Huangshan Mt. monastic cluster, (towards) Huangshan/Tangkou, Anhui, CN

Raw data

“Huangshan is considered to be a prime example of classic Chinese scenery, as typified in Chinese landscape paintings. On 17 June 747, during the Tang dynasty, an imperial order was issued to name it Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Until that time, however, the mountain had remained largely inaccessible from the outside world. Thereafter, poets, literary scholars and numerous other celebrities were among the many visitors, and by the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) 64 temples had been constructed on the mountain. During the Ming dynasty, in 1606, Monk Pumen came to Huangshan and built Fahai Meditation Temple and Wonshu Temple, connecting them by steps cut into the mountain.”
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/547

“Buddhism was introduced into Mt. Huangshan about the Yuanja period of the Southern Dynasty (424 ~ 453 AD.). Through the ages, nearly a hundred temples were orderly established in most beautiful sites here. Among them more than ten were granted or inscribed by emperors. Taking the advantage of topographical features, all the temples with the clustering peaks and verdant pine trees surrounding them complement to each other. The Xiangfu Temple, the Verdant Temple [= Cuiwei - tmciolek], the Benevolent-Light Temple [aka. Fahai or Ciguang; est. during the Ming Dynasty - tmciolek] and the Alms-Bowl-Throwing Meditation Temple are the Four Jungles of Mt. Huangshan. […] “ - http://www.huangshanguide.com/english/Temples.htm

“Buddhism was spread to Mt. Huangshan during the Reign of Emperor Yong Jia in the South Dynasty (424 - 453 AD).  Nearly one hundred monasteries were built throughout the ages, of which Xiangfu Monastery, Mercy Light Monastery [est. during the Ming Dynasty - tmciolek], Cuiwei Monastery and Zhibo Monastery [est during the Ming Dynasty - tmciolek] are called Four Buddhist Shrines in Mt. Huangshan. Most of the monasteries here have been deserted. However, some ancient buildings like Mercy Light Monastery, the Thousand-Monk Stove, Fayan Spring,  Fish Bridge Nunnery and Pine Valley Nunnery [Originally built in 1253A.D, the nunnery was rebuilt in 1426A.D. - http://www.bestchinahotel.com/attractions-in-huangshan/page9/] have been restored since the 1990s.”
http://www.chinahuangshan.gov.cn/english/ttk/avater/webinfo/2010/11/1289309383594223.htm

“Huangshan Mountain, commonly known as Yellow Mountain outside China. It is located in Huangshan City, south of Anhui province. The mountain range measures 40 kilometers long from north to south, and 30 kilometers wide from west to east. It occupies a total area of 1,200 square kilometers with a core area of 160.6 square kilometers. It is situated at 118°01'—118°17' E, and 30°01'—30°18' N . […] According to Huangshan Mountain Historical Records, Buddhism was introduced to Huangshan Mounain as early as in the Liusong reign period (420 – 479) of the Southern dynasty (420 – 479): and some 100 Buddhist temples were subsequently built in the mountain, including the Xiangfu Temple, Ciguang Temple, Cuiwei Temple and Zhibo Temple [Yungu Temple has the altitude of 890m. It was fist built in Wanli Years of Ming Dynasty, named Zhibo Temple, and renamed as Yugu Temple in Chongzhen Years - http://www.chinahotel.com.cn/Attractions-2168.html], which are so famous that they are known as the “four major temples in Huangshan Mountain”.”
- http://www.chinafacttours.com/huangshan/attractions/mt-huangshan.html

“Since the end of the Ming Dynasty, Buddhism has taken the place of Taoism in Huangshan Mountain culture. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-05/20/content_7829034.htm

Input by: tmciolek, Feb 24, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 24 Feb 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The center of the cluster in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 20 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Huangshan Mt. monastic cluster, CN.

General location of the Huangshan Mt. monastic cluster, CN.
Lat 30.1349 Long 118.1633
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=30.1349+118.1633+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Huangshan%20Mt.%20monastic%20cluster,%20CN)&ll=30.1349,118.1633&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Huangshan Mt. monastic cluster

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Anhui Sheng

3. Monastic cluster's alternative/historical names


4. Monastic cluster's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 30.1349 Long 118.1633 - based on visual identification of the 1600 meters+ Huangshan peak in maps/satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 24 Feb 2013.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Mahayana

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag: 0433-66p 0467-99p - tmciolek 24 Feb 2013
  • 0433-66p 0467-99p 0500-32c 0533-66c 0567-99c 0600-32c 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag: 1200=> - tmciolek 24 Feb 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Poetry

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Available Printed Literature

  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

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