Guide to Dachaotai in Mount Wutai

What the editor wants to tell you today is the strategy for Chaotai in Wutai Mountain, which is where you come to worship. So, if you also want to go here to worship, let’s learn about it with the editor today. Pilgrimage information! This will help everyone know how to come here to worship!

Chaotai

Mount Wutai is not just the name of a mountain. It has five peaks. On the top of the five platforms, the five dharma bodies of Manjushri, also known as the five directions, are enshrined. Manjusri. When most people mention Wutai Mountain, they only refer to the Taihuai Town in Wutai Mountain for sightseeing; Chaotai is not the case. Chaotai is for worshiping holy sites and expressing faith in Buddha and Manjusri Bodhisattva. There are small Chaotai and large Chaotai.

Dachaotai:

That is, all the five platforms on the top of the mountain come down to worship, walk all over the mountain road, visit the five platforms, and worship Manjushri Bodhisattva on the top of the five platforms. This is the "Dachaotai". Dachaotai is also divided into two routes: forward and reverse. We took the counterclockwise route this time, and the forward route is more intense.

Xiaochaotai:

That is, worship at Dailuoding in the center of Taihuai Town. Because there are five platforms of Manjushri worshiped there, there is no need to walk to the top of each mountain. To worship, you just have to climb more than 1,000 steps on Dailuoding.

According to legend, walking down all five platforms and going to the platform in one session is equivalent to 500 years of practice.

Although the "Dachaotai" in Mount Wutai is not as difficult and dangerous as the Sichuan-Tibet Line, it still requires strong endurance. It takes a day and a half to hike between the five summits. It is not an easy task. The mountain road of 50 to 60 kilometers is sometimes flat and sometimes steep. Sometimes it climbs hundreds of meters, and sometimes it goes down hundreds of meters. Especially This is the realm under the control of the Fifth Master. The weather changes so randomly. Sometimes it is scorching sun, sometimes it is windy and rainy, and sometimes it is stormy and snowy. Therefore, the changeable climate is another obstacle to Chaotai.

Only when you truly walk into it can you better understand the uniqueness of Wutai Mountain and the difficulty of Dachaotai.

Evening classes at Pushou Temple

On the day I arrived, I was lucky enough to go to Pushou Temple, the largest women’s Buddhist college in China, for evening classes.

The life of monk women is lonely and lonely. They must abide by 348 precepts. They get up at three o'clock every morning, turn off the lights at ten o'clock in the evening, and only have one hour's lunch break at noon. They only eat They have breakfast and lunch, and the rest of the time is spent chanting sutras, working, and doing homework. Everything they say and do must abide by the Buddha's teachings.

The evening class starts at 7:30 in the evening, and we start queuing up around 7 o'clock and follow the master's instructions to go to the main hall to chant sutras. The nuns walked in front, wearing the brown monk robes and cassocks they only wear when going to the temple, the lay people walked in the back, and people like me walked at the back of the line. In the long line, there were only the sound of small footsteps and a few light coughs. There was no more sound.

Even people like me who have no religious beliefs can still feel a unique solemnity. Just like you use your dream as a horse, dreaming of being able to travel to the end of the world with a sword, but they are just the ancient Buddha of Qingdeng, cultivating their hearts and practicing.

Follow the master's guidance and walk into the main hall to start the evening class. The nuns had long known the sutras by heart. As the wooden fish struck faster and faster, their chanting speed also increased. Sometimes they had to recite more than twenty words in one breath before they could take another breath. When chanting sutras and worshiping the Buddha, the nuns' straight and upright bodies are majestic and dignified, with a kind of natural dignity.

It turns out that it is very hard to remain kneeling or standing motionless for an hour or two. What the book says about "being a monk for a day and ringing the clock for a day" is also a lie!

After an evening class, I sighed that the female monk could recite the sutras so beautifully. It was really shocking! And I was actually there I did homework for an hour without knowing anything. From the very beginning, I was looking at the dusk chanting in the book but couldn't understand which line the female monk was reciting. Later, I was able to slowly chant along with it. It was a very special experience.

Evening classes usually end at nine o'clock. When we came out of the temple, everything was dark again. The mountains seemed to have been swallowed up by the night and their outlines had disappeared. Because they were afraid that the light would attract insects and accidentally trample them to death, only one bright light was left in each temple on the top of the mountain. Standing in front of the main hall, looking at Dailuoding diagonally opposite, the dim light can be seen dimly, which is really beautiful. Hongmenyan-Dongtai

We need to rush early on the first day of hiking. After the bus took us to Hongmenyan, we officially started the two-day trek to Chaotai Road.

Hongmen Rock is the place where all outdoor enthusiasts’ dreams begin. It is the starting point for heading counterclockwise to Taipei. People gather here to start a day’s hiking. In my heart, I want it to be a pious path. This is a route that is different from other hiking routes. Although I am not a Buddhist, I think it cannot be desecrated in such a sacred place.

Although it is summer, the morning in Wutai Mountain is still very cold, and many people are so cold that they sniffle. There is a rocky road from Hongmen Rock to Dongtai, about 1.7 kilometers, and you can reach the top in about 40 minutes. Everyone was running very fast, and it was probably the first day, so both mentally and physically we were still in the best condition.

Wanghai Peak on Dongtai is 2,795 meters above sea level. On the top is Wanghai Temple, dedicated to the wise Manjusri. There are many travelers who come here to watch the sunrise or pilgrims who worship Buddha. The curl of cigarettes accompanied by the morning sunshine, coupled with the silence maintained by the devout worshippers, makes the entire Wanghai Temple a bit mysterious. .

I stopped to rest at the top of the platform and saw the mountains and sea of ??clouds at my feet. It was really spectacular! The sky was so blue and the clouds were so white. I had the urge to reach out and catch the clouds. I couldn’t find anything else. If there is a suitable language to describe the sky of Mount Wutai, let me just give you the picture.

After returning to Hongmenyan via the original route, there is a dirt road in the northwest of the highway that leads directly to Beitai. I brought a water cup and two bottles of water with me in the morning. Maybe it was because I had too much equipment and it felt heavier and heavier. I had no choice but to throw away a bottle of mineral water after 10 minutes.

From Hongmen Rock, you can overlook Taihuai Town. The iconic white pagoda of Tayuan Temple is clearly visible, and you can even see the smoke of Pushou Temple. The town's name is Taihuai, which is appropriate. It is a treasure land in Wutai.

Hongmen Rock - Beitai

Hongmen Rock to Beitai is about 12 kilometers. The longest section takes about 3-5 hours of hiking and rises 540 meters. There is a zigzag section, there are paths that can be cut diagonally when hiking, and some sections have stone steps. Standing on the top of the east platform, you can see the top of the north platform. It doesn't look far away, but you can't stand looking at the mountain.

There is a small temple called Fayun Temple one-third of the way from Hongmen Rock. This is usually used as a supply point where you can rest and drink water. The section from Fayun Temple to the middle of the North China Rooftop is a crosscut and is the most strenuous section of the day. One-third of the way from the top of the platform is the North China Rooftop Arch, which is also a famous landmark on the top of the platform.

Hebei Rooftop can also be used as a supply. Under the archway, there are local people selling apples, cucumbers, tomatoes and melons, as well as Red Bull instant noodles. Instant noodles can be brewed with boiling water. They are all 10 yuan, which is really not expensive. .

Due to the recent strict management of the scenic spot, there are very few private cars on the top of the platform. There are only cars from the Chaotai Company and some temple cars. So walking for two days means that it is best to walk down it yourself.

Don’t get excited, you have only completed two-thirds of the journey to the North China Rooftop. From Hongmen Rock to the top of the North Platform, the only section of stone road on the top of the five platforms is paved and built with donations from a Taiwanese layman.

I thought I had reached the top of Beitai, but in fact, the real top of Beitai is still some distance away. The building on the top of the mountain in the distance is Beitai Ye Doufeng! Beitai is the top of the platform with the highest altitude among the five towers, and Ye Doufeng is 3058 meters tall. rice.

There is Lingying Temple on the top of the North Platform, dedicated to Wu Guo Manjusri. Lingying Temple is too small. If it were placed in Taihuai Town or any other busy city, it would probably be used as a public toilet. Although the temple is small, the incense of Manjusri is very strong. Many tourists rent cars and go to the top of Beitai to perform Hajj to Manjusri.

It is no exaggeration to say that when I arrived at Beitai, I really lay down on Beitai. The moment I lay down, I hated the climb that made my thighs sore and the high altitude that made me breathless. But on the other hand, I was secretly happy in my heart: I have walked across another stage.

At this moment, when I lay down, I didn’t even want to get up. It seemed that my physical strength had reached its limit. The further I walked back, the more my physical strength was exhausted.

Beitai-Zhongtai

From Beitai, you can clearly see Zhongtai, which is downhill all the way, not far, about 6 kilometers, and the journey takes about 2.5 hours. But I was not happy going downhill, because after working so hard to climb such a high slope, now I was going all the way down, and then I had to climb up again. It feels like you have worked hard to earn some money, spent it all at once, and have to work hard to earn it in the end.

On the way to Zhongtai, you must first pass by the bathing pool. The bathing pool is called the All Saints Bathing Pool. In ancient times, there was a spring and the water was stored in the pool. It is said that it was the place where Manjusri Bodhisattva bathed. This section of the road descends all the way, which is a good time to recover your strength. There is no obvious path, and you can cut diagonally through the rocks.

The toilet on the top of the platform is difficult to find, and the conditions are quite difficult. It is a dry toilet, and there are many people. You have to queue up to use the toilet. There are three or four pits in one toilet. The toilet pit is very deep. It is ventilated down the mountain and the wind is really strong.

The friends who came with me also brought their seven-month-old golden retriever, which was really well-behaved and everyone loved it. In fact, by the afternoon of the first day, the dog was very tired and lay down at the owner's feet and whimpered a few times. However, when the owner lifted his feet and walked away, he still persisted. Then you will really think: You are not as good as a dog, right?

The middle platform is called Cuiyan Peak, and there is Yanjiao Temple on the top of the platform, dedicated to the child Manjusri. The central stage is the most spectacular top of the stage. It is dedicated to the giant Manjushri Bodhisattva. It has a majestic appearance. When Lord Courage approaches the statue, he will immediately feel respectful. There are also seemingly countless Buddha statues in various shapes and are very magnificent.

Central Terrace-Xitai-Xilai Temple Order

From the Central Terrace to the West Terrace, it is all downhill at the beginning, and it is relatively steep. If you have bad knees, you must definitely go there. You must wear knee pads. At the foot of the Xitai Archway, walk straight along the right hand side to go to Xilai Temple to place an order (the order fee is 100 yuan. You will pass by the Ba Gong De Water on the way, so be sure to drink some. The total journey is about 4 kilometers.

Generally speaking, the conditions for placing orders at Xilai Temple are very good in Taiding. Master Zizai in the temple is also really good. If you have any questions, he is very busy. Solved. The masters on the mountain are really good. Really, every master along the way is very good! They are real practitioners, and the conditions are very difficult!

The master said to us, no matter what, we have to do it. Knowing how to be satisfied and grateful, at least you still have a place to live. How many people in the world are homeless and wandering around? Yes, in Buddhism, don't expect too much. Only by having a heart of few desires can you be happy and eternal. .

Lying on the damp kang, I was reflecting and learning to be considerate and patient.

After walking for a day, I can still have a bowl of hot noodle soup, which really comforts my five internal organs temple. Of course, in the temple, nothing should be wasted. You must eat cleanly and wash the dishes yourself after eating.

When the mind calms down, things in the world will become easier to understand. Just like why the sky here is so blue, the sky is actually blue, but our sight is usually obscured by the polluted air, so that we cannot see the blue sky. And when you stand on the top of the mountain, away from those pollutants, you can naturally see the true face of the blue sky. If the dust in the soul could be cleansed all the time, would the world be as clear and peaceful as it is now?

On the morning of leaving the next day, there was a mineral spring at Hsi Lai Temple that was used to fill the Eight Merit Waters. For water bottles, you can ask the master to get two empty bottles, and then fill them with some Eight Merit Waters yourself.

Xitai-Nantai

Although four platforms have been completed, the entire Chaotai Road is only half completed. Nantai is the most beautiful of the five platforms, named Jinxiu, and is definitely worth visiting. Nantai is its own peak, 36 kilometers away from Xitai. The road from Xitai to Nantai can also be called the Road of Despair. The reason why it is called the Road of Despair is not because of its intensity, but because the road is mainly downhill slowly. You have to walk all the way along the winding mountain road. , quite boring and quite boring.

Along the way, there were many believers who bowed their heads and worshiped. Compared with them, we are far behind!

I am not a religious person. Just imagine, hikers are mixed among Chaotai monks, is it a bit of a journey? But if you think about it carefully, they are the same kind of people. The monks have Buddha in their hearts, and the disciples have mountains in their hearts.

The Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda in the Lion's Nest, according to the master, some time ago, one day, the Buddha's light was so bright that all the people who came to worship the Buddha knelt down and burst into tears. The master said, "Blessed, it is Manjushri Bodhisattva." Come to save the people present.

After passing the Lion's Den, go through a slowly descending earth-rock road for about 4.5 kilometers and arrive at the Golden Pavilion Temple. The path from Kinkakuji to Nantai is obvious. The roadside is very beautiful. After passing the archway of Nantai for about 10 minutes, you will gradually enter the forest area. Once you enter the woods, you will not see the top of the platform when you look up. Then, there is a section After a long and slow climb, you can see the weather station not far from the woods. From here, you will reach Nantai after about 8 kilometers.

Nantai Jinxiu Peak is the lowest among Wutai, but it is the highest point among the peaks in the south of Wutai. Puji Temple is dedicated to the wisdom Manjusri, who is famous for his wisdom among the four major Bodhisattvas.

Along the way, the tops of the terraces are full of wild flowers whose names I don’t know, especially those in southern Taiwan. For the sea of ??flowers and the world of grass, you should visit Wutai Mountain in midsummer. Don't want to leave. The alpine meadows are full of wild flowers, just like the grasslands of Gannan. The scenery is really beautiful.

Okay, the above is the guide information for pilgrimage to Mount Wutai compiled by the editor. I hope it can help everyone, and I hope everyone can have a successful pilgrimage!