learning objectives

Understand the features and history about Chinese Buddhism temples
Understand the basic structure of typical Buddhist temple
Understand the basic history, structure and functions of a pagoda
Learn how to talk about Buddhism and guide a temple
Learn how to guide Mountain Wutai

content of lecture

Introduction of Chinese Buddhism temple
General information about the structure of Chinese temple
Introduction of Chinese four great Buddhism Mountains
Traveling on mountain Wutai

Part 1 chinese buddhist temple

Along with the introduction of Buddhism to China, Buddhist temples sprang up like mushrooms throughout the country. Legend has it that in the Eastern Han Dynasty(25-220), two monks from the Western Regions, by the name Kashyapa-matanga and Dharmaranya, came to Luoyang, the capital of China, to take charge of the translation of the sutras. The court had an official residence outside of the west gate of Luoyang renovated for the two eminent monks to live, and translate and store the sutras. This house was the earliest Buddhist temple in China. Legend goes that as the sutras were carried to the temple by a white horse; the emperor named it White Horse Temple.
In the early days, the Chinese Buddhist temples were located in densely populated capital cities for convenience of preaching Buddhism. Later along with the development of Buddhism, temples were gradually built in the picturesque mountains with exquisite waters where monks can cultivate themselves through meditation, giving birth to the situation that “most of the famous mountains are occupied by monks.” Mount Wutai in Shanxi, Mount Putuo in Zhengjiang, Mount Jiuhua in Anhui and Mount Emei in Sichuan are the four most famous Buddhist mountains in China, which are still shining the splendid brilliance of Buddhist culture today.
Through Buddhism was born in India, it became flouring in China. No one knows how many temples China has built since ancient times. It is said that in the period from the Western Jin Dynasty (265-317) to the end of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), China had over 100,000 temples; a large temple had over 500 monks; and the largest temple held 10,000 monks. Though numerous temples were destroyed with the passage of time or in the war, a great number of Buddhist temples have been preserved. In 1949 when New China was founded, China had a total of over 5,000 temples spread all over the country.
Chinese Buddhist temples show strong national independence. Their huge architectural scale, the beautiful Buddhist statues and the colorful murals with rich contents make all people feel proud, and all the people in the world gasp in admiration.
Mount Wutai (eastern Han-Ming: 68-1644)---the most famous Buddhist Mountain in China.　Shaolin Temple (northern Wei-oresent:386-present)----the origin of the Chinese martial arts Dule temple（独乐寺） (Tang: 618-907) ---a clay Buddhist statue that did not collapse in earthquakes Suspended temple (Ming and Qing: 1368-1911) -----the Buddhist Temple Hung in the air
Tashihunpo monastery札什伦布寺... (Ming: 1368-1644) ----a temple with the Buddhist statue closet to Heaven
Yonghe lamasery (Qing: 1644-1911) with a famous giant Sandalwood Buddha
Po Lin monastery（宝莲寺） and Tian Tan Buddha（天坛大佛） (new China 1949-present)—the largest bronze Buddha in the world.

Part 2 STRUCTURE of chinese ancient temple

1. PPT演示：中国古代寺庙的布局和建筑结构
2. The gates:
This is the main gate of the temple. It faces the South. The gilded characters—“The Temple of Thanks-giving” on the board looks very forceful. It is alleged that the monks occupy most of the famous mountains. Because most of the temples are located in the deep mountain and forest, the main gate of the temple is also called the gate of the mountain.（山门） It is also called three gates.（三门）It symbolizes the escape from the worries caused by secular life.
3. The Bell and Drum Towers:
You can see the bell tower and drum tower after you enter the main gate. This is the bell tower. The bell weighs 15 tons. It was cast in 1548 of the Ming Dynasty. This is the drum tower. The big drum was made in the same year as the bell.
4. The incense burner (tripod):
You can have a panoramic view of the temple from here. At the same time, it makes people feel the solemnity and holiness of the temple. The halo is above and the kindness will exist forever. Tourists like to be photographed here as a lasting memory.
5. The Hall of Great Buddha:
The chairman of China Buddhist Association, Zhao Puchu, wrote “The Hall of Great Hero” for the main worship hall.
1) The statues of Sakyamuni. The Great Hero is a respectful title for Buddha. It means that Buddha has supreme power and can subdue all the monsters.
2) Here are the three statues of Sakyamuni. They are Buddha of the past, present and future.
3) Kasyapa (珈叶)and Ananda (阿难): On the two sides of Buddha are two of the ten great disciples of Buddha. The old is Kasyapa and the young is Ananda.
4) The 18 Arhats:
On the two sides of the hall are the statues of the 18 Arhats: Arhats are the disciples of Buddha who have attained the Way. Arhats hold the highest position in Hinayana doctrine. They won’t experience reincarnation and will be offered good by the masses.

Part 3 HIGH mountains of China

China is home to many mountains. According to statistics, the famous high mountains in China number over 200 in total. The principal mountains in China generally fall into the following three types;
First, traditional famous mountains
In ancient China, the emperors claimed to be the “sons of Heaven.” “To repay Heaven for kindness,” they often took the magnificent and precipitous mountains as the auspicious sign, where they set up altars to offer sacrifices to Heaven. The first feudal emperor in Chinese history holding a large-scale ceremony to confer a feudal title upon a mountain is Emperor Qin Shihuang, First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty. To ensure that the country was prosperous and the people lived in peace, the emperors of the successive dynasties frequently held activities to confer feudal titles on mountains. Finally the five most famous mountains of China emerged, i.e., Mount Tai in the east; Mount Huashan in the west; Mount Hengshan in the east; Mount Songshan in the central; and Mount Henshan in the south. Since then the “five sacred mountains” have enjoyed a high reputation throughout the world, and become the pronouns of renowned mountains in China.
Second, the famous Buddhist Mountains
An old Chinese saying goes:” The monks occupy most of the famous mountains.” When the emperor of past ages were busy conferring titles upon famous mountains, monks speeded up building temples in the mountains across the country for practicing Buddhism. Consequently, the “four famous Buddhist mountains” in China came into forth, i.e, Mount Emei in Sichuan, Mount Wutai in Shanxi, Mount Putuo in Zhejiang and Mount Jiuhua in Anhui. As Taoists are particular about tranquility and prefer to be away from the turmoil of the world, a great number of famous Taoist mountains, represented by Mount Wudang, emerged as the times demanded. It proves that the famous religious mountains in China are actually the models of the perfect combination of China’s natural and cultural legacies.
Third, newly discovered mountains
Along with the progress of society, the development of science and technology, and the emergence of mountaineering and tourism, China has found them are suitable for climbing, and the others, for sightseeing. In history, the Chinese people did not give sufficient attention to the places where groups of mountains gather, because of their high elevations and poor transport facilities. In modern times, when explorers, mountaineers, travelers, geologists and meteorologists traveled to or made inspections of western China, they constantly discovered clusters of high mountains and glaciers, as well as a great number of world-level natural wonders. Though they are not famed, they are more magnificent and beautiful than the famous mountains.
Mount Tai---the ancestor of Chinese mountains
Mount Emei-----a great mountain rising from a basin
Mount Huangshan----the most beautiful mountain in the eyes of the Chinese people
Mount Qomolangma---- the “third pole of the earth”
Kangrinboqe Peak---the sacred mountain of the Tibetan people

Part 4 Wutai mountain

五台山概况：得名由来、地理位置、文殊菩萨道场、独特地位
佛光寺：概况和地位、佛光寺东大殿、与梁思成
显通寺：概况和地位、大雄宝殿、无梁殿和铜殿
佛教传播：朝台、佛教传播
Step1: video playing(10min)
Step 2: reading A (30min)
Located in Wutai, Shanxi Province in central China, Mount Wutai (meaning five platforms) is one of the four famous Buddhist Mountains in China. As its name indicated, Mount Wutai is surrounded by five peaks with the tops as flat as five platforms. The five peaks are 250 kilometers in circumference. It is not hot in summers, hence another name Cool Mountain. With Taihuai Town as the center, Mount Wutai covers an area of 2,837square kilometers.
Buddhism in Mount Wutai has a long history. As early as in the 11^th year of the Yongping reign period (68) of the Eastern Han Dynasty, construction of Buddhist temples started. After the expansion and renovation of the temples built in the dynasties after the Tang have been preserved, making Mount Wutai enjoy the reputation of being an ancient architecture warehouse in China. The temple in the mountain includes Han Buddhist temples, as well Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Hence it is the best place for the people to study China’s ancient architecture, religions, culture and art.
Legend has it that Mount Wutai was the place of enlightenment of Manjusri (Bodhisattva of Wisdom). On the fourth day of the fourth lunar month every year, the birthday of Manjusri, all the monks of the temples in the mountain chant scriptures and hold religious service, which attract numerous domestic and foreign tourists to do sightseeing and worship Buddha.
Step3:Tour-guiding:(40min)
Mount Wutai
Mount Wutai actually encompasses a number of different mountains, but long ago Buddhists chose five particular flat-topped peaks as the perimeter of the sacred area, hence the name which means “five Terrace Mountain”. As the center of Chinese Buddhism for two thousand years, Mount Wutai is widely known not only to the people of China but also to Buddhists in Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Tibet and Nepal. Its Buddhism is indissolubly tied up with that of Japan and had a great influence on that country. Seeking after the Buddhist truth, such famous monks as Ennin and Ryoesen in the Tang Dynasty, and Choonen and Seisan in the Song Danasty made long pilgrimages to Mount Wutai. The Tantric master Amoghavajajra also came to meditate here.
Today, the fifty-eight temples built after the Tang Dynasty (684AD-705AD)still stand. There are forty-eight temples of Chinese temples of Chinese Buddhism and then Tibetan Lamaseries.
Taihuai Town, in the center of the Mount Wutai, is surrounded by the five peaks. Most of the temples are located near the town. The peaks of Wutai and all the surrounding temples are sacred to Manjushri the Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Virtue. Manjushri is believed in the vicinity of Mount Wutai and numerous legends speak of apparitions of the Bodhisattva.(from 导游英语实用教程，刘丽莉，天津大学出版社，141)
Traveling on Mountain Wutai
Ladies and gentalemen;
Welcome to Mt.Wutai. First, I’ll briefly introduce Mt.Wutai to you.
Mt. Wutai is one of the four most famous Buddhist Temples in China. It is located in northeast Xinzhou District in Shanxi Province and most of its scenic spots are located in the Huaitai Town of Wutai County, whil some small parts are in Fanshi, Dai County and Fuping County in Hebei Province. Mt.Wutai is famous for the five peaks and the eternally running Qinshui River. The essence of Mt.Wutai is the Buddhist temples.
Mt. Wutai is the vivid summary of the common Characteristics of the five peaks. The five peaks of the mountains are tall platforms, so it is called Mt.Wutai ( “Wu” in Mandian means”5”, while tai is “platform”). Mt.Wutai is more than 2,700 meters above the sea level and the north summit is 3,058 meters high, kaking it the highest peak in Northern China. Hence it is known as the “Roof of North China”. Shanxi province is located on the Loess Plateau, so most of it is dry, but Mt.Wutai is an exception. Here the trees are tall, weather is cool, and the ground is covered with vegetation. Because it has beautiful and spectacular scenery, Mt.Wutai is well-known summer tourist attraction. Though it lies in a deep valley, transportation to it is very convenient.
Mu.Wutai is famous mainly because it is the holy land for Buddhists. How did Mt.Wutai become the Buddhist holy land?
During the Eastern Han Dynasty(68A.D.), two India monks preached Buddhism in China. When they came to Mt.Wutai, they saw that its mountain topography was almost identical to the place where the Sakyamuni Buddha meditated and worshipped. After they returned to Luoyang, they asked the emperor of Han to build a monastery in Mt.Wutai and the Temple was then constructed. The temple was the Xiangtong Tempe’s predecessor, which is as famous as the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, one of China’s earliest Buddhist temples, so Mt.Wutai has become the Buddhist holy land. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Mt Wutai has more than 200 temples, and during the Tang Dynasty, this summer grew to 360. These temples houses more than 3,000 Buddhist monks and nuns. However, during Tang Emperor Wuzong’s reign and Zhou Emperor Shizong’s reign practically all of Mt.Wutai Buddhist temple were destroyed. During the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, the temples were gradually rebuit. During the Ming Dynasty, MtWutai has nearly 104 temples. Kangxi, Qianlong and Jiaqing, the three early Qing Dynasty emperors, attached great importance to Mt.Wutai and constantly made heavy investments in temple construction there. By the late Qing Dynasty, Mt Wutai has a total of 122 temples and more than 1,000 Buddhist Monks and nuns.
Mt. Wutai now just has a little more than 50 temples. But along the four most famous Buddhist temples, Mt.Wutai is still the most popular tourist attraction. Mr.Wutai’s Tang, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty Buddhist temple have grand architecture marked by rigor and continuity. It is a wonderful place to study and appreciate the ancient Chinese architecture form the Tang Dynasty onward. In addition, the inscriptions of Buddhist sculptures are highly skilled and diversified in form, such as clay, brass and jade carvings, making Mt.Wutai the best place to appreciate the evolution of Buddhist sculpture art.

Large White Pagoda(大白塔): also known as Sakyamuni Sputa, is a Tibetan-style pagoda. Standing at the Tayuan Monastery in Taihuai toen in Mount Wutai, the circular pagoda is 54.27 meters high. This pagoda is beautifully shaped, which alternating with thin, and square matching round. A total of 252 bells hung from the edge of the platter jingle pleasantly in the breeze, showing a character of an ancient pagoda. It is regarded as the signpost of Mount Wutai.

Reference ：
     英语导游教程纪春裴松青旅游教育出版社 2007
     西安导游技巧与实践姚宝荣西安外语音像教材出版社1997
     英语导游必读朱歧新中国旅游出版社 2006

Homework:
prepare the traits of excellent tour guide(P52-56)