Mount Wutai: China's Sacred Five-Terrace Mountain

Mount Wutai is identified as the worldly abode of the bodhisattva of Wisdom, Manjushri, located in Shanxi Province, China. It is one of the four great sacred Buddhist mountains of China. Due to its unusually cold weather, with numerous medieval reported mid-summer snowfalls, the mountain became known as Mount Qingliang, Clear and Cool Mountain.

Its five grass-covered flat peaks are arranged in a crescent-shaped configuration and are located above the tree line around 3,000 m. Accordingly, the mountain obtained its name Wutai Shan, the Five-Terrace Mountain. The mountain peaks appear from the far distance like heavenly altars and are conventionally referred to by their cardinal directions. Together the peaks are believed to constitute Manjushri’s mandala with a different emanation of Manjushri residing on each peak.