Mount Emei Scenic Area

Mount Emei: A Perfect Fusion of Buddhist Culture and Natural Wonders

Mount Emei, located in Leshan City, Sichuan Province, China, is one of the 'Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains' of China, renowned for its natural beauty of 'Emei's Grace under Heaven' and its long-standing Buddhist culture. Its main peak, Golden Summit, stands at 3079 meters above sea level, with majestic mountain scenery, rolling clouds, and Buddha's light shining, earning it the title 'Golden Summit above the Clouds, the Most Beautiful Mountain under Heaven.' As a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, Mount Emei is not only a sacred religious mountain but also a living geological history book and biological gene bank.

I. Overview: A Buddhist Pure Land on the Mountain Peak

The Mount Emei Scenic Area covers approximately 154 square kilometers, with core scenic areas including Baoguo Temple in the low mountain area, Wannian Temple in the middle mountain area, and the Golden Summit in the high mountain area. Its geological structure is complex, formed during the Sinian period 800 million years ago, featuring typical fault-block mountain terrain. The vegetation in the scenic area is vertically distributed, from evergreen broad-leaved forests at the foothills to coniferous forests at the summit, nurturing over 3,000 species of higher plants, including national first-class protected plants such as dove trees and spinulose tree ferns. Animal resources are equally rich, especially the unique Tibetan macaque troops of Mount Emei.

II. Historical Evolution: Millennia of Buddha's Light, Passed Down Through Generations

The Buddhist history of Mount Emei can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. According to the 'Records of Mount Emei,' Buddhism was introduced to Mount Emei in the 1st century AD, with initial meditation practices in thatched huts on the mountain. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, Buddhism gradually flourished, reaching its peak in the Tang Dynasty. Li Bai once wrote a poem: 'The land of Shu is full of immortal mountains, but Mount Emei is incomparable,' reflecting its celestial and Buddhist aura.

1. Founding and Foundation (Han and Tang Dynasties)

During the Yongping reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty (58-75 AD), Indian monks She Moteng and Zhu Falan came to China, and the first Buddhist temple was built on Mount Emei. In the Tang Dynasty, various sects such as Chan (Zen) and Huayan propagated Buddhism here, and the Huazang Temple on the Golden Summit (originally named 'Guangxiang Temple') began to take shape. During the Zhonghe reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang (881-885 AD), the 'Yongming Huazang Temple' was built by imperial order, establishing the Golden Summit as a sacred Buddhist site.

2. Prosperity and Formation (Song and Ming Dynasties)

In the Song Dynasty, Buddhism on Mount Emei entered its heyday. Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, bestowed the bronze statue of Samantabhadra riding an elephant at 'Baishui Temple' (now Wannian Temple), which is 7.35 meters high and weighs about 62 tons, becoming a treasure of the mountain. In the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the construction of 'Dabaoguo Temple' (now Baoguo Temple) and bestowed the plaque 'Mount Emei.' During the Wanli reign (1573-1620), the Bronze Hall (Huazang Temple) on the Golden Summit was completed, housing a bronze statue of Samantabhadra, resplendent and magnificent, hence the name 'Golden Summit.'

3. Modern Protection and Revival

From the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, despite wars, the incense at Mount Emei never ceased. After 1978, the state allocated funds to restore major buildings such as the Golden Summit, Baoguo Temple, and Fuhu Temple. In 2006, the reconstruction of Huazang Temple on the Golden Summit was completed, with the new Ten Directions Samantabhadra bronze statue standing 48 meters high and weighing 660 tons, becoming a masterpiece of contemporary Buddhist art and engineering technology.

III. Architectural Layout: Built According to the Mountain, Arranged in a Scattered Yet Orderly Manner

The ancient architectural complex of Mount Emei is built along the mountain, forming a three-level layout from the foothills to the Golden Summit: 'low mountain, middle mountain, and high mountain,' with a total construction area of about 100,000 square meters. The core architectural complex includes Baoguo Temple, Fuhu Temple, Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, Hongchunping, Xianfeng Temple, Xixiang Pond, and Huazang Temple on the Golden Summit, forming a complete pilgrimage route.

1. Low Mountain Area: Baoguo Temple and Fuhu Temple

Baoguo Temple: Located at the foothills at an altitude of 550 meters, it was first built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1573-1620), and Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty inscribed the plaque 'Baoguo Temple.' The temple faces south, covering an area of about 40,000 square meters, with the central axis featuring the Mountain Gate, Maitreya Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Seven Buddhas Hall. The Mahavira Hall is five bays wide (about 24 meters) and four bays deep (about 16 meters), with a double-eaved hip roof covered with yellow glazed tiles.

Fuhu Temple: Located to the west of Baoguo Temple at an altitude of 630 meters, it was first built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the early Qing Dynasty. The 'Ligou Garden' (Garden of Purity) inside the temple is famous for being dust-free and spotless. Its architectural layout follows the mountain in a stepped pattern, with the main buildings forming a three-courtyard complex, covering a total area of about 12,000 square meters.

2. Middle Mountain Area: Wannian Temple and Qingyin Pavilion

Wannian Temple: At an altitude of 1020 meters, it was first built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, originally named 'Puxian Temple.' During the Ming Dynasty reconstruction, a beamless brick hall structure was adopted, with a dome-shaped roof, 16 meters high and 15.7 meters on each side, housing the bronze statue of Samantabhadra riding an elephant cast in the Song Dynasty. This hall is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese brick and stone architecture and is listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit.

Qingyin Pavilion: At an altitude of 710 meters, it was built in the Tang Dynasty and is famous for the 'Twin Bridges and Clear Sound' landscape. The architectural complex is built around Niuxin Rock, with the main building being a two-story pavilion, three bays wide (about 15 meters) and three bays deep (about 12 meters), with upturned eaves that blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.

3. High Mountain Area: Huazang Temple on the Golden Summit

Huazang Temple on the Golden Summit: At an altitude of 3079 meters, it is the highest architectural complex on Mount Emei. A bronze hall was built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, but was later destroyed by fire. Rebuilt in 2006, the new temple covers an area of about 20,000 square meters, with main buildings including the Mahavira Hall, Samantabhadra Hall, and the Ten Directions Samantabhadra bronze statue. The statue is 48 meters high, symbolizing the 48 great vows of Amitabha Buddha, with a base of a six-tusked white elephant, presenting a solemn and magnificent overall shape.