell of Huacheng Temple, sitting on East Stone with pleasure, fairy mark of Tianzhu, Taoyan Waterfall, clouds around Lotus Peak, snow at Pinggang, moon reflected in Shu Pond, sound of Jiuzhi Spring, mountains at five streams, Longchi Waterfall, bamboos in Minyuan Garden, Ganlu Temple, Mokong Palace, flowers at Hua Platform, Lion Peaks, blue valley, Fish-and-Dragon Cave, and Phoenix Pine
Important Buddhist Ceremonies on Mt.Jiuhua
SAKYAMUNI’S BIRTHDAY
Sakyamuni’s Birthday falls on the eighth day of the fourth moon . It is the most important 
festival for Buddhists to observe . It was said that when Sakyamuni was born a sacred dragon sprayed balmy water on him. So on Saykyamuni’s birthday all the monks gather in the grand hall of their monastery, offering sacrifice to Buddha, chanting sutra and bathing the image of Sakyamuni with balmy water. The occasion is therefore called “Bathing-Buddha Festival”.
During the festival, alms are given to monks and rites are held to remember the dead –giving alms to “starving souls” and burning paperboats–which are believed to be a way of releasing souls from purgatory.
INTROSPECTION DAY
The Introspection Day falls in the fifteenth day of the seventh moon. It is an important Budddhist festival, also referred to as Ullambana, when monks self-examine the Buddhist practice of the past year. On the day the monks and other Buddhists offer sacrifice to Buddha, make confessions and introspection. Among other rites are worshipping the images of Emperor Liang and Ksitigarbha so as to release the departed ancestors and starving souls from purgatory.
KSITIGARBHA’S BIRTHDAY
Ksitigarba’s Birthday falls on the thirtieth (or twenty-ninth in a 29-day month) day of the seventh moon. It is believed to be the immortalization day of Jin Qiaojue, the Korean monk. On this day grand ceremonies are held on the Jiuhua Mountain.
Touring the mountain, one feels detached from reality and forgets all worldly cares.
It is a marvelous place for recuperation and the cultivation of one’s moral character.
Jiuhua Mountain is not to be missed!
