China's Holy Mountain An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism

by Baumer, Christoph

• ISBN13: 9781848857001
• ISBN10: 1848857004
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-10-15
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris

Summary

Rising from Shanxi Province like a three-dimensional mandala, the soaring peaks of Wutai Shan ("Five-terrace Mountain") have inspired pilgrims and travelers for almost two millennia. A striking terrain of towering emerald forests, wraith-like mists and crenellated ridges, this consecrated and secluded site is said to be the spiritual home of Wenshu Pusa, Bodhisattva of Wisdom. It is one of the most venerable and important Buddhist sanctuaries in China, yet still remains relatively little known in the West. Christoph Baumer has traveled extensively in the Wutai Shan region, and here offers the first comprehensive account of the cradle of Chinese Buddhism. In his remarkable new travelogue, 300 luminous photographs capture the unique spirituality of the 60 monasteries which straddle the complex. Charting festivals, rituals, pilgrimages, and the daily life of the monks, abbots, and abbesses, China's Holy Mountainis both a splendid introduction to the history of Buddhism in East Asia and an evocative and lavishly-illustrated gazetteer of the monasteries and sacred artifacts themselves. It will be an indispensable resource for students of Asian religion and philosophy, with further appeal to general readers.

Author Biography

Christoph Baumer -- a leading explorer of Central Asia, Tibet, and China -- has written several well-received books in the fields of history, religion, archaeology, and travel. These include The Church of the East: An Illustrated History of Assyrian Christianity (2006) and Traces in the Desert: Journeys of Discovery across Central Asia (2008), both published by I.B.Tauris.

Table of Contents

Glossary * Foreword * Introduction * The spiritual and historical context * The spread of Buddhism to China * The ‘Barbarian Emperors’ elevate Buddhism to the state religion * The Ten Schools of Chinese Buddhism * The nine sacred mountains of China and Mount Wutai Shan * Pilgrimage routes to the Five Terrace Mountain: The Outer Regions * The five terraces and their monasteries * The monastery city of Taihuai * The North * The East * The South * The West * Outlook on the Future * Notes * Bibliography * Photo credits * About the maps * Acknowledgements * Index