Xiantong Temple

Xiantong Temple

Xiantong Temple has the longest history and is the most prestigious. Occupying an area of 80,000 square meters (95,682 square yards), it was built initially in 68, during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), with the additions built by succeeding dynasties. Now it plays the most important role among the temples, therefore, the Buddhist Association of Mt. Wutaishan is situated there. The court-styled construction of it includes seven palaces, in one of which Wenshu (Manjusri) Bodhisattva’s statue was engraved and worshiped. The copper bell in front of the gate is the biggest bell on the mountain, with a weight of 9,999.5 jin (22,045.9 pounds). Its toll can be heard around the entire mountain.

Nanchan Temple

It is located on the north bank of the Xiaoyinhe, Yangbaigou, 21 kilometres south of Wutai Country, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province of China. It is 35 kilometres from the town of Dongzhi. When the temple was founded is unknown. It was rebuilt in the 3^rd year of Dezong Jianzhong (AD782) of the tang dynasty, more than 1200 years ago. The temple faces south ,and has a land area of 3078 square meters. It is a preserved location of national historical and cultural relics.

Its main hall is the earliest preserved timber-structured building nationwide, built in the Tang Dynasty. The sculptures of the Tang Dynasty are masterpieces, and have significant historical and artistic value.

The Tang Dynasty was the peak in China’s architectural history , and is also the heydays of Buddhist buildings .However , only four timber-structured buildings of the Tang Dynasty have been preserves till today, and all of them are in Shanxi Province ,Among them are Nanchan Temple and Foguang Temple, which are both located on Mount Wutai. The other two are Tiantai An in Pingshun County and Guangrenwang Temple in Ruicheng County.

Tayuan Temple

The 75.3-meter-high (247-feet-high) Tayuan Temple is the symbol of Mt. Wutaishan, so it becomes a "must-see". Principally it possesses the white Tibetan-style dagoba also called Dabai Pagoda (Big White Pagoda). Since it stands in front of the other temples in Taihuai, it is even more eye-catching. Accompanying the graceful temple, there is also Wenshufa Pagoda where it is said that Manjusri Bodhisattva’s hair is preserved, and the Dacangjing Pavilion (Collecting-Lections Pavilion) where volumes of lections were collected.