The Miraculous Essence Divides into Two Breaths, the Sacred Mountain Unfolds Jiuhua - A Travelogue of Jiuhua Mountain

A supplementary note: On May 28, 2021, I took a break from work and drove to Jiuhua Mountain with my wife. Due to time constraints, we took the cable car up to Baishui Palace, and also visited Zhantan Forest and Roushen Baodian on Jiuhua Street. After a quick meal, we hurried back.

On Saturday, June 19, after breakfast, I drove to Jiuhua Mountain with my wife and son. Since it was Saturday, cars were not allowed up the mountain. We had to park at Ke Village parking lot and take the scenic area bus up.

The weather was uncooperative; we went up the mountain in heavy rain.

Fortunately, after reaching the top, the rain became drizzly. The rain-washed Jiuhua Mountain appeared even more lush and green, just as the poet immortal Li Bai wrote: "The wondrous qi divides into two forces, the sacred mountain blooms nine blossoms." Upon entering the scenic area, our first stop was Baishui Palace. Due to time, we chose to take the cable car up and walk down.

Baishui Palace, also known as Wannian Chan Temple, was built in the Ming Dynasty and is a key national temple. It is one of the four great monasteries of Jiuhua Mountain, along with Qiyuan Temple, Dongya Chan Temple, and Ganlu Temple. Here, the Ming Dynasty Master Wuxia lived on wild fruits and spent over 20 years copying the *Avatamsaka Sutra* in 81 volumes using his tongue blood mixed with gold powder. The sutras are still well-preserved in Huacheng Temple. Master Wuxia passed away in the third year of the Tianqi reign (1623) at the age of 110, known as the Hundred-Year-Old Master, and his body is the second earliest remaining incarnated body in Jiuhua Mountain.

As we walked down the mountain path, the rain gradually stopped. Breathing the fresh air, we unknowingly arrived at Jiuhua Street. Baishui Palace is at an elevation of over 800 meters, but the walk was not too strenuous.

Our second stop was Zhantan Forest, which consists of the Three Sages Hall, where the central hall enshrines Amitabha Buddha, with Manjushri Bodhisattva on the left and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva on the right. The left hall is the Great Compassion Hall, dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva. The right hall is the Great Vow Hall, dedicated to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

To the right of the Great Compassion Hall is a small room housing the incarnated body of Monk Mingjing.

After coming out, it was nearly noon, so we had lunch at Miss Xu's Home Cooking, which was tasty—we always eat here when we visit.

After lunch, we went to Roushen Baodian, originally known as Jin Dizang Pagoda, commonly called "Laoye Ding," also known as Yueshen Baodian. It is located at the end of Jiuhua Street on Shenguang Ridge.

Upon entering the mountain gate, we first saw Dizang Chan Temple, which houses the incarnated body of Monk Ciming.

We climbed the long steps. This was the filming location for the episode "Accidentally Entering Xiaoleiyin" of the 1983 version of *Journey to the West*.

Ascending the steps, there were iron chain railings on both sides. Beyond the railings, seven terraced flower beds were built along the slope, planted with boxwood, osmanthus, bamboo, chrysanthemums, and other seasonal flowers. On the east side, there is a Ming Dynasty carved fossilized pine branch stele, the "Record of Ksitigarbha's Sacred Traces," written by Liu Guangfu during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty.

The incarnated body of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is enshrined in the stone pagoda in front of the hall. Tourists can no longer see it in person.

After exiting the Shenguang Ridge gate of Roushen Baodian, we followed the crowd toward Xiaotiantai. There, at Yuanjue Hermitage, we discovered the second bhikkhuni incarnated body of Jiuhua Mountain—Venerable Yuankong.

It was getting late, so we retraced our steps back, passing Roushen Baodian to arrive at Shangchan Hall.

Shangchan Hall, originally named "Jingde Hall," is located halfway up Shenguang Ridge and is a key national temple. The architecture of Shangchan Hall is unique: the mountain gate opens on the east wall. Above the gate is an attached room, which is the Maitreya Hall. Maitreya, with a big belly, smiles welcomingly at all visitors. To the left is a small door; after passing through it, your field of view suddenly opens up to the main building of Shangchan Hall—the Mahavira Hall. Under the hall hangs a large bronze bell weighing over a thousand jin, exquisitely cast, with Buddha images on the bell's rim protruding from the surface, vividly expressive.

In the backyard of Shangchan Hall, you can see Guanyin Pavilion, which houses the only Dripping Water Guanyin statue in Jiuhua Mountain. Below the statue is a spring called Jinsha Spring. The spring water is crystal clear with sparkling golden sand, never drying up through the seasons, like a dragon emerging from its cave. Drinking it refreshes the mind; washing with it sharpens the eyes and ears. On the rock above the spring, three characters "Jinsha Quan" (Golden Sand Spring) are engraved, said to be in the calligraphy of the Tang poet Li Bai. Beside the spring stands a tree called the Money Tree, one of the three treasures of Jiuhua Mountain.

Leaving Shangchan Hall, we followed the signs back to Jiuhua Street and headed toward the scenic area bus stop. Passing Tonghui Chan Forest, we saw the first bhikkhuni incarnated body in Chinese Buddhist history—Venerable Renyi.

The corridor pillars and window lattices are carved with stories of Tang Sanzang's pilgrimage and Buddhist mythological tales, exquisite and vivid.

The scenic area bus stop is in front of Julong Hotel. There is a pond in front of the hotel, full of pink lotuses in bloom, very beautiful.

During the wait for the bus, I took a few photos.

The bus arrived, and we returned to the lower parking lot. The rain had completely stopped. We drove home, ending our one-day trip to Jiuhua Mountain.

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