Wutai Shan: Difference between revisions
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*[[Chögyal Pakpa]] (1235-1280) spent years on Wutai Shan, composing texts that praise Manjushri and the mountain. | *[[Chögyal Pakpa]] (1235-1280) spent years on Wutai Shan, composing texts that praise Manjushri and the mountain. | ||
*[[Rangjung Dorje]] (1284-1339), the third Karamapa | *[[Rangjung Dorje]] (1284-1339), the third Karamapa | ||
*[[Rolpé Dorje]] (1340-1383), the fourth Karmapa<ref>Martin, Michele. ''Music in the Sky - Biography of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje'', p. 282.</ref> | |||
*[[Jamchen Chöjé Shakya Yeshe]] (1354-1435) | *[[Jamchen Chöjé Shakya Yeshe]] (1354-1435) | ||
*[[Deshyin Shekpa]] (1384-1415), the fifth Karmapa. | *[[Deshyin Shekpa]] (1384-1415), the fifth Karmapa who had monasteries there<ref>ibid.</ref> | ||
*[[Thangtong Gyalpo]] (1385-1509) stayed on Wutai Shan in meditation for eight months, during which time the five forms of Manjushri appeared to him in a series of visions and spoke prophecies.<ref>Könchok Palsang and Dewa Sangpo, ''Bright Lamp'', p. 220</ref> | *[[Thangtong Gyalpo]] (1385-1509) stayed on Wutai Shan in meditation for eight months, during which time the five forms of Manjushri appeared to him in a series of visions and spoke prophecies.<ref>Könchok Palsang and Dewa Sangpo, ''Bright Lamp'', p. 220</ref> | ||
*[[Changkya Rolpé Dorje]] (1717-1786) spent thirty-six consecutive summers from 1750 until his death in 1786 in meditative retreat on Wutai shan at his seat there. He wrote a Tibetan guide to Wutai Shan, the ''Pilgrimage Guide to the Pure Realm of Clear and Cool Mountain'' (Wyl. ''zhing mchog ri bo dwangs bsil gyi gnas bshad''), which was also translated into Mongolian and actively promoted pilgrimage to Wutai Shan among the Mongols and Tibetans.<ref>Debreczeny: ''Wutai shan: Pilgrimage to Five-Peak Mountain'', JIATS no. 6, p.36-37.</ref> | *[[Changkya Rolpé Dorje]] (1717-1786) spent thirty-six consecutive summers from 1750 until his death in 1786 in meditative retreat on Wutai shan at his seat there. He wrote a Tibetan guide to Wutai Shan, the ''Pilgrimage Guide to the Pure Realm of Clear and Cool Mountain'' (Wyl. ''zhing mchog ri bo dwangs bsil gyi gnas bshad''), which was also translated into Mongolian and actively promoted pilgrimage to Wutai Shan among the Mongols and Tibetans.<ref>Debreczeny: ''Wutai shan: Pilgrimage to Five-Peak Mountain'', JIATS no. 6, p.36-37.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 15:08, 24 January 2017
Wutai Shan (Chi. 五台山, Pin. Wǔtái Shān; Wyl. ri bo rtse lnga), or the Five-Peaked Mountain, is a sacred site situated in the northeastern Shanxi province of China, and associated with bodhisattva Manjushri. Wutai Shan is also one of the four great sacred Buddhist mountains of China[1].
Known in Chinese as “Clear and Cool Mountain” (Chi. 清涼山, Pin. Qīngliáng Shān; Tib. ri bo dwangs bsil), Wutai Shan was first identified as Manjushri’s abode on the basis of a passage in the Avatamsaka Sutra. In this sutra, Manjushri is said to reside on a "clear cold mountain" in the northeast (when seen from India). The Avatamsaka tradition recounts that Manjushri taught in Wutai Shan and still resides there. The bodhisattva is believed to frequently appear on the mountain, taking the form of ordinary pilgrims and monks, even today.
Major Tibetan Buddhist Figures Who Resided & Practised in Wutai Shan
- Shri Singha. For seven years, Shri Singha studied all of the outer and inner tantras with Bhelakirti. After taking ordination, he practised discipline for 30 years.[2]
- Vimalamitra, after his stay in Tibet, left for Wutai Shan. It is said that he remains there, in the rainbow body, the ‘Body of Great Transference’, and there he will remain until all of the 1002 buddhas of this Fortunate Aeon have appeared.
- Padampa Sangye (d.1117)
- Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251)
- Chögyal Pakpa (1235-1280) spent years on Wutai Shan, composing texts that praise Manjushri and the mountain.
- Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339), the third Karamapa
- Rolpé Dorje (1340-1383), the fourth Karmapa[3]
- Jamchen Chöjé Shakya Yeshe (1354-1435)
- Deshyin Shekpa (1384-1415), the fifth Karmapa who had monasteries there[4]
- Thangtong Gyalpo (1385-1509) stayed on Wutai Shan in meditation for eight months, during which time the five forms of Manjushri appeared to him in a series of visions and spoke prophecies.[5]
- Changkya Rolpé Dorje (1717-1786) spent thirty-six consecutive summers from 1750 until his death in 1786 in meditative retreat on Wutai shan at his seat there. He wrote a Tibetan guide to Wutai Shan, the Pilgrimage Guide to the Pure Realm of Clear and Cool Mountain (Wyl. zhing mchog ri bo dwangs bsil gyi gnas bshad), which was also translated into Mongolian and actively promoted pilgrimage to Wutai Shan among the Mongols and Tibetans.[6]
- Thubten Gyatso (1876–1933), the thirteenth Dalai Lama. Escaping British invasion, he found refuge in Wutai Shan in 1908.
- Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok (1933-2004). In 1987, Khenpo led hundreds of his disciples on a pilgrimage to Wutai Shan. While teaching there, the audience swelled to 10,000 on occasions. He also undertook retreats at sacred locations and caves. There are accounts of many extraordinary occurrences during this pilgrimage.
Major Temples & Pilgrimage Sites
Notes
- ↑ Wǔtái Shān which is associated with bodhisattva Manjushri, Éméi Shān with bodhisattva Samantabhadra, Jiǔhuá Shān with bodhisattva Kshitigarbha and Pǔtuó Shān with bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
- ↑ Tulku Thondup, Masters of Meditation and Miracles, p.xx, to check.
- ↑ Martin, Michele. Music in the Sky - Biography of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, p. 282.
- ↑ ibid.
- ↑ Könchok Palsang and Dewa Sangpo, Bright Lamp, p. 220
- ↑ Debreczeny: Wutai shan: Pilgrimage to Five-Peak Mountain, JIATS no. 6, p.36-37.
Further Reading
- Birnbaum, Raoul. Secret Halls of the Mountain Lords: the Caves of Wu-t'ai' T'oung Pao vol 86, no. 4-5 (Dec 2000) (Cahiers d'Extreme-Asie 5 (1989-1990), pp. 116-140.)
- Charleux, Isabelle. Nomads on Pilgrimage: Mongols on Wutaishan (China), 1800-1940 (Brill's Inner Asian Library, 2015)
- Chou, Wen-shing. Ineffable Paths: Mapping Wutaishan in Qing Dynasty, China Art Bulletin (March 07) pp. 108-129.
- Tuttle, Gray. Tibetan Buddhism at Ri bo rtse lnga/Wutai shan in Modern Times, Columbia University. JIATS, no. 2 (August 2006), 35 pp. Link to article
- Wutai Shan and Qing Culture, JIATS, no. 6 (December 2011) Link to articles