An international model of integration of geology with culture

An international model of integration of geology with culture

Granite cave is a shelter for monk cultivation in Jiuhuashan since ancient times. Jiuhuashan Grand Fault created the geomorphological structure of mountain-hill-basin which laid the foundation for Jiuhuashan biodiversity and civilization. Basin and terrace landform are ideal sites for Jiuhuashan Buddhist architecture. Granite geology is the inheritance basis of Jiuhuashan historical culture and development more than thousands of years. Since the Western Han Dynasty and the Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced from India to China and entered Jiangnan and other areas through the Yangtze River. Jiuhuashan is located in the central area of “The head of Wu State and the end of Chu State”, then Buddhist culture began to thrive in Jiuhuashan. Especially in the Tang Dynasty, Kim Gyo-gak, the prince of ancient Silla country (current Korea), traveled to Jiuhuashan and became a Buddha with his royal life given up. He was known as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva after his death. Since then, Jiuhuashan has been reputed as the ashram of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and become one of four sacred Buddhist mountains in China. Today, the Buddhism culture relics of Jiuhuashan are abundant, like hundreds of famous temples, thousands of Buddhist scriptures, among which nine old temples have been ratified as the national key-protected temples. The amazement in Jiuhuashan is that the flesh bodies of well-cultivated monks could stay intact after they died, which is considered be related to geographical environment of Jiuhuashan. Lots of writers, politicians and artists visited Jiuhuashan to enjoy beautiful scenery and worship Buddha for more than thousands of years. Hundreds of cliff carvings, thousands of poems and paintings have been left. The rich connotation and strong influence of Jiuhuashan culture has been coming into being.

There are many historical relics related to monks and nuns cultivation in Jiuhuashan since ancient times, such as Huayan Cave, Guanyin Cave, Gufo Cave, Wenshu Cave, Daoceng Cave, Lotus Cave, Zhuanshen Cave and so on. Poets of the Song Dynasty described vividly Buddhist history of Jiuhuashan, like a poem writing: there are pagodas and fragrant lights in many caves, Buddhist chime rings for long time. These historical relics not only record the early cultivation of monks like Kim Gyo-gak and Wuxia master as representatives, but also their successors’ contribution to inheritance, development, revitalization of Buddhism with economical prosperity from natural caves to temple architecture.

Tiantai Temple, a national key-protected temple, built on granite ridge and terrace

Today’s Tiantai Temple

Today’s Taibai Book Hall

Baisui Palace built on ridge peak

Huacheng Temple, the oldest temple in Jiuhuashan, built in the center of Jiuhua cirque

Ganlu Temple built nearby U-shaped valley

Dozens of southern Anhui-styled villages scattering in intermountain basins and integrated with surrounding ecological environment, which seems like a paradise and local people is in harmony with Buddhist culture from generation to generation.