Holy Place of Kuan Yin
Mt. Putuo lies to the east of Zhoushan City. Zhoushan City is situated on Zhoushan Island that in turn gives its name to a group of some four hundred small islands off the east coast of China in Zhejiang Province. These islands are in fact the peaks of submerged mountains and so rise steeply from the sea. Mt. Putuoshan dominates the small rhomboidal land mass with its total area of about 12.5 square kilometres (4.8 square miles). The mountain is of one of four in the country that are held sacred by Buddhists and it was here that over the centuries a once large Buddhist community was to evolve.
The island’s scenic beauty meant it was the perfect setting for temples and other religious buildings. In due course, it became known as the “Heaven of the Sea and Kingdom of the Buddhists”. In its heyday, the island had eighty-two temples and nunneries together with some one hundred and twenty-eight shelters that between them housed 4,000 Buddhist monks and nuns. Even today visitors to the island will encounter monks in their traditional robes as they walk along the many paths that criss-cross the picturesque landscape.
Mount Putuo is the home of Guanyin, and Guanyin is probably the single most popular name in China. Guanyin is the symbol of peace and mercy, and has become the spiritual support for many generations of Chinese believers. Over the long history, many folktales have been told about Mount Putuo and Guanyin.
In 863, there was a Japanese monk Huie visiting and studying on Mount Wutai in China. When it was the time for him to leave the mountain, he asked to take a Guanyin statue with him, to be worshiped in Japan. Huie carried the sacred statue carefully by himself, and traveled by land to Kaiyuan Temple at the port city of Ningbo. He planned to take a boat from here back to Japan. When he tried to board the boat, however, the Guanyin statue suddenly became heavy, and he couldn’t move it by himself. So he asked help and eventually about a dozen people worked together to lift the statue and put it on the boat. The boat soon arrived the lotus sea near Mount Putuo. To everyone’s surprise, the ocean that was smooth like silk turned into a vicious monster, and among the high waves, there were also countless iron lotus flowers scattered the ocean. There was no way the boat could sail further. At night, Huie had a dream. In the dream, a monk told him: “as long as you let me stay in this mountain, I’ll give you the wind that will send you back to Japan”. That woke Huie up and he told the dream to his companions. After worshiping Guanyin, they were able to move the boat to the shore of Mount Putuo, and Huie built a simple straw hut near Chaoyin cave to house the Guanyin statue. The boat was then able to leave the lotus sea, and Huie was back to Japan. Because the Guanyin statue didn’t want to leave for Japan, it was named “reluctant to go” Guanyin. A local resident, Mr. Zhang, learned the story and modified his own house into small temple. The Reluctant to Go Guanyin was moved to the temple and he named the temple Reluctant to Go Guanyin Temple.
People believe that it was Guanyin himself chose Mount Putuo as his place (Dojo) for teaching Buddhism. Not long, the story spread across China and east Asia. Because monk Huie was from Japan, the story was well believed in his home country. Since Tang Dynasty, there has been large amount of Guanyin pilgrims visiting Mount Putuo from Japan. Due to the popularity, later Mount Nazhi was established as a Guanyin Dojo in Japan, and it was modeled after Mount Putuo. Even so, Mount Putuo is still regarded as the original Guanyin Dojo. In September of 1993, the Japanese Guanyin scholars visited Mount Putuo for the third time, and they brought 33 Guanyin statues representing 33 Guanyin temples in Japan. These Guanyin statues are now worshiped inside Huie memorial.
There were three major renovations in Mount Putuo’s history. The largest renovation probably was in 1731 under Emperor Yongzheng. The renovation lasted three years and amassed over 2000 workers. It was also managed by the provincial governor directly, under the policy of “renew all that’s old, build all that’s lacking”.
Emperor also bestowed two white jade plaques with royal inscriptions, one each for Puji and Fayu temples. These unusual treatments was widely speculated as a reward to Mount Putuo for its help during the emperor’s throne succession. Yongzheng was the fourth son among the nine to succeed the throne. The competition was fierce. The story was that in 1720, Monk Zhenliuyuan became the abbot of Puji temple. During a routine teaching session, he singled out the 4th prince (Yongzheng), and gave him special prayers. That was two years before Yongzheng’s father passed away, and the fight inside the palace was still brewing. How did an abbot on a faraway island know the outcome at that time?
Everyone should visit this holy place of Guan Yin (also spelled Kuan Yin: Avalokitesvara) as a sacred pilgrimage site named Mt Putuo or Putuoshan in China.
Thanks Rinpoche. I am an avid fans for all your articles on Holy Ground and Magnificent Statues of the world. Pls continue to post more article on both topic. It’s very enlightening and will inspire many individual to salute to the effort and devotion of this great legacy work.
(admin, pls ignore the previous posting. thx)
What a lovely post with such detailed information on history of the blessed Mount Putuo.
I have not visited this place, but after reading this post, I really do want to make it a point to visit.
It is amazing to me that so many magnificent spiritual places and monuments were built during the time of Kangxi Emperor(Yongzheng’s father) and Yongzheng Emperor. The famous Yonghegong Temple in Beijing which houses a huge Lama Tsongkhapa Statue is also built by these two Emperors. The father started the construction and the son completed it. Such strong karmic affinity that these two royalties share with Buddhism.
I read that during their reign, much spirituality blossomed in China. They were also known to be the most benevolent rulers in the history of China’s Emperors.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing with us this splendid post. It is always such a pleasure reading Rinpoche’s Blog. I learn so much every single time. It is spiritual, educational and even fun!
Thank you again.
Namo Guan Yin!!!!!! Wish and pray I will be able to visit this holy place in my life and also many other holy places that I have heard of…
Dear Rinpoche ,
I really love kuan yin too. Had a kuan yin in my old house while i was a kid did prayed to HIM alot & for a long time before we had to moved away from my hometown. Since then been missing that kuan yin alot.
: )
This Guan Yin is really magnificent. I had the privilege to visit Mt Putuoshan this year and love this island. The energy is so serene and positive. The temples are beautiful. Thank you Rinpoche for detailing out the history of the island. Such rich history and I can experience that the Chinese people are very spiritual even though a lot of culture and practices were destroyed/banned during the cultural revolution. China is the next place to be. It is really worth the 4:30 hours of travelling time to the island.
In China in the city of Zhoushan on the island of Zhoushan. The many other small islands near Putuoshan. This is one of the four mountains which house all Buddhist temples and other religious buildings among its beautiful scenery. This houses many buddhist temples, centres where over 4000 monks and nuns live. When visitors walk around the island they can always can come face to face with the monks and nuns . I understand later that the Chinese also has built a very big Kuan Yin on the island. There was a teaching session in the temple when monk Zhenlinyuan was abbot of Puji temple. He had singled out Emperor Yongshen’s 4th son and gave him some prayers 2 years before the father Emperor Yongshen died But there was still a fight even when the Emperor has passed away. The picture of the big Kuan Yin statue towering above the island reminds me of the statue of Liberty in New York.
Mount “Puto” – known as the home of Kuan Yin, denotes a symbol of peace, tranquility and mercy. Kuan Yin is likened to a spiritual “Shepherd-like-boddhicitta” who is always at hand to look after her flock of sheep and takes care that no sheep remains behind and that each one reaches safe shelter! She has become the spiritual of support for countless generations of believers(especially the chinese) over a long history of time. Kuan Yin is said to have pledged to teach, help, guide and lead all sentient beings to Buddhahood before she achieves her own. That is why her famous mantra, “Om mani padme hum” is so popular with the young and old, who somehow seems able to recite it consciously or unconsciously after a short span of time of teaching. It is said that the recitation of “Om mani padme hum” transmits the qualities of compassion, grace and strength of Kuan Yin’s wishes to help all beings. People of all walks of life, whether chinese or otherwise, should visit this holy site of Kuan Yin as a sacred pilgrimage. “OM MANI PADME HUM”.
Beautiful photos and information
Thank you for posting such elaborate information here. The history and folktales is very interesting. The Shanghai group who went to for the Kechara Tea House opening was planning to go visit while in Shanghai. However, the drive was 6 hours there and another 6 hours back. That means we will need to stay overnight around the area of Mt Putou and time forbids. Also it would have been too tiring for the driver. Such a pity we didn’t make it to such a holy pilgrimage site. I was so looking forward to it. Hopefully sometime in the future, I will get to make a trip there as the pictures look very enticing.
This is a lovely magical story about a holy place of Kuan Yin. I do hope one day I can have the good fortune to make a pilgrimage to this place. Its important to go to pilgrimage places, such acts can inspire us on our path to feel the energy of the practitioners who gained realisations in those areas.