You have no items in your shopping cart.
Subtotal: $0.00
Get Immediate Response of Your Queries, ADD US ON
+86-13910830737
Compare Products
You have no items to compare.
Mingshan Temple
Introducing Mingshan Temple
Mingshan Temple has served as a source of inspiration for the highly anticipated video game, Black Myth: Wukong. Mingshan Temple is situated atop Hutou Mountain in Anyue County, Ziyang City. Mingshan Temple, also known as Hutou Temple (Tiger Head Temple), is named after the mountain’s resemblance to a tiger’s head. Built in 806 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the temple is renowned for its collection of cliffside carvings, which are adorned with colossal Buddhist statues. While the temple itself predates them, the majority of these intricate artworks were created during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The remarkably well-preserved carvings showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of Song Dynasty artisans and stand as a testament to the harmonious integration of human artistry with nature.
Watch This Video Showcasing Mingshan Temple
Kind Notice: This video is not available in China (YouTube is blocked).
Mingshan Temple Fast Facts
• AKA: Hutou Temple
• Chinese Name: Míng Shān Sì 茗山寺
• Best Time to Visit: All year around
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 2 to 3 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Buddhism, Architecture
• Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
• Entrance Fee: Free
• Address: Approx. 205 kilometers (127 miles) southeast of Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Mingshan Temple and the Black Myth: Wukong
Mingshan Temple has served as a source of inspiration for the highly anticipated video game, Black Myth: Wukong. The developers of Black Myth: Wukong have drawn inspiration from various Chinese myths and legends, including the classic novel Journey to the West. The game’s protagonist, Sun Wukong, is a mischievous monkey king who embarks on a perilous journey to retrieve sacred scriptures. The Vairocana Buddha statue of Mingshan Temple, standing at an impressive 6.3 meters tall, served as a source of inspiration for the game’s creators.
Dharma Protector Niche
The Dharma Protector niche, sculpted into the semicircular mountainside, measures an impressive 9.6 meters (31.5 ft) long by 2.3 meters (7.5 ft) high. Within this niche, twelve imposing Dharma Protectors (十二护法神), each standing at 1.8 meters (5.9 ft) tall, are intricately carved. Clad in helmets and armed with knives, swords, whips, and pestles, these fierce guardians gaze into the distance with unwavering determination. Some display acts of self-sacrifice, while others adopt powerful, ready-to-strike postures. Their imposing presence instills a sense of reverence and awe, reminding visitors of the sacred and inviolable nature of this holy site.
The Vairocana Buddha and Taoist Niche
This niche, dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties, features a unique blend of Buddhist and Taoist deities. On the left is the Vairocana Buddha sitting in the double-crossed-legged position and adorned with a flower crown. To the right, the Taoist Emperor Dongyue（东岳大帝, the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak) sits with his legs extended, wearing a traditional Daoist head scarf called Tang scarf. While the overall carving style of Emperor Dongyue resembles the Vairocana Buddha, his expression is notably less serene. An inscription near the statue indicates that Emperor Dongyue was sculpted in 1842 during the late Qing Dynasty, hinting at a possible Buddhist origin for the original carving.
Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta Niche
Within the sacred space, two awe-inspiring statues of Avalokiteshvara(观音菩萨), the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and Mahasthamaprapta (大势至菩萨), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Power, command attention. These magnificent figures, each at an impressive 4.5 meters (14.76 ft) tall, are depicted seated side-by-side upon elaborate lotus pedestals.
Both bodhisattvas gracefully hold silk banners in their hands, their serene expressions radiating compassion and wisdom. Their heads are adorned with intricately carved, openwork crowns, each featuring a delicate peony flower on either side of the front. Mahasthamaprapta’s crown is further distinguished by a seven-tiered pagoda, with the first tier showcasing a seated Buddha holding an alms bowl. Avalokiteshvara’s crown, in contrast, is graced by the presence of a transformed Buddha, while her hands gently cradle a sutra. The sheer size and artistry of these statues evoke a sense of reverence and wonder, highlighting the profound importance of compassion, wisdom, and power in Buddhist teachings.
Manjushri Bodhisattva Niche
Manjushri Bodhisattva (文殊师利菩萨), a revered figure in Mahayana Buddhism, embodies wisdom, intelligence, and skillful means. This 5-meter (16.4 ft) tall statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva is adorned with an elaborate, weathered mukuta (crown) featuring intricate details. His face is rounded, with softly curved lips and a serene, contemplative expression, though time has eroded some of the finer facial features .His right hand rests calmly while his left arm, extending 1.5 meters (4.9 ft), supports a damaged scripture, of which only a fragment remains. For millennia, the robe, a remarkable 2.2 meters (7.2 ft) long, has ingeniously supported the hundreds of kilograms of weight from the arm and book, seemingly defying gravity.
Carved into the niche behind the statue are eight seated Buddhas. The three on the left remain well-preserved, while the five on the right have suffered significant weathering. Despite the erosion, the weathered Buddhas retain their overall forms, their striated textures now highlighting an abstract beauty.
Vairocana Buddha Niche
The Vairocana Buddha (毗卢遮那佛), a celestial Buddha representing enlightenment and ultimate reality, is depicted in a magnificent statue within the niche. The statue stands approximately 6.3 meters (20.7 ft) tall. He is depicted with his hands in the Wisdom Fist mudra, a gesture symbolizing knowledge and understanding. A crown adorned with a smaller Buddha image graces his head. Despite the passage of time and the weathering effects of the elements, Vairocana’s face remains serene and composed, radiating an aura of profound peace. Carved directly from the cliff face, his body stands straight, and his downward gaze conveys a sense of compassionate observation over all beings.
Manjushri and Samantabhadra Niche
Manjusri and Samantabhadra, the esteemed Bodhisattvas of the Huayan School, serve as the right and left attendants of Vairocana Buddha, embodying wisdom and great deeds, respectively. These magnificent statues are adorned with shoulder-length robes, pearl and jade necklaces, and crowns with a sitting Buddha in the center. Their exquisite craftsmanship and serene expressions capture the essence of these revered spiritual figures.
How to Get to Mingshan Temple
• The Mingshan Temple is located approx. 205 kilometers (127 miles) southeast of Chengdu.
• The Mingshan Temple is located approx. 120 kilometers (75 miles) away from Chongqing.
• Charter a car/bus from trekinfini to enjoy a hassle-free transfer to the Mingshan Temple.
There are no products matching the selection.