Wutai Mountain's Jinjie Temple

Jinjie Temple, located beneath Dai Luo Peak near Jinjie Bridge, is also known as Shangshi Tayuanyuan. Facing west with its back to the east, the temple is surrounded by lush green mountains on both sides. The exit of Shangshi Tayuanyuan connects to the "Dazhi Road," which leads to Dai Luo Peak. This temple, rebuilt on its original site, is renowned for its exquisite brick carvings, wood carvings, and the stupa of Master Nenghai. The entrance gate of Jinjie Temple is modest in size but adorned with splendid decorations. The plaques inscribed with "Shangshi Tayuanyuan" and "Jinjie Temple" gleam with golden brilliance. Upon entering the temple, the first sight is the stupas of Master Nenghai and Master Qingding. These white, sacred stupas stand majestically by the banks of the Qing Shui River, making them highly conspicuous. The inscription reads: "Following Manjushri's teachings, spreading the Dharma in the cool land, promoting both esoteric and exoteric Buddhism, revering the Dharma King from afar, walking the Buddha's icy path, balancing wisdom and strength, serving as a messenger of peace, illuminating the Buddhist faith, with the five peaks towering and the three Emei peaks standing tall, the Dharma stupa rises high, and the virtuous sound knows no bounds." Behind the stupas, a peak rises steeply, while to the left, the Huayan Valley's stream flows gently. Surrounding the stupas are pine, poplar, and willow trees, creating a lush and magnificent landscape. The temple is built facing west and ascends step by step along the mountain's slope. Along the central axis are the screen wall, the entrance gate (Heavenly King Hall), the Mahavira Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, the Manjushri Hall, and the Memorial Hall of Master Nenghai. On the north and south sides are the Bell and Drum Towers, side rooms, monks' quarters, and the Wealth God Hall. Adjacent to the Memorial Hall of Master Nenghai is the Zongkangba Grand Hall. The Heavenly King Hall has three bays and features a single-eave gable roof. The stone carvings on the arch above the door are exceptionally intricate. On both sides are cross-gable-roofed Bell and Drum Towers. In front of the hall are two steles, though they are heavily weathered. Inside the hall, the Four Heavenly Kings and Maitreya Buddha are enshrined. The murals on the side walls depict the Water and Land Dharma Assembly (copied from Qinglong Temple in Jishan) and Mingwang murals. The Mahavira Hall is built atop a towering platform and features a double-eave gable roof structure. Inside, the principal deity is Vairocana Buddha. In the Manjushri Hall, the central altar enshrines Manjushri Bodhisattva, while the rear wall features Eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. The murals on the side walls depict the Buddha subduing demons and delivering teachings. Surrounding the hall are corridors adorned with exquisite wood carvings, illustrating the Buddha's life stories and biographies. P.S. This marks the fifteenth and final stop of my Wutai Mountain travel journal. Covering fifteen locations in one day, including climbing Fanyan Mountain, Pusa Peak, and Dai Luo Peak, left me utterly exhausted. By the time I reached Jinjie Temple, I was completely worn out. Unfortunately, I missed Guanghua Temple, Nanshan Temple, Zhenhai Temple, Mingyue Pool, and Guanyin Cave this time. I look forward to revisiting and exploring these places during my second trip. With this, my fifteen-part Wutai Mountain travel journal comes to an end.