Rising from Shanxi Province like a three-dimensional mandala, the soaring peaks of Wutai Shan (Five-terrace Mountain) have inspired pilgrims and travelers for almost two millennia. A striking terrain of towering emerald forests, wraith-like mists and crenelated ridges, this consecrated and secluded site is said to be the spiritual home of Wenshu Pusa, Bodhisattva of Wisdom. It is one of the most venerable and important Buddhist sanctuaries in China, yet still remains relatively little known in the West. Christoph Baumer has traveled extensively in the Wutai Shan region, and here offers the first comprehensive account of the cradle of Chinese Buddhism. In his remarkable new travelogue, 300 luminous photographs capture the unique spirituality of the 60 monasteries which straddle the complex. Charting festivals, rituals, pilgrimages, and the daily life of the monks, abbots, and abbesses, China's Holy Mountain is both a splendid introduction to the history of Buddhism in East Asia and an evocative and lavishly-illustrated gazetteer of the monasteries and sacred artifacts themselves. It will be an indispensable resource for students of Asian religion and philosophy, with further appeal to general readers.
China's Holy Mountain: An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism, Christoph Baumer, I.B. Tauris, 2008, Hardcover with Jacket cover, 10"x 12", 384 pages, $50.00
Christoph Baumer is a Swiss scholar and explorer. From 1984 onwards, he has conducted explorations in Central Asia, China and Tibet, the results of which have been published in numerous books, scholarly publications and radio programs.
Glossary Foreword Introduction The spiritual and historical context The spread of Buddhism to China The Barbarian Emperors elevate Buddhism to the state religion The Ten Schools of Chinese Buddhism The nine sacred mountains of China and Mount Wutai Shan Pilgrimage routes to the Five Terrace Mountain: The Outer Regions The five terraces and their monasteries The monastery city of Taihuai The North The East The South
The West Outlook on the Future Notes Bibliography Photo credits About the maps Acknowledgements Index
|
