(By Tsem Rinpoche)

Overview of Jiu Hua Shan

Mount Jiuhua rising above the clouds

In an area of some 120 square kilometres, not far from the picturesque Mount Huangshan, and located in Qingyang County, Anhui Province in China, is a haven that is nestled between the Yangtze River and the Yellow Mountain. Here, in a verdant landscape of pine trees and walls of tall swaying bamboo, lined with streams, waterfalls, hidden caves and rocky configurations, 99 peaks rise up from the soil and protrude through the clouds. The tallest peak is called Shiwang Peak (Peak of Ten Kings) that sits at an elevation of 1,342 metres above sea level. This summit is well known, as are eight of the nearby peaks – Tiantai Peak, Tianwang Peak, Lianhua Peak, Duxiu Peak, Luohan Peak, Wulao Peak, Fuhu Peak and Furong Peak.

Together, the peaks are known as Jiu Hua Shan (Mount Jiu Hua) or the Nine Glorious/Heavenly Mountains and are considered to be the abode of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, known as Dizangwang Pusa in Chinese. Ksitigarbha is well known especially amongst Buddhists of the Mahayana tradition because of the great compassionate vow he made,

“If I do not go to hell to help the beings suffering there, who else will go?… If the hells are not empty I will not become a Buddha. Only when all living beings have been saved, will I attain full enlightenment.”

Jiu Hua Shan is one of the four holiest sites of Chinese Buddhism. The other three are Mount Wutai in Shanxi province, Mount Emei in Sichuan and Mount Putuo in Zhejiang. In the Nanhai Putuoshan Zhi (Mount Putuo of the Southern Seas Gazetteer) the Buddhist thinker Qiu Lian (1644-1729) was recorded to have said:

“Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara), and Ksitigarbha are all Bodhisattvas who have attained the realisations of Dharmakaya. But due to their eagerness to save sentient beings, they are present everywhere. Additionally, they want sentient beings to have a proper place in which to render respect. Therefore Manjushri manifests his response bodies (nirmanakaya) at Mount Wutai, Samantabhadra at Mount Emei, Guanyin and Ksitigarbha at Mount Putuo and Jiuhua respectively”

The four great holy mountains of China are also said to denote the four elements out of which everything is made – Earth, Water, Fire and Wind (Air). Mount Wutai represents the Aind/Air element; Emei represents Fire, Putuo stands for Water while Jiuhua embodies the Earth element.

In addition to being a holy site where Buddhists from all over the world congregate, Mount Jiu Hua is also one of the best summer destinations in China.

For those interested in anthropology, Mount Jiu Hua is a wellspring of Buddhist treasures that include a large collection of 2,000 cultural and historical relics; over 6,000 volumes of Sutras from the Ming Dynasty; 6,300 beautiful statues of various Buddhas and deities of Buddhism; scrolls of scriptures written in Sanskrit on palm leaves; statues of Buddhist deities sculpted from precious metals and jade; a collection of paintings and calligraphies; official seals; and a collection of porcelain ware from the last millennium.

Emperor Kangxi’s calligraphy reads “Jiu Hua Sacred Abode”

The Awakening of Mount Jiu Hua

The earliest association of Jiu Hua Shan with Buddhism dates back to the year 401 when an Indian monk by the name of Huaidu (also spelt Beidu or Pei-tu) built a small place of worship that would later become known as “Huacheng Si” (Huacheng Temple). The name Huacheng Si was given to it by the imperial decree of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty in 780 CE during the Emperor’s first year of reign. However, it was the Korean monk, Jin Qiaojue’s (whose name means “Exalted Awakening”) 75-year-long solitary practice of Buddhism and his spiritual achievements that firmly imbued the mountain with its perpetual aura of mystique and holiness.

Like Lord Buddha himself, Jin Qiaojue was a prince. He belonged to the Silla Kingdom, in what is now known as Korea. He was known as Prince Jin Xianying before he renounced the material world to become a monk. He arrived at Mount Jiu Hua around 719 CE and entered deep meditations and spiritual training there. It is said that he faced a very difficult life on the mountain, as conditions were harsh and resources were scarce; often he would have to eat a kind of white clay to stay alive. Still, he persisted and over time, he became more well known and sponsors arrived. One, in particular, was a wealthy landowner by the name of Zhuge Jie. He and other patrons provided the means for Jin Qiajue to build upon the basic structure that Huaidu had previously constructed.

For 75 years Jin Qiaojue remained on the mountain and engaged in his practice. In 794 CE, at the age of 99, he achieved the state of Nirvana.

Inside Huacheng temple

Legends abound in regards to Jin Qiaojue and Mount Jiu Hua. In one version, when Jin Qiaojue passed into clear light at the age of 99, his body remained whole and intact for three years. And the joints of his body when shaken, emitted sounds like rattling gold locks. In Buddhist scriptures, it is said that this is an indication that the practitioner has attained Buddhahood. Realising the holiness of this monk, the public built a pagoda on Shenguan Ridge Mount to house his remains and for the purpose of veneration. Jin Qiaojue was recognised as an emanation of the Earth Buddha, Ksitigarbha and Mount Jiu Hua became his abode.

According to numerous eyewitness accounts, the ridge where the mummified body of Jin Qiaojue is enshrined often produces an exhibition of coloured lights.

Mount Jin Hua and the Arts

Mount Jiu Hua with its tranquil peaks and the sacred mystique that it exudes have always drawn learned men, scholars, poets, artists and creative minds to it. This includes Libai (701-762 CE), a renowned poet of the Tang Dynasty. Standing at the summit Libai gazed at the scenery and became intoxicated with its beauty and this verse came to him:

From the azure skies above descends a jade-like flow, and nine fascinating lotuses rise out of the hills below.

In fact, this is how Mount Jiu Hua got its name. Libai saw the peaks as lotuses that reach into the skies, “holding up heaven”. Before that, the mountain was known as Lingyang Mountain.

Tiantai Peak at Mount Jiuhua

Other luminaries such as Tang poet, Liu Yuxi (772-842 CE), and Du Mu (803-852 CE), Song Dynasty litterateur Wang Anshi (1021-1086 CE), Mei Yaochen (1002-1086 CE), Zhou Bida (1126-1204 CE), Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283 CE), Tang Xianzu (1550-1616 CE), and Zhang Daqian (1899-1983 CE) were among the parade of scholars, politicians and monks who made the pilgrimage to Jiu Hua Shan.

The Holy Structures, Temples and Halls of Jiu Hua Shan

The 99-metre tall Ksitigharba statue at Mount Jiu hua

There are currently 90 temples on Jiu Hua Shan, most of which were restored during the Ming (1368-1644 CE) and Qing (1644-1912 CE) dynasties. It was during these two eras that Buddhism was at its peak at Mount Jiu Hua. At one point, there were 150 temples housing some 3,000 monks and nuns in total. Among the most well-known buildings and structures on Mount Jiu Hua is the Incarnation Hall, the Longevity Hall, Huacheng Temple, Zhiyuan Temple, Zhantanlin Temple, Ganlu Temple and Tiantai Temple.

On Mount Jiu Hua, housed within Huacheng Temple is an ancient temple bell cast between 1875 and 1908 during the Guangxu period. It stands at 2-metres (6ft 7in) tall and weighs 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb). It is regarded as a national treasure and at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, the bell is rung 108 times to usher in peace, goodwill and prosperity; and to ward off evil and bad luck.

In 2013, a 99-metre (324.8 foot) bronze statue of Ksitigarbha was enthroned and consecrated at the Dayuan Cultural Park on Mount Jiu Hua. The statue consists of over 3,000 bronze plates that took over 1,100 tonnes of bronze to craft. Three lifts inside the monumental Ksitigarbha take visitors to the top where they can take in the breathtaking scenery.

Huacheng Temple

Huacheng Temple is located in a small town on Mount Jiu Hua, at approximately 600 metres above sea level. Enclosed by mountains and peaks, the setting is breathtaking – to the South is Furong Peak, to the West lies Shenguang Ridge, to the North is White Clouds Mountain and to the East, picturesque cliffs. Fronting the temple entrance is a circular plaza with a crescent-shaped lotus pond its the centre. It is said that Jin Qiaojue used to release fishes he rescued from captivity into this pond.

Huacheng temple consists of 4 main halls – the Lobby, the Grand Hall, the Back Hall and the Scripture Tower with each hall being built on a higher ground than the one before it in sequence.

It is the oldest temple on the mountain and considered the holiest. The original structure built by Huaidu in 401 CE was basic, but over the centuries it evolved as various abbots and patrons progressively renovated and expanded the buildings and halls within the grounds of Huacheng. The temple was severely damaged during the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864 CE) but due to its significance, it was later restored and rebuilt.

The main entrance to Huacheng temple

Huacheng temple may appear simple and solemn from afar but, upon closer inspection, its structure and decorations reveal themselves to be exquisite artistic creations. Intricate engravings on lintels, brackets and roofs reinforce the brightness and liveliness of the building. The massive wall carving entitled ‘Nine Dragons Playing with Pearls’ located on a panel in the Main Shrine Hall is a consummate piece of ancient Chinese art.

The great Emperor Kangxi was recorded as having dispatched palace officials to offer incense at Mount Jiu Hua and specifically Huacheng Temple numerous times and granted it the name tablet “Jiuhua Shenjing” (Superior Place of Jiuhua) affirming the sacredness of the grounds. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Huacheng was bestowed another name tablet by the Emperor, “Fragrant Grand Temple”. Emperor Qianlong declared it to be “The First Mountain in southeast China”. Zhu Yijun, the Emperor Chongzen also bestowed upon Huacheng Temple a name tablet calling it “Beneficence Most Enjoyable” and the 14^th Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty bestowed Huacheng Temple with the Buddhist Canon on two occasions.

A brief account of Huacheng Temple’s expansion:

Huacheng Temple

Ming Dynasty:

• In the Ming Dynasty, Huacheng’s Abbots Zongling and Fajian expanded the temple and turned it into a Zen temple,
• In 1435, the famous monk Fuqing moved to Huacheng Temple and rebuilt the Grand Hall of the Great Sage. He also reconstructed the Cangjing, Zushi, Jingang, Tianwang, and Jialan Halls in addition to expanding the Eastern Halls.
• During the Emperor Zhengtong’s reign, Huacheng Abbots Daotai followed by Dugang, Fayan and Faguang progressively expanded the Western Halls,
• In 1569, a wealthy patron named Huang Longding sponsored the complete renovation of Huacheng Temple.

Qing Dynasty:

• In 1681, the governor of Chizhou by the name of Yu Chenlong restored Huacheng and built the Juhua Pavilion. By then, Huacheng Temple consisted of at least 72 halls and became the leading temple on Mount Jiu Hua.
• In 1857, Huacheng fell to the ravages of the Taiping Rebellion and only the Sutra Library was left standing,
• Then in 1890, Huacheng’s Abbot Lunfa rebuilt four of the temple halls together with the pilgrim Liu Hanfang and others.

People’s Republic of China:

• The administrative government of Qinyang County refurbished the temple in 1955 but by 1968, a significant amount of Buddhist statues within Huacheng were destroyed as the result of the Cultural Revolution,
• In 1981, Huacheng was rebuilt yet again and the Mount Jiu Hua Historical and Cultural Museum was established and in September that year Huacheng Temple was declared to be a conservator of historical relics.
• In 1983, Huacheng Temple was declared as the National Main Buddhist Temple in the Han Area by the State Council.

Historical Relic Museum

Precious Sutras and other cultural relics are displayed in the Historical Relic Museum. The most valuable are the Buddhist canonical literature left from the Tang Dynasty, the Tripitaka from the Ming Dynasty and handwritten passages created by Qing Dynasty Emperors Kangxi and Qian Long.

Corporeal Body Hall (also known as Longevity Palace)

The Corporeal Body Hall has housed the remains of the famous monk, Wu Xia for more than 350 years. The monk Wu Xia came to Jiu Hua Shan in the 16^th Century after making pilgrimages to Mount Wutai and Mount Emei. Here he cultivated himself and was famous for writing the Avatamsaka Sutra in ink that was made from a combination of gold powder and his own blood. Wu Xia lived until the age of 126. His corporeal body was only found three years after his passing, surprisingly well preserved and without any sign of decay. It is from this legend that the temple became known as Longevity Palace. The Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty bestowed on Wu Xia the title Yingshen Bodhisattva or Reincarnated Boddhisattva.

Hall of 500 Arhats

Nearby the Corporeal Body Hall is this hall set out like the interior of a palace. Within are 500 grand statues of Arhats, each with its own unique expression, gesture and stance.

Incarnation Hall (Embalmed Body Hall)

This is regarded as the most sacred hall and the highlight of any visit to Jiu Hua Shan. It is here that the mummified body of Jin Qiaojue is buried. Accordingly, it is sometimes referred to as the Ksitigarbha Pagoda. The Incarnation Hall is built on a high ridge and inside amidst stone pillars, red walls and white marble is a 7-storey wooden pagoda with a marble base. The holy remains of Jin Qiaojue are entombed within and 100 Kisitigarbha statues adorn the walls of the pagoda.

Tiantai Temple

Standing 1,306 metres above sea level is the wood and stone building which is the highest on Jiu Hua Shan, Tiantai Temple. The 5-storey temple sits astride two hills upon 8-metre tall stones, protected on three sides by sheer cliffs.

Entry to the structure is via a steep stone staircase and then a tunnel 3.4 metres in diameter and 4.2 metres long. Beyond it lies the Shanmen (Gate of Three Liberations), Four Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, Hall of Guanyin, Dharma Hall, Meditation Hall, and Reception Hall, which cover 1,540 square metres.

Huiju Temple

Named in 1983 by the Chinese government as a National Key Buddhist Temple in the Han Chinese Area, Huiju Temple was first constructed during the Qing Dynasty as the Huiqin Nunnery. Now a monastery, it is located on the west side of the Tiantai Mountain and to the east of Mingyuan Park.

The temple occupies 541 square metres of land and contains 18 life-sized statues of Arhats and Buddhas. Major reconstruction of the structure in 1982 was followed by a complete renovation of the interior where the statues and other figures were painted and gilded.

Shangchan Hall

Shangchan Hall is located below the Incarnation Hall. It was originally called Jingde Hall but during Emperor Kangxi’s reign, Prime Minister Yulin’s disciple, Zongyan expanded the structure and renamed it Shangchan Hall.

Despite its small gate, Shangchan Temple sees more pilgrims and worshippers than any other temple on Jiu Hua Shan, partly because of the wonderfully wide vistas it offers from its beautiful halls.

Inside Tiantai temple

Ganlu Temple (Sweet Dew Temple)

Ganlu Temple, originally a nunnery, is located at the north of the mountain approximately 7 kilometres from Jiu Huajie Town. In 1667, Qing Prime Minister Yulin paid homage to Mount Jiu Hua. He is said to have exclaimed, “What a beautiful place it is with mountains and rivers! Generations of dignitaries will be born here if a temple is built up.”

Monk Dong An, who lived in Fuhu (“Taming the Tiger”) Cave heard this and decided to build the temple. On the eve of the project, pine needles all over the mountain were found to be covered in nectar and this gave the structure its name. After the temple was built, Dong An gave teachings at the temple twice before returning to his solitary practice in Fuhu Cave. During the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty, Abbot Youtan opened the temple doors again and teachings resumed.

Across its 3,500 square metres, the temple houses the Precious Hall of The Great Hero, the Side Hall, the Small House, the Bell and Drum and the Steel Inscription.

In 1990, Jiu Hua Buddhist College was established on its grounds. The college offers courses in Buddhist theology, Sutras, the history of Buddhism, medicine, philosophy, calligraphy, foreign languages and computers.

Sandal Woods

This is a key national temple in China and was first constructed during the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dynasty. When it was under construction, the monks who were cutting down trees behind the site noticed that the wood had a pleasant smell – this gave the temple its name.

The building originally consisted of 4 halls and 1 palace but Abbot Huisheng vowed to establish three more palaces. Dabei Palace was finished in 1994 and it contains a four-faced 1000-armed Guanyin. In 1999, Dayuan Palace was finished with the enshrinement of a golden figure of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Daxiong Palace is currently under construction and will have the figures of Three Huayan Sages enshrined within its grounds.

Other Attractions

A Temple Fair (also called Hid Puja) has been held on Mount Jiu Hua every year since 1983 but its heritage goes back over 1,000 years. The 30^th Temple Fair from September 1 to September 30 in 2012 attracted a large number of tourists and pilgrims, both local and international. It coincided with the grand opening of the then-newly built Dayuan Cultural Garden.

Zhiyuan temple

Longchi Waterfall

The natural work of art is located northeast of Longchi Nunnery and southeast of Ganlu Temple. The water’s source is the Longgi Ravine that winds its way downhill and ends in a 10-metre drop forming the waterfall. Not far is Jiu Huajie Town which is about 7 kilometres away.

Visiting Mount Jiu Hua

Admission Fee:
CNY 140 (Dec.1- Feb.28/29); CNY 190 (Mar.1 – Nov.30)

Cable Car:
Bai Sui Gong Cable Way: CNY 55 per person one-way; CNY 100 per person for round trip

Tiantai Cable Way:
CNY 75 per person one-way, CNY 140 per person for round trip

Opening Hours:
08:00 – 17:30

Recommended visit duration:
One or two nights

How to Get There:
By Bus:

• Nanjing Zhongyangmen Bus Station has four buses a day to Jiu Hua Shan. They run at 7:40, 14:00, 14:50, and 16:20. The trip takes about 4-4.5 hours.
• Hefei Tourism Bus Station (east of Hefei Railway Station) has hourly buses to the mountain from 10:00-15:00. The journey takes about 3 hours. Hefei New South Bus Station also has hourly buses from 6:30 to 16:30.
• Huangshan Scenic Area (Tangkou) has only two buses – at 6:30 and 13:30. Tunxi Bus Station also runs several buses. The journey takes about 2-3 hours.

By Train:

• Take a train to Chizhou Railway Station, which is adjacent to Chizhou Bus Station. There are buses to Mount Jiuhua every few minutes and take about an hour to reach their destination.

By Air:

• Visitors can fly to Hefei, Nanjing, Wuhu or Huangshan and then take a bus to Mount Jiuhua.

What to see:

Mount Jiu Hua is composed of five main scenic areas, including

• Front Gate Scenic Area is the ticket booking area and you can explore Ganlu Temple, Dragon Pool Temple, and more.
• Jiu Hua Street Scenic Area (the core area of Mount Jiu Hua, keeps the Qing Dynasty style) where travellers can explore Zhiyuan Temple, Huacheng Temple, the Incarnation Grand Hall, Shangchan Hall, Longevity Palace, Dongya Buddhist Temple and others.
• Heavenly Terrace Scenic Area (alpine mountain scenic area) where travellers can explore the essence of Mount Jiu Hua including Shiwang Peak, Tiantai Peak, Tiantai Temple, and Thin Strip of Sky.
• Flower Terrace Scenic Area (alpine mountain scenic area) is composed of Big Flower Terrace and Small Flower Terrace. It includes Tianzhu Peak, Luohan Peak, Ksitigarbha Well, Ksitigarbha Boots, and Manjushri Cave.
• Minyuan Scenic Area is located at the west of Heavenly Terrace Scenic Area, including Minyuan Bamboo Forest, Phoenix Old Pines, Dragon Stream and others.

Photos of Mount Jihua

Tiantai Temple

Huiju Temple

Shangchan Hall

Ganlu Temple

Sandal Woods

A temple atop Mount Jiuhua

Beautiful temples built hundreds of years ago atop Jiuhua Mountain

Jiuhua Shan Historical and Cultural Relic Temple

Source: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/anhui/huangshan/jiuhua.htm, http://www.jiuhuashan.com.cn/english/

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