View source for Mount Wutai

{{Short description|Sacred Buddhist site in Shanxi, China}}
{{Other uses|Qingliang Shan (disambiguation){{!}}Qingliang Shan}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Wutai
| other_name = {{lang|zh|五台山}}
| photo = Mount_Wutai.JPG
| photo_caption = Mount Wutai from the air
| elevation_m = 3061
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence = 
| prominence_ref = 
| map = China Shanxi
| map_size = 255
| label_position = left
| location = [[Wutai County]], [[Shanxi]], China
| coordinates = {{coord|39|04|45|N|113|33|53|E|type:mountain_region:CN-14_scale:100000_source:eswiki|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates = 
| coordinates_ref = 
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = Hike
| embedded = 
  {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
  |child = yes
  |ID = 1279
  |Year = 2009
  |Criteria = Cultural: ii, iii, iv, vi
  |Area = 18,415 ha
  |Buffer_zone = 42,312 ha
  }}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|pic=Wutai shan (Chinese characters).svg
|picupright=0.55
|c={{linktext|lang=zh|五|台|山}}
|l="Five-Terrace Mountain"
|p=Wǔtái shān
|w=Wu<sup>3</sup>-t'ai<sup>2</sup> shan<sup>1</sup>
|mi={{IPAc-cmn|wu|3|.|t|ai|4|-|sh|an|1}}
|wuu=Ng<sup>上</sup>-de<sup>入</sup>-se<sup>平</sup>
|j=Ng5-toi4 saan1
|y=Ngh-tòih sāan
|ci={{IPAc-yue|ng|5|.|t|oi|4|-|s|aan|1}}
|poj=Ńgo͘-tâi-soaⁿ
|tl=Ngóo-tâi suann
}}
'''Mount Wutai''',<!--Don't repeat Chinese in infobox; see WP:MOS-ZH--> also known by its Chinese name '''Wutaishan''' and as {{nowrap|'''Mount Qingliang''',}} is a sacred [[Chinese Buddhism|Buddhist]] site at the headwaters of the [[Qingshui (Shanxi)|Qingshui]] in [[Shanxi Province]], [[China]]. Its central area is surrounded by a cluster of flat-topped peaks or mesas roughly corresponding to the [[cardinal direction]]s. The north peak (Beitai Ding or Yedou Feng) is the highest ({{convert|3061|m|sp=us|abbr=on|disp=or}} from sea) and is also the highest point in [[North China]].

As host to over 53 sacred monasteries, Mount Wutai is home to many of China's most important monasteries and temples.  It was inscribed as a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] in 2009<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/523 China's sacred Buddhist Mount Wutai inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. UNESCO World Heritage Centre]</ref> and named a [[AAAAA Tourist Attractions of China|AAAAA tourist attraction]] by China's [[China National Tourism Administration|National Tourism Administration]] in 2007.

==Significance==
Mount Wutai is one of the [[Sacred Mountains of China#Sacred Mountains of Buddhism|Four Sacred Mountains]] in [[Chinese Buddhism]]. Each of the mountains is viewed as the [[bodhimaṇḍa]] ({{zh|labels=no|t=道場 |p=dàocháng}}) of one of the four great [[bodhisattva]]s. Wǔtái is the home of the [[Bodhisattva]] of wisdom, [[Mañjuśrī]] or "{{lang|zh|文殊}}" ({{zh|labels=no|p=Wénshū}}) in Chinese. Mañjuśrī has been associated with Mount Wutai since ancient times. Paul Williams writes:<ref>Williams, Paul. ''Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations.'' 2000. p. 227</ref>

{{blockquote|Apparently the association of Mañjuśrī with Wutai (Wu-t'ai) Shan in north China was known in classical times in India itself, identified by Chinese scholars with the mountain in the 'north-east' (when seen from [[India]] or [[Central Asia]]) referred to as the abode of Mañjuśrī in the ''[[Avatamsaka Sutra|Avataṃsaka Sūtra]]''. There are said to have been pilgrimages from India and other Asian countries to Wutai Shan by the seventh century.}}

Wutai was the first of the mountains to be identified and is often referred to as "first among the four great mountains".{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} It was identified on the basis of a passage in the ''Avataṃsaka Sūtra'', which describes the abodes of many bodhisattvas. In this chapter, Mañjuśrī is said to reside on a "clear cold mountain" in the northeast. This served as charter for the mountain's identity and its alternate name "Clear Cool Mountain" ({{zh|labels=no|p=Qīngliáng Shān |t=清涼山}}).

The bodhisattva is believed to frequently appear on the mountain, taking the form of ordinary pilgrims, monks, or most often unusual five-colored clouds.

Reflecting regional rivalries between Buddhist centers, 9th-century [[Chan Buddhism]] master [[Linji Yixuan]] criticized the prominence of Wutai in [[Tang dynasty]] China. According to the posthumously compiled ''Línjì yǔlù'', Linji Yixuan once said, “There‘s a bunch of students who seek Mañjuśrī on Mount Wutai. Wrong from the start! There‘s no Mañjuśrī on Mount Wutai.” His campaign was however not successful, and even after the Tang era Mount Wutai “continued to thrive as perhaps the single most famous Buddhist sacred site in China.”<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/23729988.2019.1686872|doi = 10.1080/23729988.2019.1686872|title = How the Mount Wutai cult stimulated the development of Chinese Chan in southern China at Qingliang monasteries|year = 2019|last1 = Keyworth|first1 = George A.|journal = Studies in Chinese Religions|volume = 5|issue = 3–4|pages = 353–376|s2cid = 213258968}}</ref>

Mount Wutai has an enduring relationship with [[Tibetan Buddhism]].<ref>Tuttle, Gray (2006). 'Tibetan Buddhism at Ri bo rtse lnga/Wutai shan in Modern Times.' ''Journal of the International Association of Tibetan Studies'', no. 2 (August 2006): 1-35. Source: [http://www.thlib.org/collections/texts/jiats/#!jiats=/02/tuttle] (accessed: Monday, July 1, 2013)</ref> It was historically sacred to [[Taoism|Taoist]] [[pilgrim]]s on the [[Silk Road]] in the [[10th century]] as well.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Forêt |first1=Philippe |url=http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.1.1853.7364 |title=The Journey of Maps and Images on the Silk Road |last2=Kaplony |first2=Andreas |date=2011 |publisher=Brill |pages=2 |doi=10.13140/rg.2.1.1853.7364}}</ref>

Mount Wutai is home to some of the [[Ancient Chinese wooden architecture|oldest wooden buildings in China]] that have survived since the era of the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907). This includes the main hall of [[Nanchan Temple (Wutai)|Nanchan Temple]] and the East Hall of [[Foguang Temple]], built in 782 and 857, respectively. They were discovered in 1937 and 1938 by a team of architectural historians including the prominent early 20th-century historian [[Liang Sicheng]]. The architectural designs of these buildings have since been studied by leading [[Sinology|sinologists]] and experts in traditional Chinese architecture, such as Nancy Steinhardt. Steinhardt classified these buildings according to the hall types featured in the ''[[Yingzao Fashi]]'' Chinese building manual written in the 12th century.

In 2008, there were complaints from local residents that, in preparation for Mount Wutai's bid to become a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], they were forced from their homes and relocated away from their livelihoods.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/13/china1 |title=Mountain residents bulldozed out of government's world heritage vision |first=Tania |last=Branigan  |date=13 March 2008 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |accessdate=2022-07-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Dan |last1=Chung |first2=Tania |last2=Branigan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2008/mar/13/wutai.shan |title=Video: Down from the mountain &#124; World news |date=13 March 2008 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |accessdate=2022-07-18}}</ref>

==Major temples==
[[Nanchan Temple]] ({{zh|c=南禅寺}}) {{coord|38.9815|N|113.5738|E|dim:500|display=inline}} is a large [[Zen]] temple in Mount Wǔtái, first built in the [[Yuan dynasty]]. The whole temple comprises seven terraces, divided into three parts. The lower three terraces are named [[Jile Temple]] ({{zh|labels=no|t=極樂寺}}); the middle terrace is called Shande Hall ({{zh|labels=no|c=善德堂}}); the upper three terraces are named Youguo Temple ({{zh|labels=no|t=佑國寺}}). Other major temples include [[Xiantong Temple]], [[Tayuan Temple]] and [[Pusading|Pusading Temple]].

Other important temples inside Mount Wutai include Shouning Temple, [[Bishan Temple]], [[Puhua Temple]], Dailuo Ding, [[Qixian Temple (Mount Wutai)|Qixian Temple]], Shifang Tang, [[Shuxiang Temple]], [[Guangzong Temple (Mount Wutai)|Guangzong Temple]], [[Youguo Temple]], Guanyin Dong, [[Longhua Temple]], Luomuhou Temple, [[Jinge Temple]], Zhanshan Temple, Wanfo Ge, Guanhai Temple, Zhulin Temple, Jifu Temple, Jihe Temple, and [[Gufo Temple]].

Outer Mount Wutai temples include [[Yanqing Temple]], [[Nanchan Temple (Wutai)|Nanchan Temple]], [[Mimi Temple]], [[Foguang Temple]], [[Yanshan Temple]], [[Zunsheng Temple]], and Guangji Temple. A giant statue of Maha Manjushree was presented to the Buddhists of China by foreign minister of Nepal Ramesh Nath Pandey in 2005.

==Transportation==
The [[Wutaishan Airport]] in nearby [[Dingxiang County]] opened in December 2015.<ref name="sxrb">{{cite web |url=http://www.sxrb.com/sxrb/aban/a2/3944185.shtml |title=五台山机场建设工程全面加速 |publisher=Shanxi Ribao |date=2014-07-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-12/26/c_128570147.htm |title=山西五台山机场正式通航 |publisher=Xinhua.net |date=2015-12-29}}</ref>

== Honors ==
In April 2020, it was selected into the "2020 World Famous Summer Mountains List".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Xu |first=Haiyuan |last2=Hou |first2=Shuisheng |date=2020-04-24 |title=2020年中外避暑名山排行榜（全榜单）-排行榜-中商情报网 |trans-title=Ranking list of famous summer resorts at home and abroad in 2020 (full list) - Ranking list - China Business Intelligence Network |url=https://top.askci.com/news/20200424/1116011159630.shtml |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=top.askci.com}}</ref>

In April 2020, it was selected into the "2020 China's Famous Summer Mountains List".<ref name=":0" />

In September 2022, the planation surface of Mount Wutai was selected into the list of the most beautiful geological relics in Shanxi Province.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ma |first=Lu |last2=Sang |first2=Liyuan |date=2022-10-04 |title=山西20处最美地质遗迹公布 |trans-title=The 20 most beautiful geological sites in Shanxi announced |url=http://sx.people.com.cn/n2/2022/1004/c189130-40149926.html |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=sx.people.com.cn}}</ref>

== Climate ==

Mount Wutai has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dwc''). The average annual temperature in Haidian is {{cvt|2.1|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|672.6|mm}} with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around {{cvt|15.2|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|-12.1|C}}.

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| collapsed = Y
| location = Mount Wutai (elevation {{convert|2208|m|ft|abbr=on}}, 1998–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present)
| Jan record high C = 8.8
| Feb record high C = 10.1
| Mar record high C = 16.1
| Apr record high C = 23.8
| May record high C = 25.6
| Jun record high C = 29.6
| Jul record high C = 28.6
| Aug record high C = 25.1
| Sep record high C = 24.2
| Oct record high C = 18.3
| Nov record high C = 13.5
| Dec record high C = 7.8
| Jan record low C = -32.8
| Feb record low C = -27.5
| Mar record low C = -26.5
| Apr record low C = -15.7
| May record low C = -5.6
| Jun record low C = -1.2
| Jul record low C = 4.8
| Aug record low C = 1.3
| Sep record low C = -4.5
| Oct record low C = -12.5
| Nov record low C = -21.3
| Dec record low C = -31.8
| Jan high C = -7.5
| Feb high C = -4.7
| Mar high C = 1.2
| Apr high C = 8.6
| May high C = 14.2
| Jun high C = 17.6
| Jul high C = 19.1
| Aug high C = 17.7
| Sep high C = 13.5
| Oct high C = 7.7
| Nov high C = -0.1
| Dec high C = -6.6
| Jan mean C = -11.8
| Feb mean C = -9.2
| Mar mean C = -3.8
| Apr mean C = 3.2
| May mean C = 9.0
| Jun mean C = 12.8
| Jul mean C = 15.0
| Aug mean C = 13.6
| Sep mean C = 9.3
| Oct mean C = 3.2
| Nov mean C = -4.3
| Dec mean C = -10.8
| Jan low C = -15.4
| Feb low C = -12.8
| Mar low C = -7.8
| Apr low C = -1.0
| May low C = 4.8
| Jun low C = 9.0
| Jul low C = 11.8
| Aug low C = 10.6
| Sep low C = 6.2
| Oct low C = -0.2
| Nov low C = -7.7
| Dec low C = -14.2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 6.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 11.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 19.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 31.0
| May precipitation mm = 53.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 97.5
| Jul precipitation mm = 168.8
| Aug precipitation mm = 153.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 85.6
| Oct precipitation mm = 38.2
| Nov precipitation mm = 16.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 5.6
| Jan humidity = 50
| Feb humidity = 53
| Mar humidity = 48
| Apr humidity = 49
| May humidity = 51
| Jun humidity = 66
| Jul humidity = 78
| Aug humidity = 80
| Sep humidity = 72
| Oct humidity = 61
| Nov humidity = 55
| Dec humidity = 52
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 4.1
| Feb precipitation days = 5.5
| Mar precipitation days = 6.6
| Apr precipitation days = 7.1
| May precipitation days = 8.6
| Jun precipitation days = 13.5
| Jul precipitation days = 15.7
| Aug precipitation days = 14.2
| Sep precipitation days = 10.9
| Oct precipitation days = 6.9
| Nov precipitation days = 5.3
| Dec precipitation days = 4.3
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan sun = 220.1
| Feb sun = 203.5
| Mar sun = 248.1
| Apr sun = 246.3
| May sun = 276.7
| Jun sun = 225.7
| Jul sun = 216.5
| Aug sun = 189.0
| Sep sun = 200.3
| Oct sun = 220.9
| Nov sun = 211.0
| Dec sun = 211.7
| year sun = 
| Jan percentsun = 72
| Feb percentsun = 67
| Mar percentsun = 66
| Apr percentsun = 62
| May percentsun = 62
| Jun percentsun = 51
| Jul percentsun = 48
| Aug percentsun = 45
| Sep percentsun = 54
| Oct percentsun = 65
| Nov percentsun = 71
| Dec percentsun = 73
| year percentsun = 
| Jan snow days = 5.6
| Feb snow days = 6.9
| Mar snow days = 7.9
| Apr snow days = 6.0
| May snow days = 1.8
| Jun snow days = 0.2
| Jul snow days = 0.1
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0.3
| Oct snow days = 3.3
| Nov snow days = 6.3
| Dec snow days = 5.4
| year snow days = 
| source 1 = [[China Meteorological Administration]]<ref name="cma graphical">{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-hans |access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-hans | access-date =26 August 2023 |title=Experience Template }}</ref>all-time extreme temperature<ref name = Mherrera>{{cite web
|url= http://www.mherrera.org/temp.htm
|title= Extreme Temperatures Around the World
|access-date= 2024-09-22
}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Xiantong Temple2.JPG|The Xiantong Temple, a major temple at Mount Wutai
Image:五台山-大文殊殿.JPG|A palace hall at Mount Wutai
Image:Dailuoding Temple5.JPG|The Dailuoding Temple
Image:Lingfeng Temple Pagoda4.JPG|The [[Lingfeng Temple]] pagoda
Image:Great White Pagoda2.JPG|The [[Sarira Stupa of Tayuan Temple]], built in 1582 during the [[Ming dynasty]]
File:Zunsheng Temple 11.JPG|View of the Zunsheng Temple
File:Qifo Temple7.JPG|Qifo Temple
File:Yuanzhao Temple2.JPG|Yuanzhao Temple
Image:Mogao Cave 61, painting of Mount Wutai monasteries.jpg|10th century mural of Mount Wutai. From Cave 61 of [[Mogao Caves]] in [[Dunhuang]]
Image:Wutaishan 1846.jpg|1846, [[Qing dynasty]] map of Mount Wutai
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of AAAAA-rated tourist attractions of the People's Republic of China]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*''China's Holy Mountain: An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism'' by Christoph Baumer. I.B. Tauris, London 2011. {{ISBN|978-1-84885-700-1}}.
*{{cite book|author=Isabelle Charleux|title=Nomads on Pilgrimage: Mongols on Wutaishan (China), 1800-1940|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VzoLCgAAQBAJ|date=29 June 2015|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-29778-4}}
*http://www.thlib.org/collections/texts/jiats/#!jiats=/06/elverskog/b2/

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [[International Network of Geoparks]]
* [[List of Geoparks]]
* [http://yourenotfromaroundhere.com/blog/wutaishan-scenic-area-shanxi/ Photos from inside the temples at WuTaiShan]

{{Shanxi topics}}
{{National parks of China}}
{{Sacred Mountains of China}}
{{World Heritage Sites in China}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mount Wutai| ]]
[[Category:AAAAA-rated tourist attractions]]
[[Category:Geoparks in China]]
[[Category:Highest points of Chinese provinces]]
[[Category:Mountains of Shanxi|Wutai]]
[[Category:National parks of China]]
[[Category:Sacred mountains of China|Wutai]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Shanxi]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in China]]
[[Category:Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Shanxi]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in China]]
[[Category:Mañjuśrī]]
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist places]]
[[Category:Mountains associated with Buddhist monasticism|Wutai]]